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Fruit Salad Laced With Bacon and Cider Vinaigrette

March 1, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
Vinegar is sometimes infused with spices or he...
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What You Need:

3 T butter, room temperature
2 T sugar
1 1/2 t cinnamon, divided
1/2 t red pepper, divided
4 slices whole wheat bread, remove the crust
1/2 C canola oil
2 green onions, chopped fine
½ C raisins
1/4 C apple cider
2 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 (10 oz) salad greens
1 pear, cored and sliced thin
1 apple, cored and sliced thin
4 pieces of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/4 C walnuts, toasted
1/4 C Swiss cheese, shredded

How to Cook It:

Place the oven temperature on 400 degrees and allow it to heat while preparing the croutons.
Place the butter in a mixing bowl.
Add the sugar, 1 t of cinnamon and 1/4 t of the red pepper.
Mix together until well blended.
Spread the slices of bread with the mixture.
Place the bread of a baking sheet and bake 8 minutes turning once or until the bread is toasted to your liking.
Remove the toasted bread and allow it to cool to room temperature then cut into bite size pieces.
Place the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add the green onions and stirring occasionally cook 3 minutes or until tender.
Put the raisins in the skillet and stir to incorporate with the onions.
Pour in the apple cider and vinegar.
Sprinkle in the salt, pepper, the remaining cinnamon and the remaining red pepper.
Stir until all the ingredients are combined and cook until heated through about 5 minutes.
Place the salad greens into a large salad bowl.
Add the sliced pears and apples and toss to combine
Pour the warm dressing over the salad and toss to cover the salad well.
Sprinkle the crumbled bacon, walnuts, cheese and croutons over the top just before serving.

Serving Size: 4

This is a warm and loving salad that you can serve with your Valentine’s Day dinner. You can use grapes cut in half instead of the raisins just add them in with the pears and apples. The walnuts can also be replaced with pecans or almonds if you prefer.

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Homemade Chocolate Desserts for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 13: Heart shaped chocolat...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Chocolate is one of our favorite treats. On Valentine’s Day, we are surrounded by chocolate. Instead of buying that box of chocolates, create some chocolate treats at home.

Chocolate is actually good for us. Let me rephrase that before you make a run on the store. Dark chocolate is actually full of good things like antioxidants that help to keep our bodies healthy. Consuming a little dark chocolate each day has a beneficial effect.

Remind your sweetie of that on Valentine’s Day. As long as you purchase dark chocolate, they don’t have to feel guilty about eating sweets. Use some dark chocolate to create homemade chocolate desserts to enjoy on Valentine’s Day.

A favorite chocolate dessert is lava cakes. Just like the name implies, once you cut into the cake, the gooey chocolate runs out of the center. Use a stencil to create a powdered sugar heart on top of each one.

When making chocolate desserts that call for melted chocolate it is important to do it right. We have all had those boo-boo’s in the kitchen with chocolate that we’d rather not mention. For instance, turning the burner on high will not melt the chocolate any faster—neither will adding water to the pan and swirling the chocolate around. All you’ll end up with is a very expensive mess.

Chocolate bricks are not cheap so use them sparingly and wisely. If you need to melt chocolate, do so in a non-stick saucepan. Chocolate melts best over low heat.

You don’t need to stir the chocolate for it to melt. Once the chocolate takes on a glassy appearance, it has melted. The chocolate can be removed from the heat and stirred into the recipe.

Even a hint of chocolate in the dessert can be tasted by us chocolate connoisseurs. If you are making a cake, add a bit of melted chocolate to turn it into a chocolate pound cake or a chocolate cheesecake.

For a sinful dessert create icing to top your chocolate creations. A chocolate cake, cupcake, or pie covered in chocolate icing or chocolate sauce makes it heavenly. Only those with a really sweet tooth can handle such a chocolate dessert. It is not for newbies.

There are tons of chocolate desserts you can create for Valentine’s Day to surprise your gal or guy. Try out some chocolate truffles or a chocolate trifle bowl dessert. Chocolate is also an aphrodisiac so watch out if you eat too much!

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Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two

February 13, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

No one takes the day off for Valentine’s Day, so dinner is usually the meal of choice for couples to share. This year, instead of eating out, use your extra cash to create a bistro like setting in your home. Serve up a romantic dinner for two this year that you put together.

The first thing to decide is how fancy you desire this dinner date to be. You can keep it simple and spend more time whipping up a generous dessert or vice versa. Knowing the special person in question like you do, the choice won’t be too hard.

Simple Dinner Ideas

For those of you, who feel the need for speed, go with a dish that is easy to prepare. Since there will be just the two of you, opt for Cornish hens instead of a big roasting chicken. They are so small that you can marinate these little beauties before baking them for a flavor that will infuse through the meat.

