Join the O'ahu Master Gardeners and Urban Garden Center's 'Ohana Volunteers at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center for their Annual Plant and Produce Sale, 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 13.

On hand will be several local nurseries specializing in orchids, ornamental plants, succulents, valentine baskets and herbs.

Kapiolani Community College culinary arts instructor Dale Thomas will present live demos on chocolate-making at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Register on site; cost is $5. Also, “;BYOB — Bring Your Own Box.”;

The center, owned by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service, provides horticultural information and, on the second Saturday of each month, offers gardening classes.

Visit www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc or call 453-6050.

In honor of Thomas' classes, here is a versatile chocolate recipe.

DOUBLE RICH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES OR BROWNIES

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups semisweet chocolate or white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
M&M candy, mochi crunch (optional, see note)
Candy sprinkles, crushed candy canes (optional, see note)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In another bowl, cream together butter, sugars and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs and beat well.

Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture; beat until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

To make cookies, grease baking sheets. Drop tablespoonfuls of batter (or use size 40, extra-small ice cream scooper) onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set.

Cool slightly and remove from baking sheet onto wire rack to cool completely. Yields about 3 dozen large cookies.

To make shaped brownies: Grease small star- or heart-shaped cake molds or muffin pans. Place heaping tablespoon of cookie dough in middle of each mold; evenly spread dough into mold, filling about three-quarters full. Place molds onto baking sheet; bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool slightly and then remove from molds onto wire rack to cool completely. Yields about 3 dozen brownies.

Note: For added flavor and texture, mix M&M candies or mochi crunch into cookie batter before baking. If using candy sprinkles or crushed candy canes, sprinkle on top of cookies before baking.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per cookie or brownie: 180 calories, 10 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 100 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 2 g protein

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For more recipes from Hawaiian Electric Co., visit http://www.heco.com.