What is a good idea for a romantic meal on Valentine's Day?!
Chocolate lava cakes for dessert.
Answers: Garlic or teriyaki shrimp, rice, veggies (asparagus?).
Chocolate lava cakes for dessert.
This website helped me out when I was trying to figure out the same thing. For mine, I'm doing this chicken kabob asian style appetizer (fingerfoods are great too) with a Spinach and Shrimp alfredo pasta, and then chocolate raspberry truffles and choc covered strawberries. But all the recipes I said you should be able to find on this site. Good luck!
http://southernfood.about.com/cs/valenti...
pasta
red sauce
green salad
wine
strawberries and cream... on your chesty
i think a good romantic dinner is an Italian dinner
seafood, and bubbly wine
Chocolate trifle
http://www.chocolate-playground.com/choc...
I have seen a rising number of people making an italian dinner for that special day. Italian foo is definitely sexy. You could do Spaghetti- Lasagna- or even Fettuccine. Shrimp Scampi, Filet Mignon,
Last Year, I cooked New York Strip Steaks, Bought a 1/2 pd of fresh shrimp and cocktail sauce, Made a fresh salad, and for dessert we had a delicious Cookie Cake.
This year I am going with a fondue theme. I got the Idea from "The Melting Pot", which is a wonderful Fondue Resturaunt. My husband loves Cheese, so I am doing 2- Maybe 3 types of chesses and then we will have a milk Chocolate fountain for dessert.
For me, it is not so much as to what is served but how it is served - candle light, soft music - smokey jazz is great, nice dishes, flatware and glassware, things like that. For a menu, start with a simple but elegant salad with crusty bread; main course something like Cornish game hens and finish it up with a decedent dessert either homemade or store bought, like cheesecake. Pair everything with a good wine or your favorite drink.
Avocado and Grapefruit Salad
6 servings
Start to Finish: 20 min.
Ingredients
8 cups torn mixed salad greens
2 grapefruit, peeled and sectioned
1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced
2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. On a large serving platter or six individual salad plates, arrange the mixed salad greens, grapefruit sections, and avocado slices.
2. For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, the water, sugar, and salt. Drizzle dressing over the salad. Makes 6 servings.
3. Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare dressing as directed. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours. To serve, prepare salad. Whisk dressing; drizzle it over the salad.
Crimson Cherry-Glazed Holiday Hens
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Roast: 60 minutes
Ingredients
4 24-ounce Cornish game hens
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup sliced or chopped shallot
2 tablespoons butter
1 12-ounce jar red cherry preserves (with whole cherries)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut one of the cloves of garlic in half and rub the skin of each hen with cut side of garlic clove. Mince remaining garlic clove and set aside. Tie drumsticks to tail. Brush hens with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; twist wing tips under back (see photo 4). Roast, uncovered, for 60 to 75 minutes or until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh of each hen registers 180 degrees F. (The thermometer should not touch bone.)
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan cook shallot and minced garlic in butter over medium heat about 3 minutes or until tender, stirring often. Stir in preserves, vinegar, allspice, and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until desired glazing consistency.
3. To serve, transfer hens to a serving platter. Spoon glaze over hens. Makes 4 servings.
These are some of my favorite cheesecake recipes:
Cheesecake
12 slices
Prep: 30 minutes
Chill: 4 hours
Bake: 35 minutes
Cool: 2 hours
Stand: 2 hours
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups finely crushed graham crackers
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375F. For crust, in a medium bowl stir together crushed graham crackers and the 1/3 cup sugar. Stir in melted butter. Press the crumb mixture onto bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan; Place the crust-lined springform pan on a double layer of 18x12-inch heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bring edges of foil up and mold around sides of pan to form a watertight seal.
2. For filling, in a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese, the 1 cup sugar, the flour, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Beat in milk until smooth. Stir in eggs. Pour into crust-lined pan. Place in a roasting pan and pour enough hot water around pan to reach halfway up the sides. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes for the 8-inch pan (35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch pan) or until edges of cake are set but center jiggles a bit when pan is gently shaken. Turn oven off and let cheesecake sit in oven for 1 hour.
3. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Using a small sharp knife, loosen the crust from sides of pan; cool for 30 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan; cool cheesecake completely on rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving.
4. Mint and Chip Cheesecake: Prepare as directed above, except substitute chocolate-flavor graham crackers for the regular graham crackers in the crust. For the filling, add 1/4 teaspoon mint flavoring with the vanilla and substitute 1/4 cup green creme de menthe liqueur for the milk. After stirring in the eggs, stir in 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces. Bake and cool as directed. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours before serving. If desired, just before serving, drizzle slices with purchased fudge sauce.
5. Honey-Nut Cheesecake: Before serving, top chilled cheesecake with 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds and if desired, 1/2 cup fresh raspberries. Drizzle with 1/4 cup honey. Slice and serve cheesecake as directed.
6. Turtle Cheesecake: Before serving, drizzle individual slices with 1/2 to 1 tablespoon each of purchased caramel ice cream topping and chocolate-flavored syrup. Sprinkle each slice with about 1 tablespoon chopped dry-roasted peanuts.
7. Chocolate Bar Cheesecake: Before serving, top chilled cheesecake with 1 cup of one or more flavors of chopped chocolate candy bars, such as chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered English toffee, chocolate-covered nougat bars, milk chocolate, and/or dark chocolate. If desired, drizzle each slice with purchased butterscotch, caramel, mocha chocolate, or chocolate fudge sauce.
8. Fruit-topped Cheesecake: In a 1--quart saucepan heat 1/3 cup of Orange marmalade or desired flavor fruit preserves just until spoonable. Top cheesecake with 1 to 2 cups fresh fruit such as raspberries, blueberries, halved sweet cherries, or sliced strawberries or peaches; drizzle with heated preserves.
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Chocolate-Irish Cream Cheesecake
Prep: 45 minutes
Chill: 6 to 24 hours
Bake: 50 minutes
Cool: 15 minutes + 30 minutes + 1 hour
Stand: 15 minutes + 30 minutes + 1 hour
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups finely crushed chocolate wafers (about 18 cookies)*
6 tablespoons butter, melted*
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 8-ounce package semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
3 eggs
1/2 cup Irish cream liqueur
2 tablespoons whipping cream or milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. For crust: In a medium bowl, combine crushed chocolate wafers, melted butter, and cinnamon; toss gently to mix. Press mixture onto the bottom and up the side of a 9- or 10-inch springform pan. Set aside.
2. For filling: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and melted chocolate. Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, stir in eggs just until combined. Stir in liqueur, whipping cream or milk, and vanilla.
3. Pour filling into the crust-lined pan. Place springform pan in shallow baking pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken.
4. Cool in springform pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Using a small sharp knife, loosen from side of pan. Cool for 30 minutes more. Remove side of springform pan. Cool for 1 hour. Cover and chill for at least 6 hours or up to 24 hours. Makes 16 servings.
5. *Note: If using a 10-inch springform pan, use 1-3/4 cups crushed chocolate wafers (about 21 cookies) and 7 tablespoons butter, melted, for the crust.
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Pomegranate Cheesecake
Prep: 50 minutes
Chill: 4 hours
Bake: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Cool: 2 hours
Stand: 2 hours
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1-1/4 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1-1/4 cups plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. vanilla
1 16-ounce carton dairy sour cream
1 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
1-1/2 cups pomegranate seeds
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar. Beat until combined. Add 1 egg; beat well. Beat in 1-1/4 cups flour until combined. Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate one portion.
2. Spread unrefrigerated dough half on bottom of ungreased 10-inch springform pan with sides removed, spreading dough to edges. Place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely. When cool, attach sides of pan. Press chilled dough onto sides to a height of 1-3?4 inches, using a thin metal spatula to spread dough.
3. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. For filling, in an extra-large mixing bowl beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar until fluffy. Beat in the remaining flour on low speed until smooth. Add remaining 3 eggs and 1 tablespoon vanilla all at once, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in 1/2 cup sour cream, the lemon peel, and 3/4 cup of the pomegranate seeds.
