All posts tagged: Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day Dessert: Blood Orange and Mint Sherbet and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

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Today’s recipes are the final pieces to your Valentine’s Day dinner.  They are a delicious and refreshing blood orange and mint sherbet or a simple and easy vanilla ice cream.  Follow the recipes below for the perfect sweet to finish your meal! 1 tablespoon blood orange zest 2 cups freshly squeezed blood orange juice 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 Package Mint, reserve a few leaves for garnish 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup whole milk 3/4 cup Greek yogurt Juice lemon and oranges Add ingredients to bowl and let the flavors marinate together for about an hour, or longer if you would like a stronger mint flavor Take approximately half of the mint leaves out and pour ingredients into blender or food processor Process until mint leaves are fine Pour into ice cream maker and process until frozen! Either serve immediately or using an ice cream scoop, portion out scoops and freeze.  I didn’t do this and the sherbet froze to the point where I could not scoop it easily.  I had to …

Meatless Monday: Roasted Red Pepper Soup and Valentine’s Day Gift Guide!

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With less than a week until Valentine’s Day, I hope you have your shopping done and menus planned!  But, if you don’t I have compiled a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for the home, for the kitchen, for him, and for her.  I also included a great roasted red pepper soup that will kick off your meal with some spice! FOR THE HOME: $24 Available:  http://www.amazon.com/Melife%C2%AE-Creative-Macaron-Shaped-Cushion/dp/B00MRN5Z0I/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1423096788&sr=1-1&keywords=macaron+pillow Love Star $185 Available:  http://www.lovestar.com.au/product/all-that-glitters Jo Malone $65 Available: http://www.jomalone.com/product/3560/29550/For-the-Home/Home-Candles/Lavender-Lovage-Home-Candle There’s no better way to say “I love you” than saying it in different languages.  The “Everyone Says I Love You” pop-up book, illustrated by Beegee Tolpa, features iconic elements from each location; for example, the Statue of Liberty in the U.S., a gondola in Italy and an African safari. $12.99 Available:  Papyrus Store Locations Find your closest:  http://www.papyrusonline.com/store-directory Add some sizzle and spice to your romantic life this Valentine’s Day by making your sweetheart some delicious treats from the brand new cookbook Man Candy and Cupcakes. Babe Scott’s new book features 40 of the most seductive and mouth-watering cupcake recipes paired …

Valentine’s Day Dinner!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!!  If you are still searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner, here it is!  A simple recipe that looks elegant, gorgeous, and that you slaved in the kitchen all day long.  Prepare this! Tilapia Yellow beets Tomatoes Leeks Herbes de Provence Lemon Juice Salt and Pepper Turmeric Truffle Salt Smoked Paprika EVOO Medium sized heart shaped cookie cutter Cook and peel beets (instructions HERE) Dice, add salt, pepper, and turmeric Place cookie cutter on large plate Spoon beets into heart and cover with tin foil Clean and cut leeks Dice tomatoes In a saute pan over medium heat, add EVOO then tomatoes Season with truffle salt If you have multiple saute pans, you can also saute the leeks Once tomatoes are cooked, uncover beets, and carefully remove cookie cutter from beets Place cookie cutter next to beets and spoon tomatoes into cookie cutter Again, place tin foil over If not using multiple pans, let pan cool, and wash Saute leeks with smoked paprika While leeks are cooking, season tilapia on both sides …

Thirsty Thursday-Valentine’s Day Cocktails

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If you are cooking your love a nice home-cooked dinner, you will probably serve a bottle of wine, but you can serve a cocktail or two before dinner or before you leave for your restaurant reservation.  Here are a few recipes to chose from! Loopy Love 2 parts Three Olives Loopy Vodka 2 parts cranberry juice Splash of lemon lime soda Pour first two ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously Strain into a chilled martini glass Top off with a splash of soda and garnish with a lime Strawberry Amore 2 parts Three Olives® Marilyn Monroe™ Strawberry Vodka 4 parts pink lemonade Splash of lemon lime soda Mix all ingredients into a rocks glass filled with ice and stir Won’t you be a Lime 2 parts Three Olives® Grape Vodka 4 parts lemon lime soda Splash of lemon juice Mix all ingredients into a rocks glass filled with ice and stir. Garnish with a lemon. (recipes and images courtesy SSPR) Fiery Passion 1.5 oz Cuca Fresca Gold Cachaca 3 basil leaves …

Valentine’s Day Dinner and Drink Menu!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!!!  As you can see by the past two posts, I am a dessert girl and would prefer to eat my dessert before the main meal if I could.  But, today I figured I would give you a few last minute dinner and drink recipes for you procrastinators out there!  Hope you find something inspiring to make for your sweetie tonight! Appetizers: Arugula Salad with Honey-Drizzled Peaches (from BetterEats.com) 1/4 cup nuts, pecans, toasted – finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt, Kosher – divided Pepper, to taste 4 ounces cheese, goat, soft 6 cups arugula 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil 1 medium lemon – zest and juice 4 medium peach – ripe but firm, halved and pitted 4 TBSP honey Place pecans in a shallow dish Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper Roll goat cheese log in the pecans to coat Refrigerate the log until firm, if necessary, then cut into 8 rounds Place arugula in a medium bowl Add oil, lemon zest and juice and toss to coat; season with the …

Valentine’s Day Desserts!

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Here are two sweet ways to end your Valentine’s Day dinner…a flourless chocolate cake and red velvet madeleines.  I love both chocolate and madeleines and these desserts are the best options to make your Valentine swoon for you!  Follow the recipes below for your sweet ending! Red Velvet Madeleines 3/4 cup sugar 3 large eggs 2 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla 3/4 cup butter, melted 1 oz. red liquid food coloring 1 1/3 cups cake flour 2 Tb. unsweetened cocoa 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt Powdered sugar Preheat over to 400 degrees Beat the first four ingredients with an electric mixer until thick and pale, about 5 minutes Add melted butter and food coloring, beat until blended Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda & salt Fold into wet ingredients Spoon into 2 lightly greased madeleine pans, filling 3/4th full Bake for 8-10 minutes or until centers spring back when lightly touched Remove pans to wire racks Cool completely before removing from pan. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar Yield:  2 dozen As …

Valentine’s Day

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Today I am giving you recipes and kitchen gadgets to help prepare you for your Valentine’s Day!  Read below for my suggestions for the kitchen-lover in your family and a few of my favorite dessert Valentine’s Day recipes! Heart Measuring Cups Regularly priced $10.75, on sale for $8.99 Available:  ThePlateBoutique.com Heart to Heart Spatula $10.00 Available:  FredFlare.com Valentine’s Day Dishes and Plates Originally $9.99-$11.99, now $8.48-$10.18 Available:  Target.com Heart Cookie Cutter Set $10.00 Available:  williams-sonoma.com Cast Iron Fondue Set $39.95 Available:  crateandbarrel.com Brownie Brittle– Chocolate Chip, Toffee Crunch, and Traditional Walnut From $12.95 Available:  browniebrittle.com Hugs and Kisses Jacquard Kitchen Towel $9.00 Available:  surlatable.com Sees Candy From $6.55 Available:  http://www.sees.com/Cat.cfm/valentines_day_gifts Red Velvet Heart Cake Cake: Follow the directions on boxes Pour one mixed box into a circular 9 inch pan, and the other in a square 8×8 pan Bake in oven for approximately 60 minutes or until cake tester is clean (place cakes on both racks and after 20 minutes switch) After cakes are cooled, cut tops of cake to have even surfaces Frosting: 1 …