A Valentine Riddle and a Chocolate Splurge

 

A Valentine Riddle Poem by Edgar Allen Poe

The Raven is one of Edgar Allen Poe's most quoted poems. Due to its length, I am posting a link to the poem. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178713
But I did come across this poem by Poe just in time for Valentine's Day. I was intrigued because it is an acrostic poem with a cryptic message at the end.  
 A Valentine
by Edgar Allan Poe
(published 1850)

For her, this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,
Brightly expressive as the twins of Lœda,
Shall find her own sweet name, that, nestling lies
Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.
Search narrowly the lines! -- they hold a treasure
Divine -- a talisman -- an amulet
That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure --
The words -- the syllables! Do not forget
The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor!
And yet there is in this no Gordian knot
Which one might not undo without a sabre,
If one could merely comprehend the plot.
Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering
Eyes scintillating soul, there lie perdus
Three eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing
Of poets, by poets -- as the name is a poet’s, too.
Its letters, although naturally lying
Like the knight Pinto -- Mendez Ferdinando --
Still form a synonym for Truth. -- Cease trying!
You will not read the riddle, though you do the best you can do.

Note: Poe wrote this poem for a specific person. The woman's name is hidden within the text. Can you find it? Hint: it's an acrostic

This is a lyrical poem, written in the form of acrostic. Other than a poem, “A Valentine” is actually a riddle that Poe made to reveal his secret lover's name. Edgar Allen Poe composed “A Valentine” to express his affection for a woman, but he’s too afraid to tell her directly because she’s already married. Poe’s challenge to the readers is to solve the riddle within this poem. 

Okay... I was stumped and needed help!!! But I was able to find this answer online.  

The riddle is the dominant feature of this poem, that’s the main factor that makes this poem so ingenious. Not only does it express the romantic words of the writer, but Edgar Allen Poe also composed a hidden riddle within “A Valentine”. If you take the first letter from the first line, the second letter from the second line, the third letter from the third line, and so on until the end, the riddle of this poem will be revealed. The name of the woman who Poe is crazed about exists in every line throughout the whole poem, Frances Sargent Osgood. She was another great poetess who shares her secret affair with Poe through poems.

Now for your reward- a chocolate splurge💖

Cook's Notes: 
This torte, a classic dessert along the Amalfi Coast, can be a simple, elegant showstopper. When done well, it packs all the richness and depth of flourless chocolate cake. It's moist and tender. For best results, use good quality bittersweet chocolate, e.g., Ghirardelli, and Dutch-processed cocoa, e.g., Droste Cocoa or Hershey Special Dark Cocoa and Almond Flour. The torte can stand on its own with a dusting of powdered sugar or with Amaretto Cream and jarred Cherry Fruit Filling.

Make the dessert a day ahead as a timesaver. It keeps well for three days.  
Recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated November/December 2018

Ingredients:

• 12 tablespoons of butter, cut into 12 pieces
• 4 oz. bar bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon creme of tartar
• 2 cups almond flour
• 2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. 
• In a small bowl, mix together almond flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.  
• Microwave chocolate and butter at 50% power, stirring often until melted. Stir in vanilla and set aside. 
• In a medium bowl, beat egg whites, add in creme of tartar and 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until egg whites are stiff. Set aside. 
• In a large bowl mix egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar. Beat on medium-high until thick and pale yellow. Add in chocolate/butter mixture and mix until incorporated about 15 seconds. 
• Add flour mixture to the chocolate mixture, mix on low just until incorporated. 
• Fold whipped egg whites in thirds to chocolate mixture using a spatula. 
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. 
• Place torta on a wire rack to cool. Remove springform sides and wrap torta in plastic wrap until serving.  

Amaretto Cream (mix 1 teaspoon Amaretto with whipped cream)