Dinner for Two on Valentine's Day

Mondays can be a drag. But with one exception ... Monday, February 14, will be St Valentine's Day and love will definitely be in the air, so the only 'drag' in the scenario will be for those couples who celebrated so much, they have to drag themselves to work Tuesday morning!

February 14 should be a day for lovers only of all sizes, shapes, ages and colour. So, if you're a casualty of the ongoing recession or just want to do something different, how about a romantic dinner for two on Valentine's Day. Enjoy a bottle of wine as you prepare your love feast together. Be creative and get out those cookbooks or download any of the following recipes for the evening's meal.

The authors of Food As Foreplay, say it all in this excerpt: "... an aphrodisiac isn't something you buy from a gnarled old woman who lives in a tree. It is the resonance, tone, timbre that you bring to cooking. Love radiates from your heart, seeps into the food and gives it the mystical quality that ignites the soul. The real aphrodisiac is you."

Plan and prepare your dinner together. The meal doesn't have to be an elaborate or time-consuming chore; if your partner's favourite food is macaroni and cheese, serve it in a nice dish and enjoy. Or this might be the perfect time to splurge on lobsters, a few pounds of shrimp, or delicious filet mignon or prime rib.

"... Remember, candles, wine and a smile can turn Ragu into amore." Set your table with your best dinnerware, romantic linens, flowers, and candles. Go to the computer and check about.com for any of these recipes: lamb chops red-wine sauce, stuffed chicken breast, grilled fillet of snapper with garlic butter, breaded pork chops for two, lobster any way you like it, spare ribs with mango sauce, curried shrimp, spaghetti with Alfredo sauce.

But don't forget dessert. You can definitely have fun making it together. Here are two simple easy sweet treats.

Sweet treats

The highlight of Valentine's Day is of course dessert. If your special someone does not have a sweet tooth or is diabetic, it's a good thing we are living in the tropics. There is an abundance of fruits now in season so get creative.

Chocolate-dipped strawberries

For most, this is the ultimate sweet treat for Valentine's Day. You can pick up a pack of strawberries at your local supermarket and a bar of your favourite chocolate.

Just follow the simple directions below to melt it, dip your strawberries and place in fridge to chill until you're ready.

Melting chocolate

Melting chocolate requires gentle heat. Chocolate that is overheated may scorch, lose flavour and turn coarse and grainy. Stir melting chocolate after it has begun to liquefy. White chocolate should be stirred almost constantly while dark chocolate need only be stirred occasionally during melting.

Here are two good methods for melting chocolate so that it is smooth and glossy.

In a microwave oven

Place coarsely chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe container and microwave at medium (50 per centpower) for 1 1/2 to 4 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted.

Stir milk and white chocolates after about 1 1/2 minutes. Because of their milk proteins, they need to be stirred sooner than dark chocolate. (If overheated, these chocolates may become grainy.)

In a double boiler

Place coarsely chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water. Melt the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Remove the top part of the double boiler from the bottom.

NB: Make sure chocolate does not come in contact with water, not even a few drops

Ultimate brownie

8 1-ounce squares of unsweetened chocolate

1 cup butter

5 eggs

3 cups sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

Method:

Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.

Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat; set aside. In a mixer, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla at high speed for 10 minutes.

Blend in chocolate mixture, flour and salt until just mixed. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake brownies for 35-40 minutes. (Don't overbake.) Cool, slice and frost if desired. Frosting can be just streaks of chocolate syrup.

Recipe from: http://baking.about.com/od/brownies/r/ultimate.htm

Source: Google: Valentine's day food/recipes).