Valentine's Day
is a special time to show love to all of your loved
ones. Whether you're having a couples dinner party, a romantic interlude
for two, or treating
the kids to
something special, these Valentine's
Day dessert recipes are perfect sweet treats. Make
them special by serving on your best dessert plates and
stemware.
The flavors and ingredients to think of when planning
Valentine's
desserts are dark
chocolate (da!), strawberry, orange,
cherry; vanilla and
chocolate pastry creams, sweet whipped cream, tender
pastry, mint, peppermint and lavender.
Valentine's
Dessert Recipes_________
Super Easy
Chocolate Mousse
Serves
6
1 cup semisweet
chocolate morsels (6 ounces)
3 cups heavy cream,
divided
2 tablespoons
sugar
Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish
Melt the chocolate
morsels in the top of a double boiler. Whisk in 1 cup heavy cream until
well
blended. Remove from the heat. Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes until the
mixture
has reached room temperature.
In a large, chilled
mixing bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups cream and the sugar. Use a
handheld
or electric mixer to whip them together until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold half of
the melted chocolate mixture into the whipped cream. Add the second
half, and
fold in gently.
Spoon mousse into individual dessert cups. Add a
dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with
grated white
or dark chocolate
Easy Rum Pots De Creme
Serves 2-4
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon rum
6 ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch salt
Heat milk to boiling point. Place all other ingredients in an electric
blender, and carefully add hot milk. Blend at low speed one minute.
Stir with a
rubber spatula to remove bubbles. Pour into small dessert cups and
chill
several hours before serving.
Get the Ball Rolling
Makes about 30 depending on size
This sexy Valentine's
dessert recipe combines two favorites, chocolate and wine
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafer
1/3 cup fruity red wine, such as a Port or Beaujolais
1/4 cup honey
2 cups ground walnuts
Granulated sugar
In
3-quart saucepan
over low heat,
melt chocolate chips and honey ,
stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir
in vanilla wafers, walnuts and wine. Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in
sugar.
Store chocolates in tightly covered container.
Preferably, let stand several days to blend
flavors. Flavor improves with age up to 4 weeks.
Easy Tiramisu
Serves 10-12
5 ozs. chocolate liqueur, divided
20 ladyfingers
1 pound marscarpone cheese
4 ozs. dark chocolate, grated
1/2 cup espresso or strong coffee
2 eggs, separated
1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
.
Mix 3 oz of the liqueur with espresso. Dip ladyfingers into this
mixture and place in a single layer in a shallow 13"x9" baking
dish.
Beat together marscarpone cheese, egg yolks, sugar and the
remaining 2
ozs. liqueur until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip egg
whites until stiff. Fold into
cheese mixture.
Pour cheese mixture over ladyfingers; sprinkle with chocolate and
refrigerate overnight.
Brandied StrawberryYogurt
Serves 4
1 Pint Fresh Strawberries,
cleaned and halved
3 Tablespoon Sugar
3 Egg yolks
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Brandy
1/3 Cup Sugar
1 Dash Nutmeg
2 Cup Plain Yogurt
2 Tablespoon Sliced Almonds
1/4 Cup Chocolate shavings
Combine strawberries and sugar. Let stand 15 minutes. Beat together
yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and brandy until smooth. Fold in
yogurt.
Spoon
strawberries into 4 dessert dishes. Cover with topping
and garnish with almonds and chocolate.
Strawberry,
Chocolate, And Cheese Parfait
Makes 2 servings
Kids will love this one
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 tablespoon strawberry, cherry or orange liqueur
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1-1/2 teaspoon granulated
sugar
1-1/2
teaspoon whipping
cream
1/2 ounce dark chocolate chips
In small mixing bowl combine strawberries and liqueur; set
aside. In
a separate small mixing bowl, combine cheese, sugar, and cream.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Spoon
half of the cheese mixture iinto parfait glasses or individual
dessert
dishes. Top each with the remaining mixture. Serve
immediately or cover and refrigerate until chilled.
Easy Pears
and Chocolate Sauce
Serves
8, recipe can be cut in half
To make this Valentine's
dessert recipe even easier, use warmed
chocolate ice cream topping instead of making your own
2 2/3 Cups Water
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cups Sugar
8 Ripe, small whole pears
CHOCOLATE SAUCE
2 Squares of unsweetened chocolate
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Corn syrup
1 Tablespoon Butter
Combine water, sugar, and vanilla in a large saucepan and boil for
several minutes. Then add the pears, and simmer, covered, for 10-25
minutes (depending on hardness of pears)
until tender. Drain and cool.
Melt chocolate. Add corn
syrup. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and butter. Stir well.
Arrange pears
upright on serving dish. Place scoop of vanilla ice cream on plate.
Pour the chocolate sauce over the pears and serve immediately. Serve
with remaining sauce and
cookies or sprinkled with chopped almonds or walnuts
Quick &
Creamy Applesauce
Serves 2
1 Cup Applesauce; unsweetened
1 Cup nonfat yogurt. Use plain, vanilla or apple
flavors
1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/2 Teaspoon Apple pie spice, more or less to taste
3 Teaspoons Sugar, or to taste
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix thoroughly. Spoon into martini
glasses or small ramekins. Chill. Serve with thin apple
slices, gingersnaps, chocolate or
vanilla wafers
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Links to Keep Your Romance Tasty!
Romantic Dinner Menus
White
Chocolate Crème Brulee
Apple
Crepes
Chocolate Filled Angel
Luscious
Lemon Tart
Dinner
Party Menus
Dinner Party Menus II
Appetizer Ideas
Flavorful Mixed Drinks
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