Strawberry Dumplings

These Strawberry Dumplings are a perfect old fashioned dessert for a romantic meal. The dumplings steam and absorb the flavors from the berries.

Serve these warm with vanilla ice cream for a luscious flavor combination.

Ingredients:

Dumplings

* 4 eggs
* 4 tablespoons melted butter
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 4 teaspoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 12 tablespoons flour

Berries

* 4 cups strawberries
* 2 cups sugar

Directions:

1. Combine the dumpling ingredients to make a stiff batter.
2. Mash the berries with sugar. Bring to a boil in a large pot with a tight lid.
3. Drop the dumpling batter by spoonfuls into hot liquid, reduce the heat and simmer, with the lid on, for 15 minutes. Don’t lift lid – don’t peek!
4. Remove dumplings carefully to dessert dishes and spoon berries over. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Decadently Rick Chocolate Truffle Cake

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Ingredients:

For Cake

* 1/4 cup unsalted butter
* 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
* 1 large egg
* 2 teaspoons vanilla

For filling

* 1 1/2 cup walnuts
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter
* 1 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1/4 cup honey
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

For ganache

* 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 1 pound fine-quality bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9-inch springform pan.

Make base: In a small saucepan melt butter and stir in cocoa powder. Remove pan from heat and add brown sugar, stirring until dissolved. Stir in flour, walnuts, egg, and vanilla and spread batter evenly in springform pan. Bake base in middle of oven 10 minutes, or just until firm, and transfer to a rack to cool.

Make filling: Arrange walnuts in one layer on top of base. In a small heavy saucepan combine butter, brown sugar, and honey and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or until a candy thermometer registers 280°F. Remove pan from heat and add cream, vanilla, and lemon juice, stirring until smooth. Cool mixture to room temperature and pour over walnuts, spreading evenly.

Make ganache: In a saucepan bring cream just to a boil. Finely chop chocolate. Put chocolate in a metal bowl and pour hot cream over it, stirring until smooth. Cool ganache to room temperature and beat with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks (do not overbeat or it will become grainy).

Spread ganache evenly over filling. Chill cake, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

Run a thin knife around edge of cake and remove side of pan. With a large spatula transfer cake to a plate and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

How to Make Molten Chocolate Cake

In this video, chef Kirk Leins shows you how to make a decadently rich Molten Chocolate Cake. The cake is light and moist with a molten chocolate center. Serve it warm to that special someone and you are sure to get rave reviews.

Garnish with a little vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Molten Chocolate Cake (serves 6)

Powder sugar for dusting
4 large egg yolks
4 large whole eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 lb. high-quality, bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp cake flour (plus more for dusting)
Vegetable spray
2 sticks unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using vegetable spray, grease (6) 6-ounce ramekins and dust with cake flour.

In the top of a double boiler, melt the butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and whisk in sugar, whole eggs, and egg yolks. Whisk in the cake flour.

Evenly distribute the batter among the 6 ramekins, and bake for 10 minutes or until the sides of the cakes are set but the center still jiggles.

Let the cakes cool for 2-3 minutes, then run a thin knife around the sides and invert onto plates. Garnish with powder sugar and serve with either vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce for Two

This is a winner for Valentines Day. The beef tenderloin is flavorful and melt in your mouth tender. The sauce is spicy and rich. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two.

Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce for Two

Ingredients:

* 2 (8 oz. ea) beef tenderloins
* salt and pepper
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 3 tablespoons chopped shallots
* 1 Tbl. green peppercorns
* 1 cup beef broth
* 1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon mustard
* 2 tablespoons heavy cream
* 2 tablespoons brandy
* 2 tablespoons chopped chives for garnish

Directions:

1. Salt and pepper beef on both sides. Heat butter in medium skillet on medium heat.
2. Add beef; cook 5 min; turn, cook another 5 min. Remove to platter; tent with foil to keep warm.
3. In same skillet, add shallots and peppercorns. Cook 2 min. or until soft. Add broth, mustard, cream and brandy.
4. Cook 5 min. or until reduced to 1/2.
5. Place beef on serving plates. Top with sauce, garnish with chopped chives.

Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops

These Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops are a nice entree for a romantic meal. Lean the chop against a pile of stuffing and drizzle with the sauce for a nice tall presentation.

Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops

Stuffing:

• 4 oz. dried apricots, diced
• 1/4 cup brandy or red wine
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons fennel seed
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
• 2 eggs
• 8 ounces stuffing croutons
• Chicken broth- as needed for moisture

Chops:

• 8 4-ounce pork chops
• 1/4 cup apricot preserves
• 1/4 cup chicken broth

1. Soak dried diced apricots in the brandy or red wine for at least 15 minutes or up to 24 hours.
2. Combine marinated apricots with the remaining stuffing ingredients. Moisten with chicken broth as needed.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
4. Make a slit in the chops by slicing halfway up the thickness of the chop.
5. Stuff each chop with 1/3 cup of the stuffing mixture. Spoon the remaining stuffing into a baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
6. Combine the apricot preserves with 1/4 cup of chicken broth in a 9X13 inch baking dish. Spread the sauce evenly over the bottom of the baking dish and place the chops on top.
7. Cover both dishes with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes.
8. Check doneness with a meat thermometer. Pork is done when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

More Valentines Day Recipes

Strawberry Cream Meringues

What can I say? Dessert is my favorite part of the meal. I especially enjoy light, sweet and luscious desserts like this one. It has been a while since I made this, but now I am craving it again. This is a real contender for Valentine’s day.

Make the meringues in a heart shape for a romantic dessert. (Mine shown are not.) The whipped cream and strawberries on a meringue shell is a light and luscious dessert that satisfies the sweet tooth with a minimum of sugar.

Don’t put the cream into the meringue shells until you are ready to serve these, the meringue will begin to melt from the moisture if they have to sit at all.

Valentine Meringue Hearts

Meringues:

3 Egg whites

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon Cream of tartar

1 dash Salt

1 cup Sugar

Whipped Cream Topping

1 cup whipping cream

3 to 6 Tablespoons powdered sugar, to taste

1 pint Strawberries, sliced -reserve a few for garnish

Mint leaves for garnish- optional

Directions:

Cut a heart pattern from a 4-1/2 inch square of paper. Cover baking sheet with brown paper. (You can bake on the brown paper so make sure it is clean.) Grocery store bags without writing on them are okay. Draw 6 hearts on the brown paper using your pattern as a guide.

Beat egg whites with vanilla, cream of tartar and salt until frothy. Add sugar, a little at a time, and continue beating until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Rub a bit between your fingers to feel that no sugar remains undissolved.

Spread meringue over the heart shapes, 1/4 inch thick. Make into the heart shape using a spoon to push and form into correct shape. Pipe rim 3/4 inch high with pastry tube or build a rim with a spoon.

Bake in preheated 275-degree oven for 1 hour. Turn off oven and let meringues dry in oven for 1 more hour. DO NOT open oven door during this time.

Store meringue shells in a dry place until ready to fill. Do not refrigerate.

Add the powdered sugar to the whipping cream and beat the cream until soft peaks form. Taste the cream for sweetness, you want a barely sweet whipped cream.

Mix in the strawberries, reserving a few for garnish.

Assemble:

When you are ready to serve, place a large scoop of the strawberry cream onto the meringue shell. Garnish with reserved strawberries and a little mint if desired.

More Valentines Day Recipes

Countdown to Valentine’s Day: Penne Vodka

Everyday between now and Valentine’s day, I will be posting romantic recipes suitable for that special Valentine’s day meal.

Cooking is an act of love, and there is nothing more romantic than sitting down to a lovingly prepared meal. Consider skipping the crowded restaurant this year and share an intimate supper for two at home.

While not really southern, this pasta dish is definitely worth trying. The sauce is a rich pink color due to the tomatoes and cream making it a natural for valentine’s day. The flavors are rich and a little unexpected.

This recipe will make enough for 2 couples (serves 4). If you plan a romantic evening where more than two’s a crowd, reserve half the sauce to freeze for another meal before the addition of basil, and only cook 1/2 to 2/3 pound of pasta.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil,
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
• Coarse salt and pepper
• 16 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness.

Add vodka to the pan. Simmer until the vodka is reduced by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes.

Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.

Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat, do not allow it to boil.

Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Serve pasta with crusty bread and a nice salad.
More Valentines Day Recipes