Valentine's Day  Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com Valentine's Day Recipes: Valentine's Day Dinner Recipes: Valentine’s Day Main Dishes(Contd.):  6.Cupid's Chicken Skewers(4 Servings):
Ingredients:
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into long strips; Wooden skewers;
Marinade:
1 C. honey; 2 sticks butter, melted; 1 T. Worcestershire sauce; 2 oz. Southern Comfort; Juice of 1 lime; 3 oz. balsamic vinegar;
Dipping Sauce:
1 C. Chinese sweet chili sauce; 2 oz. Southern Comfort; 2 sprigs of cilantro (chopped); 1 lime (juiced); 1 T. hot sauce; 3 oz. honey; 1 oz. sesame oil;
Method:
Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl, and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine dipping sauce ingredients, and set aside. Slide the skewers lengthwise through each piece of chicken breast. Place the skewered breasts in marinade and let stand 1 hour. Grill the chicken until done or lightly browned on each side. Remove from the grill and serve with the dipping sauce.  7.Heart Shaped Valentine Pizza(2 Servings):
Ingredients:
1 large Pizza shell, pre-baked; 1/3 cup Pizza sauce; 1/3 cup Mozzarella or Jack cheese, grated; 12 large Shrimp, cooked; 1 medium Red Bell Pepper; 3 Pieces artichoke hearts, frozen and thawed, sliced; Olive oil; Minced Basil;
Method:
Trim the pizza shell(s) or foccacia bread into heart shape, place on pizza pan or baking sheet. Spread pizza sauce on shell to near edge. Sprinkle cheese over sauce, not quite to edge of sauce. Place shrimp, in pairs, tails touching, to make hearts, on top of cheese. Do the same with some slices of red bell pepper, using the top, where it curves, for the top of the heart. Put a few slices of artichoke heart here and there. drizzle a little olive oil over top. Sprinkle with minced basil (optional). Bake at 375 degrees until cheese melts and pizza is piping hot. Serve hot.  8.Roasted New Potatoes with Shallots and Sage(4 servings):
Ingredients:
3 T. butter; 1/2 C. chopped fresh sage; 2 pounds medium-size red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed, quartered; 1/2 t. dried rubbed sage; 8 shallots, peeled, halved lengthwise;
Method:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook butter and fresh sage in small saucepan over medium-heat until butter simmers and is well flavored with sage, about 4 minutes. Toss potatoes with dried sage and 1 tablespoon sage butter in bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer potatoes to 2 baking sheets. Bake 20 minutes. Toss shallots in same bowl with 1 tablespoon sage butter. Season with salt and pepper. Divide shallots between baking sheets. Roast until potatoes and shallots are tender and golden, turning occasionally, about 35 minutes longer. Transfer potatoes and shallots to large bowl. Add remaining sage butter; toss. Season with salt and pepper.  9.Shrimp Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce(Serves 4):
Ingredients:
Shrimp Mousse:
8 ounces can water chestnuts, drained; 8 ounces peeled, deveined shrimp; 1 garlic clove minced; 1 scallion, minced; 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1/2 teaspoon sugar; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1 package wonton wrappers; 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro or scallion greens;
Roasted Pepper Sauce:
2 large red or yellow bell peppers; 1 garlic clove, chopped; 1 cup Vegetable or Chicken Stock; 1 1/2 tablespoon balsamic or wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads soaked in 1 tablespoon of warm water (optional); Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; Pinch of cayenne pepper;
Method:
For Shrimp Mousse: Finely chop the water chestnuts in a food processor and transfer to a mixing bowl. Puree the shrimp in the food processor. Add the garlic, scallion, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, and salt and pepper; puree again. Stir the shrimp mousse into the water chestnuts. Correct the seasoning, adding salt to taste. (Note: To taste the mixture for seasoning without eating raw shrimp, cook a tiny bit of mousse on the end of a spoon in boiling water). Prepare the Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot for cooking the ravioli. Spread a few wonton wrappers on a work surface. Lightly brush the edges with water. Place a teaspoon of shrimp mousse in the center of each and fold in half on the diagonal. Starting at one end and continuing to the other, seal the edges by gently patting with your fingers. It's important to make a hermetic seal. Assemble the remaining ravioli in this fashion. Transfer the finished ravioli to a cake rack. Cook the ravioli in the boiling water until the pasta is translucent and the filing is firm and white, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the ravioli in a colander. Spoon the pepper sauce on plates or a platter and arrange ravioli on top. Sprinkle with cilantro or scallion greens and serve at once.
For Roasted Pepper Sauce: Roast the peppers over high heat on a barbecue grill, under a broiler, or directly over a gas or electric burner until charred and black on all sides. Turn as necessary with tongs: The whole process should take 8 to 10 minutes. Wrap the charred peppers in wet paper towels and let cool. Scrape the charred skin off the peppers, using the tip of a paring knife.  10.Crockpot Beef Stroganoff:
Ingredients:
1-1/2 lbs. beef sirloin tip, cut into 1" cubes; 16 oz. pkg. baby carrots; 2 onions, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves; 1/8 tsp. pepper; 1 bay leaf; 1-1/2 cups beef broth; 1/2 cup apple juice; 8 oz. carton sour cream; 1/4 cup flour; 1/4 cup water;
Method:
Combine everything except sour cream, flour, and water in a 3-1/2 quart slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours (high for 4-5 hours). Remove and discard bay leaf. Combine sour cream, flour, and water in medium bowl and mix well, using a whisk. Add 1 cup of the hot liquid from the crockpot to the sour cream mixture and stir until combined. Return this mixture to the crockpot and stir well. Cover crockpot and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until thickened and bubbly. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles.  Back To Recipe Index Valentine's Day Side Dishes |
