FROM THE HEART SWEET INSPIRATIONS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY.Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor OH, HOW WE LOVE scrumptious, seductive desserts. Just in time for Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. , a wealth of new cookbooks on the topic offers plenty of tempting sweet selections. From the more than 200 dessert picks in ``Family Circle Best-Ever Cakes and Cookies'' comes an extravagant Chocolate Heart Cake featuring chocolate throughout - in the glaze, cake and berries. If pressed for time, you can prepare the dipped berries while the cake is baking. Although the book doesn't suggest it, you can streamline preparation time further by using a cake mix instead of making a cake from scratch. To get in the mood of the day, bake in a heart-shaped pan. Another offering, a Tropical Chocolate-Banana Tart, teams coconut, macadamia macadamia (măk'ədā`mēə), name for the nut of the Macadamia ternifolia, an evergreen tree native to Australia, but cultivated in Hawaii. The nuts, also called Queensland nuts, are eaten roasted or raw. nuts and bananas in a chocolate rich creation that goes together fast. Vacherins With Raspberries and Cream and Raspberry Smallovers, both featuring the delicious red fruit exploding with flavor, are two of the many interesting ideas in ``Gale Grand's Just a Bite, 125 Luscious Little Desserts.'' The bite-size vacherin dessert, which should be started a day in advance of serving, is made by mounding up a little billowy bil·low n. 1. A large wave or swell of water. 2. A great swell, surge, or undulating mass, as of smoke or sound. v. bil·lowed, bil·low·ing, bil·lows v.intr. 1. whipped cream on a small, crisp, white, baked meringue cup and topping with a raspberry. The smallovers, reminiscent of bakery Danish, are really turnovers whipped up with ease with frozen puff-pastry sheets. They are filled with a lemon-scented cream cheese mixture and fresh berries. Besides dessert, they'd make a welcome breakfast accompaniment on Valentine's Day or any day. When it comes to chocolate cakes, a Date and Walnut Chocolate Cake, from among those in ``Chocolate Cake, 150 Recipes from Simple to Sublime,'' couldn't be easier. It's an amazingly moist cake with an intense chocolate flavor and needs only a spoonful of whipped cream on the side. Nothing says ``Happy Valentine's Day'' like a picture-perfect, simple- to-make Bittersweet bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. Chocolate Torte, baked in a heart-shaped cake pan, then topped with raspberry jam and a field of raspberries, from ``A Passion for Chocolate.'' A sweet finale selection wouldn't be complete without a Flourless Chocolate Cake - and yet another variation can be found in ``Caprial's Desserts,'' by Caprial Pence and Melissa Carey. The cake is like a super-moist fallen chocolate souffle souffle /souf·fle/ (soo´f'l) a soft, blowing auscultatory sound. cardiac souffle any cardiac or vascular murmur of a blowing quality. with a delicately crisp crust, notes Pence, executive chef and proprietor of Caprial's Bistro in Portland. ``It puffs up a lot while it bakes and then falls as it cools - so don't panic
Don't panic may refer to:
Remember, dessert leaves the lasting final impression of a meal - so make it terrific. Select one of these decadent and sinfully rich sweets to present to your sweetie, a special someone or your family. When baking cakes or other desserts, don't peek until the minimum baking time has elapsed e·lapse intr.v. e·lapsed, e·laps·ing, e·laps·es To slip by; pass: Weeks elapsed before we could start renovating. n. . A blast of cold air can cause a cake to fall. Avoid using dark metal baking sheets and pans as there is greater risk that your cake, cookies or dessert will turn out dark and unappealing or even burn. Heavy-duty aluminum or stainless pans yield best results. Always use a timer, so you won't forget to take out whatever is baking. If you retreat to another room in the house, take the timer with you as a reminder. Keep spices away from the heat of the stove or oven and out of direct light. Ground spices are best used within six months; after that, they lose flavor. If using baking powder in a recipe, check the expiration date Expiration Date The day on which an options or futures contract is no longer valid and, therefore, ceases to exist. Notes: The expiration date for all listed stock options in the U.S. on the bottom of the container to make sure it is still usable. Otherwise your recipe could be a flop. FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE 5 eggs 1 cup granulated sugar Noun 1. granulated sugar - sugar in the form of small grains powdered sugar - sugar granulated into a fine powder refined sugar, sugar - a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative granulated sugar 1/3 cup coffee liqueur Noun 1. coffee liqueur - coffee-flavored liqueur cordial, liqueur - strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal Kahlua - coffee-flavored liqueur made in Mexico 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla Powdered sugar for dusting 1 1/2 cups whipped cream Organic rose petals, for garnish (optional) Grease a 10-inch springform pan spring·form pan n. A cake pan having an upright rim that can be unclamped and detached from the bottom of the pan. and wrap outside with foil to prevent leaking; set aside. Place eggs and granulated sugar in bowl of a mixer fitted with a whip attachment and whip on high speed, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until very thick and fluffy, about 10 minutes. (Yes, it really takes that long; if you mix it for a shorter length of time, the cake will be only 1/4-inch tall.) Add liqueur liqueur (lĭkûr`), strong alcoholic beverage made of almost neutral spirits, flavored with herb mixtures, fruits, or other materials, and usually sweetened. The name derives from the Latin word to melt. and mix well. With mixer on medium speed, add butter, a few pieces at a time, and beat until well blended. (The batter may look ``broken,'' or separated, at this point, but chocolate will bind with butter and fix that.) With mixer on low speed, add chocolate and vanilla and mix until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven until cake moves as one mass when you gently jiggle pan, about 30 minutes. (It's much better to underbake this cake than to overbake it; it will be a bit gooey See GUI. , but I've never seen anyone turn up their nose at that.) Let cool 10 to 20 minutes; remove outer ring of pan and foil, then let cool about 30 minutes longer before serving. Serve at room temperature, topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and softly whipped cream. Garnish with rose petals, if desired. Makes 12 servings. From ``Caprial's Desserts,'' by Caprial Pence and Melissa Carey BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE (On the cover) 14 ounces bittersweet OR semisweet sem·i·sweet adj. Having a small amount of sweetening: semisweet chocolate. Adj. 1. semisweet - having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup milk 5 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup seedless Seed´less a. 1. Without seed or seeds. Adj. 1. seedless - lacking seeds; "seedless grapefruit" seedy - full of seeds; "as seedy as a fig" seedless adj → red raspberry jam 1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh raspberries Sifted powdered sugar (optional) Grease bottom of an 8-inch heart-shape cake pan with a removable bottom OR an 8-inch round springform pan; set pan aside. In a heavy medium saucepan, combine chocolate, butter and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat; cool mixture 20 minutes. In a mixing bowl beat eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Add granulated sugar and flour; beat on high speed 10 minutes. Stir chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven 30 minutes (35 minutes for springform pan) OR until outer one-third of top is slightly puffed. (Because this torte is so dense, you'll be unable to use a traditional cake doneness test. The torte should be done after 30 minutes, even though center will still appear to be underbaked.) Cool torte on a wire rack See wiring rack. 20 minutes. Use a knife dipped in warm water to loosen torte from sides of pan. Cool torte thoroughly. Remove sides of pan. Wrap torte in foil; chill overnight or up to 2 days. To serve, bring torte to room temperature. In a small saucepan melt jam; cool. Spread jam on Jam On is a Jam Bands radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 17 and Dish Network channel 6017. It has featured basketball great Bill Walton hosting a Grateful Dead show, Woodstock MC Wavy Gravy, and pedal steel genius Buddy Cage as a DJ. top of torte. Cover jam with raspberries, stem sides down. If desired, before serving, dust with powdered sugar. Makes 12 to 16 servings. From ``A Passion for Chocolate,'' by Meredith Books. TROPICAL CHOCOLATE-BANANA TART 1/2 cup sweetened sweet·en v. sweet·ened, sweet·en·ing, sweet·ens v.tr. 1. To make sweet or sweeter by adding sugar, honey, saccharin, or another sweet substance. 2. To make more pleasant or agreeable. flake coconut 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream Noun 1. heavy whipping cream - cream with a fat content of 48% or more double creme cream - the part of milk containing the butterfat 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups) 2 medium ripe bananas 1/4 cup powdered sugar 2 teaspoons lime juice 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese Grease a 9-inch springform pan. Lightly toast coconut and macadamias 2 minutes in a medium skillet over medium heat. Remove from heat. Heat cream over medium heat just to boiling in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth. Add 1/2 cup coconut-macadamia mixture; reserve remainder. Set cream mixture aside 10 minutes, until slightly thickened thick·en tr. & intr.v. thick·ened, thick·en·ing, thick·ens 1. To make or become thick or thicker: Thicken the sauce with cornstarch. The crowd thickened near the doorway. 2. . Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate re·frig·er·ate tr.v. re·frig·er·at·ed, re·frig·er·at·ing, re·frig·er·ates 1. To cool or chill (a substance). 2. To preserve (food) by chilling. 1 1/2 hours, until firm. Slice bananas; arrange in pan in a single layer on top of chocolate. Beat powdered sugar, lime juice and coconut extract into cream cheese. Spread over bananas, using a rubber spatula spatula /spat·u·la/ (spach´u-lah) [L.] 1. a wide, flat, blunt, usually flexible instrument of little thickness, used for spreading material on a smooth surface. 2. a spatulate structure. . Sprinkle remaining coconut-macadamia mixture around top edge, making a narrow border. Chill tart 30 minutes or until set. To serve, remove sides of pan; cut tart into slices. Makes 12 servings. From ``Family Circle Best-Ever Cakes & Cookies Plus Pies, Tarts and Other Desserts.'' VACHERINS WITH RASPBERRIES AND CREAM 1/2 cup egg whites (from about 4 eggs), at room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream 1 pint raspberries Tiny mint sprigs OR leaves, for garnish (optional) At least a day and up to 5 days before you plan to serve the dessert, heat oven to 300 degrees for at least 15 minutes, then turn it off and leave door closed. Mix egg whites until foamy foam·y adj. foam·i·er, foam·i·est 1. Of, consisting of, or resembling foam. 2. Covered with foam. foam in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add granulated sugar and whip until stiff and glossy, about 3 minutes. Add powdered sugar and whip very briefly 5 to 10 seconds, just to incorporate. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag A pastry bag is used to pipe semi-solid foods by pressing them through a narrow opening at one end, for many purposes including cake decoration. It is filled through a wider opening at the opposite end, rolled or twisted closed, and then squeezed to extrude its contents. fitted with a small (1/4-inch OR less) plain tip and pipe a small round or base of meringue, 1/2-inch in diameter, onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then pipe a ring of meringue around edge of base and spiral upward and around one more time, making a tiny cup that is two rows high. Continue making these little cups in rows on the cookie sheet. Transfer sheet to turned-off oven, close door, and leave overnight to dry until crisp. (The recipe can be made up to this point and stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.) When ready to serve, whip cream and pipe OR spoon into cups. Top each cup with a raspberry. Tuck a mint leaf into each one. Serve immediately. Makes about 80. From ``Gail Gand's Just a Bite, 125 Luscious Little Desserts,'' by Gale Gand and Julia Moskin. CHOCOLATE HEART CAKE CAKE: 2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda baking soda: see sodium bicarbonate. 1/4 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup half-and-half OR milk CHOCOLATE GLAZE: 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder Noun 1. cocoa powder - the powdery remains of chocolate liquor after cocoa butter is removed; used in baking and in low fat and low calorie recipes and as a flavoring for ice cream chocolate - a food made from roasted ground cacao beans 2 cups powdered sugar 6 to 7 tablespoons water STRAWBERRY TOPPING: 3 (1-ounce) squares milk chocolate, chopped 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 3 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped 14 large fresh strawberries, hulled Candy sprinkles for dipping Chopped nuts for dipping Candied can·died adj. Permeated, covered, encrusted, or cooked with sugar: candied sweet potatoes. candied Adjective coated with or cooked in sugar: violets for decoration Prepare Cake: Grease an 8-inch (6-cup) heart-shaped pan or a 9x2-inch round layer-cake pan; dust pan with flour. Melt unsweetened chocolate in top of a double boiler double boiler n. A cooking utensil consisting of two nested pans, designed to allow slow, even cooking or heating of food in the upper pan by the action of water boiling in the lower. Noun 1. set over barely simmering, not boiling water, stirring until smooth. Remove top of pan from above water. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a small bowl. With a mixer on medium speed, beat butter and granulated sugar in a medium bowl 1 minute. Beat in melted chocolate. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Beat 1 minute. On low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with half-and-half and ending with flour mixture; beat just until blended. Scrape batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven 25 to 30 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack with flat (bottom) side up and cool completely. Brush off excess crumbs. Prepare Glaze: Whisk together cocoa powder, powdered sugar and water in a small bowl until a good coating consistency. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper waxed paper n. Wax paper. waxed paper or wax paper Noun paper treated or coated with wax or paraffin to make it waterproof ; place cake on rack on top. Spoon Glaze over glaze over Verb to become dull through boredom or inattention: the listener's eyes glaze over Verb 1. top, spreading to cover top and sides. Refrigerate 30 minutes, until Glaze is hardened; then let cake stand at room temperature until serving. Prepare Topping: Melt milk chocolate and oil in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth; remove from heat. Melt white chocolate white chocolate n. Cocoa butter combined with milk and a sweetener, often flavored with vanilla. Noun 1. white chocolate in top of a double boiler set over barely simmering, not boiling water, stirring until smooth. Remove top of pan from above water. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Arrange sprinkles and chopped nuts in separate small shallow bowls. One at a time, hold EACH of 7 strawberries horizontally and dip halfway into melted dark or white chocolate; immediately dip into dip into Verb 1. to draw upon: he dipped into his savings 2. to read passages at random from (a book or journal) Verb 1. sprinkles or nuts; stand, pointed end up, on waxed paper. Dip remaining 7 berries into chocolates; stand on waxed paper. Spoon remaining chocolates into separate small plastic food-storage bags; snip off Verb 1. snip off - sever or remove by pinching or snipping; "nip off the flowers" clip, nip off, snip, nip cut - separate with or as if with an instrument; "Cut the rope" corner of each bag. Drizzle chocolates decoratively on top of berries. Press candied violets onto some of berries. Refrigerate berries on baking sheet until chocolate is hardened, about 30 minutes. Arrange berries on top of cake just before serving. Makes 14 servings. From ``Family Circle Best-Ever Cakes & Cookies Plus Pies, Tarts, and Other Desserts.'' DATE AND WALNUT CHOCOLATE CAKE 1 1/2 cups pitted dates 3/4 cup bleached all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 6 large eggs 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 4 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled 1 1/2 cups walnuts, finely ground 1 teaspoon lemon extract Noun 1. lemon extract - a flavoring made from (or imitating) lemons flavorer, flavoring, flavourer, flavouring, seasoning, seasoner - something added to food primarily for the savor it imparts 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel Lightly grease a 10x3-inch springform pan and line bottom with a parchment OR greased waxed paper circle. With scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends , cut dates into pieces about 3/8-inch thick. Sift flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat eggs with sugar about 1 minute or until mixture looks like mayonnaise. With a rubber spatula, fold chocolate into eggs along with walnuts, lemon extract, lemon peel, sifted flour mixture and dates. Spread batter evenly in prepared cake pan. Bake on rack in lower third of preheated 375-degree oven 30 minutes; then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake 20 to 30 minutes longer or until cake begins to shrink from Verb 1. shrink from - avoid (one's assigned duties); "The derelict soldier shirked his duties" fiddle, shirk, goldbrick avoid - refrain from doing something; "She refrains from calling her therapist too often"; "He should avoid publishing his wife's sides of pan and a cake tester inserted in center comes out almost dry. Remove cake to a wire rack to cool in pan 20 minutes. Unlock springform, lift cake up and out of pan, and cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Invert in·vert v. 1. To turn inside out or upside down. 2. To reverse the position, order, or condition of. 3. To subject to inversion. n. Something inverted. cake to remove bottom of pan and peel off paper when cake is cooled, but serve cake right side up. Serve slices with whipped cream on the side. Makes 1 (10-inch) layer cake; 12 to 14 servings. STORAGE: Keep at room temperature, wrapped airtight in plastic wrap up to 5 days; cake keeps improving with age. From ``Chocolate Cake, From the Simple to the Sublime,'' by Michele Urvater. RASPBERRY SMALLOVERS 2 sheets frozen puff pastry puff pastry n. A light flaky pastry that is formed by rolling and folding the dough in layers so that it expands when baked. puff pastry or US puff paste Noun a light flaky pastry , thawed 4 ounces cream cheese 1 egg yolk yolk (yok) the stored nutrient of an oocyte or