4. Pour filling into crust-lined pan. Place on baking sheet. Bake for 65 minutes or until edges are puffed and center jiggles slightly when gently shaken. Remove from oven.
5. Stir together remaining sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Spread sour cream mixture over top of baked cheesecake. Return to oven; bake for 10 minutes more. Remove from oven. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Loosen crust from sides of pan. Cool for 30 minutes more. Remove sides of pan; cool completely. Cover; chill 4 hours or overnight.
6. Remove cheesecake and Pomegranate Sauce from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Spoon some sauce over top of cheesecake; pile remaining 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds in center of cheesecake. To serve, slice cheesecake. Pass remaining sauce. Makes 16 servings.
7. For sauce, in a medium saucepan bring 1-16-ounce bottle pomegranate juice to boiling; reduce heat and boil gently, uncovered, until reduced to 1 cup (10 to 12 minutes). Stir together 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Add to juice. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Transfer to a medium bowl; cover surface with clear plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature. Store, covered, in refrigerator until serving time.
Test Kitchen Tip: Spoon sour cream mixture on the puffed edges, then carefully spread toward the center.
umm i think candales n beef
i hade cupcakes and put little faces made from hearts in the frosting, or make little heart shaped cakes for him n u. or maybe go out to eat.
NO GARLIC,lol
something simple, maybe roasted chix, or lasagna
some great bread toasted and dip in olive oil
asparagus a salad
and chocolate mouse.
Lasagna , salad and a red wine
I usually try tomake something red that evening : )
A classic and easy meal- served with chilled white wine, and a fancy bakery dessert. Can't go wrong, and the noodles and beans can be made in advance, with last minute heating.
BLACKENED SALMON
? lb. (3 sticks) unsalted butter, melted in a skillet
6 fish fillets ? to ? inch thick
Seasoning mix: ( or by Zatarains or Tony’s creole seasoning mix)
3 tbsp. sweet paprika
3 tsp. Salt
3 tsp. Onion powder
3 tsp. Garlic powder
1 tsp. Ground red pepper (preferably cayenne)
1 tsp. White pepper
1 tsp. Black pepper
1 ? tsp. Dried thyme leaves
1 ? tsp. Dried oregano leaves
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over very high heat until it is beyond the smoking stage and you see white ash in the skillet bottom (the skillet cannot be too hot for this dish), at least 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, pour 2 tablespoons melted butter in each of 6 small ramekins; set aside and keep warm. Reserve the remaining butter in its skillet. Heat the serving plates in a 250 degrees oven.
Thoroughly combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl. Dip each fillet in the reserved melted butter so that both sides are well coated; then sprinkle seasoning mix generously and evenly on both sides of the fillets; patting it in by hand. Place in the hot skillet and pour 1 teaspoon melted butter on top of each fillet (be careful, as the butter may flame up). Cook, uncovered, over the same high heat until the underside looks charred, about 2 minutes (the time will vary according to the fillet's thickness and the heat of the skillet). Turn the fish over and again pour 1 teaspoon butter on top; cook until fish is done, about 2 minutes more. Repeat with remaining fillets. Serve each fillet while piping hot.
To serve, place one fillet and a ramekin of butter on each heating serving plate.
Buttered Noodles
1 package (12 ounces) dried egg noodles
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, preferably unsalted
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Cook the noodles in lightly salted water according to package directions. Drain and return to pot. Heat the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until brown, watching carefully to make sure it doesn't burn. Pour the butter over the noodles. Add salt, pepper and parsley; stir until well-combined. Serve immediately.
Green Beans Almondine
1 lb. fresh green beans
1/2 c. cooking oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 toe garlic, whole
1 c. sliced almonds
Wash and slice green beans 1 1/2 inches long. Toast almonds in oven until light brown. Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, then place beans in ice water to shock them, and keep their color bright green. Refrigerate.
When ready to serve, cover the bottom of a skillet with cooking oil. Add garlic, then green beans and stir fry until heated through. Fold in almonds and serve.
