February: The Month of Love
(and Cold Feet)
Hello again! February is officially here, and with it, the invasion of red hearts and discount chocolates... as if writing a dark romance novel wasn’t enough drama for us.
If January was about trying to be better people, February is about accepting that winter is long and the best possible date is a book, a blanket, and a sweet treat that feels like magic.
Elías’ Gift: 10-Minute Chocolate Cake (Microwave)
Since we’re taking a break but don’t want to leave you empty-handed, here’s the emergency recipe Elías uses to soothe his favorite “kitten.”
Ingredients:
Milk Chocolate: 2 bars (90g total).
Butter/Margarine: 40g.
Egg: 1 large.
Hotcake Mix: 3 tbsp (or 3 tbsp flour + 1/2 tsp baking powder + 1 tbsp sugar).
Step-by-Step:
Melt: Break chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Add butter. Heat for 90 seconds. Stir until smooth.
Bind: Add the egg and whisk energetically.
Mix: Fold in the flour/mix gently with a spatula.
Settle: Pour into a mold. Key Hack: Tap the mold firmly against the counter to get rid of air bubbles.
Cook: Microwave at 600W for 2 min 30 sec.
💡 Pro Tips: Don’t overcook it! It should look slightly shiny on top. Decorate with icing sugar or whipped cream to make it look like you actually spent time on it.
Quick Summary (Neurodivergent Friendly)
Melt chocolate and butter (90s).
Mix in egg, then flour.
Tap the mold on the table (pop those bubbles!).
Microwave for 2:30 min. at 600W. Done!
What’s New at the Office? (Time to Refuel)
You might notice the office lights are a bit dimmer than usual this month. We’ve decided to hang up the “Closed for Personal Maintenance” sign.
Sometimes real life calls, and in order to give you the very best of Ashes & Starlight, we need to take a little breather. We’re stepping away from the screen to recharge, handle our private stuff, and basically come back with a fresh mindset. Don’t worry, Elías and Domini are in good hands (though they’ll probably take advantage of us not looking to stir up some new drama).
We’ll be back stronger than ever as soon as we can! Thanks for understanding that sometimes, even writers need a bit of a time-out.
Will you be trying Elías’s recipe? Let us know if it lasts more than five minutes!
Talk soon!
— Nyx and Seika (Eating "on-sale" chocolate)