Valentine dinner

[melissadh]

I am looking for some ideas on a nice romantic valentines dinner. I would like something not to involved and time consuming since I will be making it after work and would like for it to be a surprise and ready when my husband gets home from work. Any ideas for dinner and dessert?

[MrsReber]

Well, I can tell you what I'm planning- we have some bacon wrapped filet mingnon and I'll probably make a side dish of potatoes and a green veggie. For dessert, I wanted to make a CL cheesecake, just haven't decided which one yet. I'd probably have to make it over the weekend, though. I have a heart shaped springform pan that I want to use. Either that or I wanted to try the CL cream puffs that somebody posted a few days ago.
But you just never know- maybe my wonderful adoring husband will actually surprise me and cook dinner! Well, I can always hope http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[luv2cook]

good luck, Mrs. Reber. My DH has only cooked 2x in nine years! But at least he cleans up after me!

[BarrieCov]

My most successful Valentine's Day meal was also the simplest! I did a completely red meal: beet-dyed pasta with red sauce, salad of radicchio and red-leaf lettuce with raspberry vinaigrette, red grapes with port wine cheese, red wine and a red raspberry tart for dessert. DH still talks about this one.

[venus]

Barrie--

What a great idea! I love it.

In the past I've made things like mesclun salad with gorgonzola cheese and figs, baked brie, caramelized onion tart, oysters with red beet cocktail sauce, tropical fruit salad, a 2 inch thick dry aged porterhouse, broiled lobster...I try to base our meals around something that will taste good with champagne, since that's all I will drink on V day.

My DH has informed me that he will cook this year, so my V day meal is guaranteed to be drowned in butter and garlic. Yum.

[eloise forever]

I have only attempted a special Valentine's Day meal once. I suppose it was simple enough, but very messy and expensive. We boiled lobsters and made french fries! It was great and very special because we had never cooked lobsters before. For dessert I made two individual sized Coeur a la Creme with a strawberry sauce. They were beautiful and delicious.

[Leanne]

What about using beets in a salad that are cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter? (or by hand - much harder though!)

Maybe a pasta with sundried tomatoes & red pepper slices (add goat cheese & pinenuts - mmm...)

Definitely some white dessert with either strawberry or raspberry puree.

I've also seen some strawberries, that when they're sliced, they look like hearts.

Maybe tomato soup or lobster bisque (both are red) with a white cream sauce drizzled on the top in the shape of a heart.

You could make some sort of marinated "heart" salad with artichoke hearts &/or hearts of palm.

[BarrieCov]

Wow Venus, your meal sounds great - much more ambitious than I have been lately. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

And cutting the beets into heart shapes is a great idea - especially since I love beets in any shape! May use this for hubby's salad.

[browneye]

Well, Valentines day is also my DH birthday, so I do some of his favorites, then he takes me out on Friday night!
This year it is Scallop Bisque, to start, then Herbed Rack of Lamb with stuffed patapan squash, Potato and onion gratin, followed by Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes for dessert! The cakes can be made the day ahead, the herbed rack of lamb is fairly fast, the other sides will whip up in 30 minutes or less! However, the Scallop Bisque is not too quick.

[This message has been edited by browneye (edited 02-09-2001).]

[ElinorC]

browneye,
Could you please post your recipe for stuffed pattypan squash? It sounds terrific. TIA

[AdGirl]

browneye,

could you also post your recipe for the individual molten chocolate cakes? my boyfriend loves chocolate gateau and this sounds semi-close...

thanks in advance!

[Leanne]

While we're at it browneye - how about that scallop bisque? Nothing else you were making even registered after I read you were making the bisque.

[browneye]

Here is the chocolate cake: From Bon Appetit, these are NOT lowfat.Also, I don't make the mint sauce, it seems like overkill to me, I just serve the cakes with Vanilla Ice Cream....

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH MINT FUDGE SAUCE


These cakes are slightly underbaked so that the chocolate center oozes when cut into.
Sauce
4 1/2 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup hot water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Cakes
5 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Vanilla ice cream

For sauce: Stir both chocolates in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted. Add 1/3 cup hot water, corn syrup and extract; whisk until smooth. Remove from over water. Cool slightly. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill. Before serving, rewarm in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.)

For cakes: Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted. Cool slightly. Whisk eggs and egg yolks in large bowl to blend. Whisk in sugar, then chocolate mixture and flour. Pour batter into dishes, dividing equally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)

Bake cakes until sides are set but center remains soft and runny, about 11 minutes or up to 14 minutes for batter that was refrigerated. Run small knife around cakes to loosen. Immediately turn cakes out onto plates. Spoon sauce around cakes. Serve with ice cream.

Makes 6.


Bon Appétit
January 2001
Gale Gand

Tru and Brasserie T, Chicago, IL







[This message has been edited by browneye (edited 02-10-2001).]

