Valentines Day Recipes

[Shadow]

My kids and I were looking at a book of Valentine's day recipes today,trying to find easy ideas for a school project. Found some that sounded interesting and decided to post a few....


Lemony Love Potion


12-ounce can pink lemonade concentrate
1 cup raspberry sherbet
12-ounce can of 7-Up


Instructions:

In a pitcher, mix the lemonade concentrate with the recommended amount of water.

In a separate pitcher, combine the sherbet with 1 cup of the lemonade mixture.

Add the soda, stir, and serve. Makes 3 cups.

[Shadow]

A Dozen Candy-Covered Strawberry Roses.


Ingredients:

12 wooden skewers
Cotton swab
Green food coloring
12 large strawberries
14 ounces of candy melts
Fresh mint


Instructions :

For flower stems, use a cotton swab dipped in green food coloring to tint the wooden skewers. Let them dry (about 2 hours).

Stem the strawberries, then insert a skewer into each one.

Heat the candy melts according to the package directions. Dip each strawberry into the melted candy, twirling it to coat it completely.

Stand the skewers in a vase or tall glass and let the candy harden. Add fresh mint to resemble rose leaves, and keep the bouquet chilled until it's time to give it to your sweetie.

[Shadow]

Peanut butter Cookies Sealed With A Kiss

Ingredients:

2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
Sugar (for coating cookies)
40 Hershey's Kisses


Instructions :

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, butter and brown sugar on medium speed until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract. On low speed, blend in the flour and salt.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in the sugar to coat lightly. Place on ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Move the cookies from the baking sheets to a wire rack and immediately place an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss on the center of each cookie, pressing down so that the cookie cracks a little bit around the edge.

Using a metal spatula, transfer the cookies to wire racks and let them cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used or all the Kisses are gone. Makes approximately 40 cookies.

[Shadow]

Hugs and Kisses Cake Recipe


24 Hershey's Hugs or Hugs With Almonds Chocolates
24 Hershey's Kisses or Kisses With Almonds Milk Chocolates
3/4 C. butter or margarine, softened
2/3 C. granulated sugar
2/3 C. packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 C. milk
Frosting
Additional Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates and Hershey's Hugs Chocolates


Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.

Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces; coarsely chop. In large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.

Add flour mixture alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in chopped chocolate candies. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Frost as desired. Arrange additional chocolate pieces in heart shape on top of cake.

[Shadow]

Champagne Parfaits



2 small boxes lemon-flavored gelatin

2 cups boiling water

2 cups champagne

8 strawberries, washed and hulled

In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Stir in champagne and chill 40 to 50 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

Reserve 1 cup of gelatin mixture and spoon remaining mixture evenly into 8 champagne flutes.

Place 1 strawberry in each glass.

In a small bowl, beat the reserved 1 cup gelatin mixture until fluffy and doubled in volume.

Spoon evenly into glasses; cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or until set.

[Shadow]

Heart Breakfast Ring


3 cups flour
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup softened butter or margarine
3/4 cup hot tap water
1 egg

Filling:
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup finely chopped or sliced almonds
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons softened butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup finely snipped maraschino cherries

Cherry Icing:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, 1/4 cup sugar and salt in large bowl. Stir well. Add 1/4 butter. Add hot tap water.

Beat with electric mixer 2 minutes. Add egg and 1/2 cup flour. Beast until thick and elastic. Gradually stir in just enough flour with wooden spoon to make soft dough that leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto floured board.

Knead 5-10 minutes. Cover with plastic then a towel. Rest 20 minutes.

Filling: Combine all ingredients except cherries. Mix well.

Punch down dough and roll into a 14x8 rectangle. Spread filling and roll-up tightly beginning with 14" side.

Place in a ring, seam side down, on greased baking sheet. Seal edges tightly. Snip dough into fourteen 1" section, cutting from edge of circle to within 1 inch of center. Turn two cut sections on their sides in opposite directions to form a heart. Repeat until you have a circle of 7 hearts.

Put snipped cherries into each heart. Lightly Brush dough with oil. Refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.