Maybe red meat is more to your liking. Find the best cuts of steak or a small roast to be the main dish. New York strip steaks or a T-bone will have everyone’s mouth watering. You don’t usually eat it every day because they are so expensive so treat yourself and your companion. Steaks don’t take long to cook either.

Any dish that can be prepared ahead of time and slipped in the oven on Valentine’s Day is considered a simple dinner. Fix a casserole meal with only a few ingredients. You can do wonders with chicken breasts, rice, and cream soup.

Fancier Fare

Some of you may use Valentine’s Day as the time to stretch your cooking repertoire. In that case, you want to tantalize your sweetie with a feast for the eyes and the palate. It will take some time to prepare such a meal but that’s okay since it’ll be for a special person.

For a welcome change, consider doing a multiple course dinner. Serve an appetizer, then a salad, and then the dinner meal. Follow with a decadent dessert and coffee or a cognac. He or she will be impressed with a presentation like that.

Set the Mood

While dinner is cooking, have some sort of snack to set the mood for the meal and the rest of the evening. A few strawberries with a glass of champagne aren’t a bad way to begin. The combination of sweet strawberries and sparkling champagne will tickle the tongue and relax you both.

Are you thinking of a romantic dinner this year? Stay home and prepare the meal yourself. Make it a night to remember.

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Easy Valentine’s Day Recipes

February 12, 2009 By The Recipe Mom 1 Comment

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, most people go out for dinner. If you have a family this can get expensive. Try a few easy recipes to prepare a nice dinner for your loving family in no time.

Crock Pot

Get those slow cookers working. We often use it when we know we’ll be late getting home so dinner will be ready. The slow cooker is an asset on Valentine’s Day also. Most of the crock pots on the market today have a removable inner pot that is fashionable enough to serve at the table.

Cooking with a crock pot will free you up to do other fun Valentine’s Day things instead of standing in the kitchen. Some meal ideas for the slow cooker: beef roast with vegetables, chicken cacciatore, roasted chicken with vegetables, Swedish meatballs. The crock pot can be set to cook slowly (ten hours) or a bit faster (4 hours).

Cook-ahead meals

Dinner can be harried even on Valentine’s Day. Watching boiling pots and hot skillets not to mention something in the oven can absolutely fry your brain. Free your mind to enjoy this day of love by trying a dish that is easy to prepare ahead of time and just needs to be baked on Valentine’s Day.

Casseroles are the easiest make-ahead dishes. They can feature beef, chicken, or pork. Even fish like salmon or tilapia can be marinated and dressed the day before and wrapped in foil to bake on Valentine’s Day. Avoid adding milk or eggs before you are ready to cook the meal. If the dish calls for cooked meat, cook and cube the meat the day before and combine all ingredients in the casserole dish when you are ready to pop it in the oven.

Five or Fewer Ingredients

Another alternative to the slow cooker or cooking ahead is using a recipe that has five or fewer ingredients. When you have fewer ingredients, prep time is cut dramatically. While the food is baking you can occupy yourself with spending time with the family.

With so few ingredients, kids can even help with dinner. To further cut preparation time, if anything such as vegetables need to be cubed, diced, or sliced so that the day before and refrigerate them.

Pasta dishes fall into this category. Besides the pasta, you usually have sauce and some sort of meat or seafood. The pasta, sauce, and meat can all cook at the same time which saves time.

On Valentine’s Day, you want to be occupied with family and/or your sweetie. Slaving in the kitchen is not in the game plan. With a little pre-planning, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time having fun.

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Cupid’s Paprika Potato Wedges

February 11, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

3 large baking potatoes
1/4 C canola oil
2 t paprika
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 T Parmesan cheese, grated

How to Make It:

Place the oven temperature on 425 degrees and allow the oven to heat while preparing the potatoes.
Line a baking pan with foil then spray the foil with a non stick cooking spray.
Wash the potatoes under cold water then pat dry.
Cut each potato into 8 even size wedges.
Place the oil, paprika, salt and pepper into a sealable plastic bag.
Seal and shake to mix the ingredients together.
Add the potatoes and reseal.
Shake until all the potatoes are covered well.
Remove the potatoes and place skin side down in the prepared baking pan.
Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over all the potatoes.
Bake 35 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

Serving Size: 6

These potato wedges make a great side dish for any Valentine’s Day lunch. Serve them with a little sour cream or salsa and your loved ones will be in seventh heaven.

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Romantic Valentine’s Desserts

February 10, 2009 By The Recipe Mom 1 Comment
MOSHAV MENUKHA, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 7: A worker ...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

What will you give your sweetheart this year for Valentine’s Day? If the gift includes a quiet dinner at home or out, consider a few romantic ideas for dessert. Turn on the charm as you provide a sweet ending to the meal.