[browneye]

The pattypan squash idea, I invented, so here goes. It is one of those thing I have never written down. Here is the general idea:

Cut the "lids" off of the 2 large pattypan squash, and a little off of the bottoms so they will sit up straight in a pan. Scoop out the insides with a melon baller or spoon. Leave about 1/3 inch thick shell. Coarsely chop the scooped squash. Heat a little olive oil in a saute pan. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and saute until soft, then add the chopped squash. Saute just until tender. Add an egg white, and some crushed saltines, fresh chopped basil, (or dried), parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Stir until combined. Stuff mixture back into the squash shells. Place in a baking dish, bake at about 375 for about 10 minutes or until shells are tender but still holding their shape. (this may be longer up to 20 minutes).I then sprinkle with a mixture of plain or seasoned bread crumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese and return to the oven until lightly browned. These are really visually appealing and yummy! Sorry for the sketchy recipe.

[luv2cook]

Hubby informed me yesterday that we have 5:00 reservations somewhere AND he's going to come to my tap class and watch...I don't know if I should be happy about that part or not http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

[browneye]

Leanne: I am searching for the cookbook with the Scallop Bisque. I will post when I locate..It is actually Scallop and Snow Pea Bisque, if that makes any difference to you. It also is not lowfat, but this is Valentines/Birthday special dinner so I am going all out.

[LGBurns]

My husband and I had our Valentine's dinner on Friday night (I have to work Valentine's Day http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif). I made the Malaysian Lime Coconut Swordfish from July 00 CL, Asian Asparagus Orange Salad (April 99 CL), and Fragrant Jasmine Rice from Moosewood Lowfat Favorites. The best part was that it was very easy to make and didn't take more than 45 minutes from beginning to end. Plus, it was very elegant looking. Now, for dessert I made pumpkin pie, but only because that is my husband's absolute favorite dessert and I hadn't made it since Christmas. Not exactly what you would imagine for a dessert for Valentine's Day but DH thought it was very romantic http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif.

[This message has been edited by LGBurns (edited 02-11-2001).]

[Peggy]

Today I finally had a chance to finalize my Valentine's Day dinner menu. It is as follows:

Appetizer: Crab, Jicama, and Mango Salad with Lemon-Curry Dressing (Food/Wine Pairing Cookbook)

Entree: Filet Mignon "Diana" (Food/WIne Pairing Cookbook)

Side Dishes: Basmati Pilaf with Almonds and Cilantro (CL Jan/Feb '01)
Steamed Asparagus

Dessert: Double Chocolate Souffle Torte with Raspberry Sauce (CL Jan/Feb '01) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Can't wait!! I haven't tried any of these recipes before so it should be great fun!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Peggy

[Leanne]

Originally posted by browneye:
Leanne: I am searching for the cookbook with the Scallop Bisque. I will post when I locate..It is actually Scallop and Snow Pea Bisque, if that makes any difference to you. It also is not lowfat, but this is Valentines/Birthday special dinner so I am going all out.


You just made it sound even better!

[MrsReber]

Change of plans for us! This is going to sound pretty lame after reading all of these posts, but....This really great Italian place near us is making heart shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day. Okay, I know I could make my own pizza and shape it like a heart, but this way we don't have to cook. We wanted to try their pizza anyway. The owners of this place make great food, all the ingredients are so very fresh- he has a tiny restaurant with take out and does catering- got 4 stars from the critics! So it's pizza, stuffed baked clams and a refreshing tossed salad. And no mess to clean up!! And we can spend more time staring lovingly into each others eyes http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[BeckyM]

I've decided to surprise my husband with a special dinner. We went out Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary & Valentine's Day (we got married on the 13th), so he's not expecting anything else. He has to work late Wednesday night, so that should give me plenty of time!

I've decided I'm going to make the Balsamic Chicken Breasts with Almond Peppers (the name might not be exactly right, but it's something like that) that was one of the "best of the best" recipes in the back of the magazine sometime this past year. I'm also going to make Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes, because my husband loves potatoes, and I don't make them all that often (usually because we have pasta or some other starch instead). I'm thinking I'll also do a spinach salad (which he loves), but I haven't yet figured out what to do for dessert. We're both really trying to be healthy and watch what we eat, so I don't want to make anything too decadent. Maybe some fruit sorbet with fresh strawberries? I can't wait! I'm also going to put candles on the table, use our fancy placemats, etc.

[JHolcomb]

I'm making dinner on Tuesday night (our 3 mo. anniversary) and I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing for the entree, but I just made the dessert-raspberry and chocolate napoleons from the Martha Stewart website. These are NOT low fat, but oh well, they look good. I'll probably also make a filet (I'd rather have shrimp or fish, but DH loves filet) and probably do a wild rice pilaf with wild mushrooms. And red wine since we don't like champagne.

[GayeC]

I just achieved "member" status. Hurray!

The responses in this thread have inspired me to cook a nice Valentine's dinner (on Sunday night -- we have children's activities Wed. - Fri. and a commitment to a friend to babysit on Sat.). My husband is planning to take me out to dinner. But our budget is very tight right now, so you all have inspired me to put together a nice dinner at home (the children will be going to the in-laws!) Thanks!