In case you’ve missed all of the retail propaganda – Saturday is Valentine’s Day! And with everyone watching their pennies, why not pull off a special dinner at home instead of pulling out your wallet. With a little effort, you’ll sweep your sweetie off their feet. Really, what says ‘I Love You’ better than food? Around here, Vday has always been celebrated with a special night in…. a nice dinner, good wine and a decadent dessert. Even if you aren’t a baking whiz, you’ll look like a pro with this easy no-bake dessert…. Chocolate Strawberries!
- large beautiful strawberries (relatively easy to find this week even though it’s winter, splurge on the long stems for extra wow-effect)
- good quality semisweet chocolate (I like Nestle Chocolatier – available in grocery stores)
- parchment or wax paper
What you’ll do:
Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over low simmering water until just melted. Stir and remove from the heat. Dip each strawberry in the chocolate and set aside on waxed or parchment paper to dry. Once chocolate is set, remove from paper and arrange on a white plate.
If you tackle the strawberries and have a new sense of culinary confidence… why not go for the gusto. Here is a fabulous dinner at home:
- Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon (Martha Stewart)
- Potatoes Fondantes (Jacques Pepin)
- Sauteed Spinach with Shallots (Gourmet Magazine)
- Benziger 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
- Shortbread Hearts (Ina Garten)
