This Valentine’s Day many couples will be enjoying a romantic dinner with the love of their life at a neighborhood restaurant. Sometimes couples prefer to create a romantic dinner at home instead of eating out.
If you are thinking about creating the perfect Valentine’s Day meal at home for your sweetie, here are some delicious recipes you might want to consider. These recipes are compliments of The Artisanal Kitchen (www.TheArtisanalKitchen.com). They were created by Anna Zoitas.
Cinnamon Poached Pears with Apple Caramel, Pecans and Crystallized Ginger
Ingredients:
6 pears
1 qt. apple juice
garnish:
¼ c pecans
¼ c dried cranberries
¼ c The Artisanal Kitchen Crystallized ginger
Directions:
Pour the apple juice (poaching liquid) into a large pot and bring to a simmer.
Peal, halve and scoop out the core or the pears, try to leave the stems intact. Place the pear halves in the poaching liquid for 30 minutes, or until toothpick tender.
While the poached pears are cooling, take about 1 cup of the poaching liquid and pour into a sauté pan. Over medium-high flame, reduce for about 10 minutes, whisking sporadically. Liquid should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Once pears are cooled, plate two halves per container, one half cut side down and the other cut side up. Drizzle reduced poaching liquid into pear well and lightly over both halves. Sprinkle pecans, cranberries, and crystallized ginger, chopped if you’d like.
Optional: garnish with a sprig of mint as well.
Olive oil and Lemon Curd Cake
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups Flour
3 large Eggs
½ cup Three Olives Olive Oil
1 cup sugar
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup lemon curd
½ cup Greek yoghurt
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ stick butter
2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tea spoons baking powder
Pinch of Artisanal Kitchen Pacific Ocean Salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter, set aside. Cream sugar, eggs and butter for about 3 minutes. Add dry ingredients in sections, do not over mix. Incorporate the rest of the ingredients.
Pour batter into parchment lined and olive oiled baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
“Just Right” Banana Crisps-Chocolate-Fruit Jumbles
Ingredients:
½ cup semisweet baking chocolate
1 cup Artisanal Banana Crisps (or you can use sweet-n-tart mango, pineapple or coconut flavors)
¼ cup mixed dried fruits, like raisins, cherries or cranberries
¼ cup roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
Directions:
Melt the chocolate in a covered double boiler over low heat, stirring occasionally until smooth, or microwave in a non-metallic bowl until melted. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat and gently mix in Artisanal Banana Crisps, dried fruits and peanuts.
Drop by tablespoonful’s into mounds on cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate until set. Makes about 10 clusters. Store in an airtight container.
“Addictively Delicious” Coconut-Ginger Crisps, Toffee-Like Cookies
Ingredients:
¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Coconut Crisps
¼ cup Artisanal Kitchen crystallized ginger, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter with sugar and maple syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Stir in flour just until smooth; stir in Artisanal Coconut Crisps and crystallized ginger.
Drop batter by heaping teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake 10 to 14 minutes, 1 cookie sheet at a time, until cookies are a light, golden brown.
Cool cookies on parchment on wire racks. Makes about 1 ½ dozen cookies. Store in an airtight container.
Kimberly
*I was not compensated for this post. I posted these recipes for the enjoyment of my site readers, compliments from The Artisanal Kitchen.
Calli says
These look decadent. I might try the “Just Right” Banana Crisps-Chocolate-Fruit Jumbles since they look so easy to make!