Be My Valentine Recipes

Valentines Day Pizza with Avocado

makes 4 pizzas

Ingredients
4 Unbaked pizza dough shells, 12-inch
Olive oil - 1/4 cup or as needed
6 Tbsp Garlic, finely chopped
2 Cups Tomatillo or tomato salsa
4 California Avocados
2 Cups Corn kernels, fresh or canned
2 Cups Green onion, thinly sliced
1 Cup Red bell pepper, diced
1 Cup Anaheim chili, diced
4 Cups Feta cheese, crumbled
¼ Cup Fresh oregano, chopped

Directions
Brush pizza dough shell with olive oil; sprinkle with 1-1/2 tablespoons garlic.
Spread with 1/2 cup salsa; sprinkle with 1 avocado (diced), 1/2 cup corn, 1/2 cup green onion, 1/4 cup bell pepper, 1/4 cup Anaheim chili, 1 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon oregano. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake at 500°F until crust browns and cheese is lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Cut into 8 slices.

Scallops Rockefeller
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients
3/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup water
36 large scallops
2 bunches spinach
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup Pernod
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 cup hollandaise sauce (recipe follows)

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 F.
Combine wine, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan, and poach scallops for two minutes.
Drain and set aside.
Finely chop spinach, onion, and garlic. Sauté in butter and Pernod. Season with salt and pepper.
Place scallop shells in ramekins and fill with spinach mixture.
Place cooked scallops on spinach, top with hollandaise, and bake for 5 minutes.

Hollandaise Sauce
1/2 cup butter
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon cold water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
dash of Tabasco
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Cut butter into small pieces. Set aside until softened.
Place egg yolks and water in top half of a double boiler placed over -- not in -- simmering water.
Beat until slightly thickened. Add a few pieces of butter, and beat until it melts.
Slowly add remainder of butter, beating until sauce thickens.
Beat in lemon juice and spices, and serve immediately.
Makes about 1 cup

Roasted Beet Soup with Crème Fraiche

Ingredients
1/2 pound red beets (about 3 medium)
1 1/2 teaspoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 leek (white and pale green parts only), chopped
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 cups water
1 small bay leaf
1 fresh thyme sprig
1 fresh parsley sprig
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap beets in foil and roast until tender when pierced with fork, about 1 hour. Cool. Peel beets. Cut 1/4 of 1 beet into 1/4-inch cubes; reserve for garnish. Cut remaining beets into 1/2-inch pieces.

Melt butter with oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leek, onion, and celery and cook until beginning to brown, stirring frequently, about 13 minutes. Stir in ginger, allspice, white pepper, and 1/2-inch beet pieces. Cook until vegetables begin to stick to bottom of pot, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Add 2 cups water, bay leaf, thyme sprig, and parsley sprig. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 25 minutes. Remove bay leaf, thyme sprig, and parsley sprig. Cool soup slightly. Working in batches, puree soup in blender with cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate.)

Gently re-warm soup (do not boil). Divide between 2 bowls. Garnish each with 1 tablespoon crème fraîche. Sprinkle with reserved beet cubes

Dress it up: To garnish soup, spoon two tablespoons crème fraîche into one corner of a re-sealable plastic bag. Cut tip off corner and pipe heart atop each serving of soup

Baked Brie Pastries with Artichoke and Prosciutto

(serves 6)

Ingredients
1 sheet puff pastry, cut into 9 squares (8 ounces, 1/2 package approx)
6 ounces brie cheese (without rind)
1 cup finely chopped marinated artichoke hearts
2 tablespoons chopped basil
1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 dashes fresh ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped prosciutto, ends (1/2 cup chopped thick-cut proscuitto)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
If you have frozen puff pastry, allow it to thaw.
Cut the sheet into 9 squares.
Push the squares into 9 of the spaces a lightly sprayed muffin tin.
In the food processor, whir enough artichoke hearts to make 1 cup of them when they are very finely chopped.
In a bowl, combine the artichoke, basil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Place about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon brie in the bottom of each puff pastry in the muffin tin (note: brie is much easier to cut when it is very cold).
Add about 1 1/2 teaspoon of the artichoke mixture on top of the brie (use up all of the mixture).
Top each with the chopped prosciutto and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden.
Let sit for about 5 minutes before serving (the brie will be *very* hot).
Makes 9 appetizers, about 6 servings since some people will have two.


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