Maybe you want to get out for dinner this Valentine’s Day. If you have kids, a little rest and relaxation as a couple instead of a couple of parents is probably in order. Skip dessert at the restaurant and share some cozy moments at home with a dessert made for two.

Even if you are not the baking type, you can still have tasty desserts. Order one from a gourmet bakery or the bakery section of your grocery store. There will be no shortage of interesting desserts available for the tasting on this day.

How about fruit? Fruit always has a way of sneaking into Valentine’s Day somehow. Try chocolate covered strawberries. If you want a twist on the traditional milk chocolate, try plump red strawberries dipped in white or dark chocolate. Let them come to room temperature before eating them with a glass of champagne.

Try some puddings. We often think of chocolate on Valentine’s Day but that is not the only flavor of pudding. Try banana or vanilla. Top it off with whipped cream and some cherries for a light yet sweet dessert.

Whatever you choose for a romantic dessert, eat it in moderation. On the one day set aside for romance, you don’t want to gorge yourself on rich dessert and fall asleep before the romance can begin. Choose a dessert that you can feed to each other (for a little extra fun), or one that is not too filling.

Instead of a large cake, use ramekin dishes to bake individual cakes that are perfect for a romantic dessert treat. Chocolate lava cakes, strawberry shortcake, and others will bake nicely in smaller dishes. Top with rich sauce, icing, or powdered sugar. There will be just enough dessert to satisfy.

Another idea would involve preparing an assortment of desserts like with fondue. You can create a sweet sauce in the fondue pot like chocolate (white or dark) and then dip cubed pieces of dessert into it. Small inch squares of cake and fruit slices go well with chocolate. Even marshmallows can be included. Take turns feeding each other the tasty tidbits.

Romantic desserts set the stage for an amorous evening. Choose something simple that will satisfy the sweet tooth without making you too tired for couple’s time afterwards.

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Family Valentine’s Dinner Ideas

February 10, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
CHANGCHUN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 14: A teddy bear ...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Kids like to celebrate Valentine’s Day just like adults. Even if you have ideas about romantic plans for the evening, consider having dinner with the kids. Here are some ideas for a great dinner with the entire family.

Kids love to cook. It is an opportunity for them to make a mess and not get in trouble for it. Let them help with the dinner on Valentine’s Day. They probably have a few ideas for the meal.

Don’t expect a full seven course meal. Besides the fact that it takes too long to prepare, kids have simpler tastes than that. And, if you want to get them to bed at a decent hour so you still have time to spend together, choose a dish with minimal preparation.

Italians are known for love. Try an Italian dish for Valentine’s Day. Instead of ordering from Domino’s, create a pizza at home. Using a store-bought crust, roll it out and cut it into the shape of a heart. The heart will have to be exaggerated because once the dough rises the pizza will spread out and not look like a heart anymore.

Italians are also big on spaghetti. It takes about thirty minutes at the most to put together a spaghetti dinner. Add a salad for a filling meal to celebrate the holiday.

Burgers and fries are a simple meal but one that kids and the entire family can enjoy. Get the grill going or a grill pan. After the burgers are done, place them on a bun and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to turn those ordinary burgers into lovin’ from the grill.

When it comes to family, the meal will be special because it involves everyone celebrating their love together. For parents, a dinner complete with some of your child’s favorite dishes will make them smile. Family dinners on Valentine’s Day can be eclectic-the meal doesn’t have to have one theme but can be a combination.

Allow each person in the family to make a dish for the dinner. They can come up with their own idea of what to surprise everyone with for dinner. The kids will need your help shopping for what they need and using the stove, but you can still act surprised when they bring their finished creation to the table.

Valentine’s Day dinner for the family offers an opportunity to express sentiments of love to each member of your family. With busy schedules, making time to celebrate love together is a rare treat.

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Strawberry Sweetheart Bites

January 21, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
304/365: February 13, 2008

Image by Ryner12 via Flickr

What You Need:

4 (6 in) soft tortilla shells
1/4 (8 oz) container strawberry cream cheese
4 T strawberry jam

How to Cook It:

Spread each of the 4 tortillas with the strawberry cream cheese to the edges of the tortilla.
Spread 1 T of strawberry jam down the middle of each of the tortillas.
Fold the end of the tortilla in about 2 in.
Grab the front edge of the tortilla and roll until completely closed.
Cut into 2 inch bites.

Serving Size: 24

These little treats can be wrapped and placed in an Easter Basket, put into lunchboxes or used as appetizers for a child’s Valentine’s Day party.

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