When ready to bake, uncover and let stand 10 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20 - 25 minutes. Use lower rack. If browning too quickly, lower heat to 350. Remove from baking sheet immediately.

Combine powdered sugar and cherry juice in a small bowl. Outline hearts with cherry icing.

[darin]

Would be sad for somebody who doesn't have a wife to FiX all this for them.

[Shadow]

Kahlua White Chocolate Valentine Cake Recipe

Ganache:

1 3/4 C. whipping cream
3 1/2 oz. chopped white chocolate
1/4 t. vanilla

Cake:

2 oz. white chocolate
1/2 C. whipping cream
1 1/3 C. cake flour; sifted
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 C. unsalted butter at room temperature
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 egg separated
6 T. milk at room temperature

Kahlua Syrup:

3 T. water
1 t. instant coffee powder
1 t. sugar
1/4 C. Kahlua

Prepare ganache before mixing and baking cake to allow it to chill.

Ganache:
In large bowl of electric mixer, combine cream and chocolate. Set over simmering water until chocolate is melted. Stir until smooth. Refrigerate at least 4 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally, until very thick. Add vanilla and beat until stiff.

Cake:
In small bowl set over simmering water, melt chocolate and cream together. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool completely. In large bowl of electric mixer, beat batter until fluffy. Gradually beat in 3/4 cup sugar. Beat in whole egg and egg yolk until smooth. Stir in cooled chocolate. Alternately stir in dry ingredients and milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and blending thoroughly after each addition. In small bowl, whisk egg white with dash of salt until soft peaks form.

Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until very thick and glossy and mixture falls from whisk in heavy ribbon. Gently fold egg white into batter. Pour batter into 8 or 9 inch heart shaped cake pan which has been lined with butter and floured waxed paper. Bake on center shelf of oven at 350°F about 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn out of pan, if necessary, first trim any excess crust away from pan rim, and carefully peel away paper. Cool completely. Transfer cake to serving plate. Using wood pick, poke holes about 1 inch deep and at about 1 inch intervals in top of cake. Frost with white ganache.

Kahlua Syrup:
In small saucepan, combine water, coffee powder and sugar. Stir over low heat to dissolve coffee and sugar. Bring to boil and pour into small bowl. Add Kahlua and stir to blend. Cool. Drizzle over cake when served.

[Shadow]

Cupid's Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Recipe

1 carton ricotta cheese
3 T. confectioners' sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
16 slices French bread (1/2 inch thick)
2 eggs
1 C. milk
2 C. sliced fresh or frozen strawberries
Additional confectioners' sugar or maple syrup
Hot cooked sausage links, optional

In a small bowl, combine ricotta, sugar and vanilla; mix well. Spread 2 tablespoons each on eight slices of bread; cover with remaining bread.

In a bowl, beat eggs and milk; soak sandwiches for 1-2 minutes per side.

Cook on a hot greased griddle for 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and heated through.

Serve with strawberries. Top with confectioners' sugar or syrup. Serve with sausages if desired.

[Shadow]

Would be sad for somebody who doesn't have a wife to FiX all this for them.

Actually.. I was giving the men ideas ( you know...helpful little hints) to impress the women with.

[darin]

...but women are already in the kitchen....

[Shadow]

^^^ With that attitude...don't be expecting to see any extra Valentine's Day action then.

[darin]

baww...my wife's most-romantic V-tines day ever? I took her to dinner then Home Depot to get her an air-compressor, nail gun and staple gun. I hate it - but she likes it; my job is not to ask her for things I want - but to provide for HER needs.

[Shadow]

baww...my wife's most-romantic V-tines day ever? I took her to dinner then Home Depot to get her an air-compressor, nail gun and staple gun. I hate it - but she likes it; my job is not to ask her for things I want - but to provide for HER needs.

So did she build you a dog house?

I have a feeling you find yourself there occasionaly (jk).

[Mr. P]

Actually.. I was giving the men ideas ( you know...helpful little hints) to impress the women with.

Here's a hint for the men: DON'T bake any of this stuff for her IF she's on a diet (and they ALWAYS are)...THAT'S SUICIDE regardless of your intentions!

I promise you'll hear.."YOU WRECKED MY DIET!" a couple days later.