Category: Seasonal Romance: Valentine’s Day

  • Caramelized Banana Tartlets with Chocolate Port Sauce

    Serves 8-10 INGREDIENTS ½ cup raw hazelnuts 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon melted butter 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 bananas, sliced in rounds about ½ inch thick 1 package puff pastry, thawed 4 ounces bittersweet dark chocolate, chopped ½ cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons light brown…

  • Roasted Pork Loin with Onion Cherry Sage Sauce

    Serves 8 INGREDIENTS For the pork loin 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 2 fresh bay leaves, veins stems removed 2 teaspoon juniper berries 2 tablespoons orange zest 1 tablespoon coarse salt 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 3-pound pork loin 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon hazelnut oil or olive oil ½…

  • Velvety Chesnut Soup with Grape Honey

    Serves 8 INGREDIENTS For the soup 1 cup whole chestnuts, roasted and peeled 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon pumpkin oil 1 small shallot, chopped fine ½ of a sweet yellow onion, chopped fine ¼ cup celery, chopped fine 1 medium parsnip, peeled and chopped fine Salt 1 bouquet garni of fresh herbs in a cheesecloth…

  • Asian Pear with Blue Cheese with Rosemary Honey Drizzle

    Serves 8 INGREDIENTS ½ cup honey 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped fine 2 Asian pears, medium size, sliced ¼ inch thick and cut in half (half moon shapes) 4 ounces sweet blue cheese or gorgonzola, crumbled Maldon sea salt DIRECTIONS In a small sauce pan, heat honey and rosemary leaves on simmer for about 5…

  • Pomegranate Ginger Champagne Cocktail

    Makes 1 cocktail INGREDIENTS 1 cup pomegranate juice 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine 4 tablespoons light brown sugar or sugar in the raw Prosecco, Cava or Champagne DIRECTIONS In a small saucepan, combine pomegranate juice, ginger, and sugar. Bring to a boil, making sure that all sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat, and…

  • Pomegranate Sage Manhattan

    Makes 1 cocktail INGREDIENTS For cocktail 2 sage leaves 1 ounce rye or bourbon ½ ounce sweet vermouth Dash of angostura bitters 1 pomegranate bourbon dried cherries, for garnish For the pomegranate bourbon dried cherries 1 cup pomegranate juice ½ cup sugar-in-the-raw ½ cup rye or bourbon 1 cup dried cherries DIRECTIONS Rub and crinkle…