So, I’m 2 ½ years out of college, and it has begun. Every time I go on Facebook or see a long-lost friend pop up on my caller ID, I know what’s coming.
Friend: “Guess what?!”
Me: (feigning surprise) “I don’t know, what?!?!?!?!”
Friend: I’m engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Cue the super-high squeal)
I really am excited for people and their engagements, really. But I have already vowed to myself that I will deliver such news (whenever that may be) withOUT the squealing.
Of course, the natural next question is always: “So, how did he pop the question?”
Now this is the part I actually enjoy. People usually fall into two camps on engagement stories: really freaking weird, or really freaking normal. And I love to find out what kind of person my friend is marrying based on the proposal.
Most of my friends have gotten engaged in restaurants, which I think is pretty unimaginative, but I see why people do it. For people who don’t like to cook, restaurants are wonderful, relaxing, and special. I don’t know, I just can’t imagine getting engaged in public. I feel like it should be low-key, intimate, and very private. But, as my middle school bus driver used to say, “different strokes for different folks.”
My sister’s husband proposed on a sand dune in a desert in India. There were camels resting nearby, and fireworks (I’m not kidding), and that night they slept in a silk tent with beaded pillows and romantic lighting. What can we glean from this? My brother-in-law is one rad dude. We also know that no matter what my future husband might do, he can’t really top this…so he probably shouldn’t even try. The only thing TO do is the exact opposite—to get engaged in the most mundane way ever. Like on a Tuesday morning over cereal. But if he puts the ring in my Cheerios, I am going to have to say no on principle.
That is one thing I’ll never understand…people burying rings IN food. One of my friend’s fiancés buried her ring in a molten chocolate cake. It seems like that puts so much undue stress on the situation…Is she going to find it? Is she going to swallow it? What if she doesn’t want dessert? Plus, if I dropped a thousand plus dollars on a brand new diamond, I would definitely not want to dip it in chocolate before giving it to someone.
Here’s a recipe for Molten Chocolate Cake, the way it should be…ring-free.
I’m starting to think about Valentine’s Day goodies to bake for my family, and this molten chocolate cake will probably be my first choice…ring free, of course.
The cake looks great. The most unusual proposal one of my friends had involved food, but not rings in food. Her boyfriend brought her a Toaster Struedel (yes, the amped up pop tart things), and had written “Marry Me?” with the icing.
It definitely speaks to their quirky relationship. Their wedding cake was Super Mario Brothers themed. But I completely agree with you. Food + Diamonds = Bad Idea.
James wanted to propose to me in front of my fountain in Hyde Park – the Tinker Bell fountain from the end of the movie Hook. Me, ever the worried control freak, didn’t think we had time to walk all the way there and back before we had to be somewhere. So instead, we stopped to sit for a moment at Marble Arch. And he proposed to me there. I thought it was lovely.. even if I did later find out that there used to be hangings at Marble Arch. Oh well, at least we brought a little happiness back to the place!
You’re so right about the “undue stress” – what if she chokes on it? What is she breaks a tooth chewing on the ring? What’s wrong with just getting down on one knee? Surely that won’t end in a trip to the ER.
Yes, Andy’s proposal sort of takes the cake, but it sounds more glamorous than it really was. We were 23 and backpacking around India. We hadn’t showered in days and later that night our Indian guide had one too many Jack Daniels and was unable to drive us home, forcing us to stay in the aforementioned beautiful tent. But the most important thing is that it was “us.”
Some people propose over Cheerios, others at sunset in the Osian desert, others at a baseball game, while others spell it out with Struedel icing or in the sand. It’s all just so wonderfully personal.
Now, that we’re all loved up and shmucky (thanks Ems for that word!), let’s get on to food business. Make these Molten Chocolate Cakes for your loved ones or friends….they are divine. Certainly good for Valentine’s Day, just not for rings.
These look yummy. And the post gave me a chuckle. I agree with your sentiments 110%. My romantic husband proposed on a deserted beach, late at night, with the moon making a path on the sand. And totally surprised me. Loved it.
I think I’m gonna stay out of the engagement conversation and simply sell the molten chocolate cakes.
When you don’t think you have time to make dessert, here’s your recipe (and I’ll bet most of you have got the ingredients in your pantry now–chocolate, butter, eggs, sugar, flour. I was right, wasn’t I?)
You can make the batter in under 10 minutes and refrigerate it for several days. When ready to make the cakes, pull out the batter and as you’re clearing the dinner dishes, pop the filled muffin cups in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
There’s no denying these cakes are rich, but you can make them smaller as I did this past this past weekend.
Serve with sugared raspberries and an impressive ring around the spoon. 🙂
Pam, you’re a natural politician. 🙂
Yum on those cakes and I’m glad to see how easy they are!
As for mundane proposals, I don’t think anything tops my friends’. They were sitting on the couch watching TV, he turned to her and said “do you want to get married?” She says “sure” and he handed her the ring box. I do have to say she was surprised (and very happy) and that proposal is very much like both of them, so it is a fun story to share.
For the record, Brian proposed to Donna by hiding the ring as the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks, so some food-related proposals can work out. Although hiding the ring in a molten chocolate cake sounds down-right dangerous!