ovum. yolk n. The portion of the egg of an animal that consists of protein and fat from which the early embryo gets its main nourishment and of 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel 1 cup raspberries 1 egg, beaten with 2 teaspoons water 2 tablespoons granulated sugar Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out each sheet of puff pastry into a 9x12-inch rectangle; the pastry will become slightly thinner. Cover sheets with plastic wrap and chill. Mix cream cheese, egg yolk, powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon peel until smooth in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Using a sharp knife, cut puff pastry into 3-inch squares. Lay a pastry square on a work surface and brush edges with egg wash. In center of square, place 1 tablespoon cheese filling. Place 3 raspberries on top. Brush edges of a second pastry square with egg wash and place it on top of the filling (egg wash side down). Carefully press edges together to seal well. Transfer to well-greased cookie sheet and keep refrigerated re·frig·er·ate tr.v. re·frig·er·at·ed, re·frig·er·at·ing, re·frig·er·ates 1. To cool or chill (a substance). 2. To preserve (food) by chilling. . Repeat with remaining ingredients, placing smallovers 1-inch apart. When the smallovers are all made, brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve smallovers warm OR let cool to room temperature. Serve within 1 day. Makes 12. From ``Gail Gand's Just a Bite, 125 Luscious Little Desserts,'' by Gale Gand and Julia Moskin. 5 FABULOUS DESSERTS If you don't really have much time to play Cupid in the kitchen come Valentine's Day, but want to turn out a special dessert, opt for one of these fast possibilities. Keep them in mind for other occasions during the year as well. --Whip up a colorful strawberry shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake is a licensed character owned by American Greetings, originally used in greeting cards and expanded to include dolls, posters, and other products. made by layering store-bought all-butter or chocolate pound cake or angel food cake slices with fresh strawberries, fresh raspberries and whipped cream. You might even want to add a few dollops of lemon curd or creamy hazelnut spread (such as Nutella) from a jar (in between the layers) to make it extra special. --Offer a large white ceramic heart-shaped dish (available at Crate & Barrel stores) filled with fresh strawberries and pass separate containers (use small heart dishes) of sour cream and brown sugar for dipping. --For an easy fondue-style creation, melt some semisweet or bittersweet chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave oven with some whipping cream until smooth when stirred. Then add a few splashes of Chambord, Grand Marnier or your favorite liqueur, if desired. Present some of the chocolate in individual souffle or heart-shaped dishes and pass a tray of assorted fresh fruits, whole marshmallows and pieces of cake or cookies for dipping. --Pick up prepared crepes in the supermarket produce section and whip up some crepes suzette in a large skillet in a jiffy A fraction of time that has numerous interpretations depending on who uses it. It may refer to one computer clock cycle, one nanosecond, one millisecond or one AC power cycle. There may be others. See nanosecond. 1. by melting 6 tablespoons butter with 3 tablespoons sugar and the peel and juice of an orange. Cook a minute or two until sugar is dissolved, then add 6 to 8 prepared crepes, folded in quarters, spooning the sauce over until crepes are hot, a couple of minutes. Toss in a little orange-flavored liqueur and serve sprinkled with a few fresh raspberries. --One of my favorite fabulous no-cook desserts is a home version of the Italian restaurant ice cream dessert known as tartufo. Drop a large scoop of chocolate, vanilla or coffee ice cream in a mixture of chopped toasted pecans and chopped semisweet or milk chocolate pieces (from a chocolate bar) and roll quickly to coat completely, pressing in the mixture. Wrap the ball in a piece of plastic wrap and place in freezer until serving time. Serve in a pool of hot fudge sauce zipped up with a little instant espresso powder. CAPTION(S): 9 photos Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Sweet Talk Indulge in luscious Valentine's Day desserts (2 -- 3 -- color) Vacherins with Raspberries and Cream, left, are ideal mini Valentine desserts. For a show-stopping creation, above, bake up a Chocolate Heart Cake and top with chocolate-dipped strawberries. From ``Gail Gran's Just a Bite, 125 Luscious Little Desserts" From ``Family Cirlce Best-Ever Cakes and Cookies Plus Pies, Tarts & Other Desserts'' (4 -- 8 -- color) no caption (cookbooks) (9 -- color) no caption (Tropical Chocolate-Banana Tart) Box: 5 FABULOUS DESSERTS (see text) |
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