Romance & Raspberries

Written by Tom Xavier

Can you smell that? Romance is in the air! Each year in February, we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. Around these parts, though, it seems we want to stretch that one special day into a week, a month, or a season.

OK, that might be a stretch. Still, there is no reason to confine the celebration to one day. You don’t even have to do something on the day itself...the entire season is ripe for romance. Think flowers, an over-sized stuffed animal delivered to their office, or just a simple hand-written note secretly tucked away in their pocket for them to find sometime during the day. Spread the love...and spread it out over the month of February!

While gifts and surprises are wonderful options, it seems the most popular way to celebrate love is by cooking a meal for two. Whether it is breakfast in bed, a quaint picnic lunch at a local park, or that homemade romantic dinner, the best way to show your love is through food.

This type of gift can be orchestrated even if you’re short on time. Try setting up your kitchen table, even your dining room table, for two. The food can be ordered from your favorite restaurant and served on your own dishes...simply call and have food delivered. You could even order it that day and pick it up on the way home from the office. Or, if you’re lucky enough to have a good cook as a friend, hit them up for a favor. Ask them to prepare a menu for you. Even if you add a little parsley to the entrées, or some shaved chocolate to the dessert, you can take credit! You did prepare it, after all.

However, if you are ambitious, and decide to do it all, here is a great menu to work from and some helpful hints for preparing your delectably romantic dinner for two.

On the day of your dinner, start things off by dropping by your favorite deli and picking up some meat and cheeses. Have the deli slice a baguette for you, too. Arrange everything on a festive platter with some fresh fruit. Grapes work great; you can start the romance by feeding them to one another. Crack open a bottle of bubbly of your choice, serve in your best champagne glasses, and prepare to enjoy a magical evening. Don’t forget the iTunes mix you’ve prepared for just this occasion...with all your romantic songs, of course.

Now, on to the food...the reason we’re all here, right?

A savory chicken dish works very well as a main course. The following recipe is simple, flavorful, and will impress just about anyone.

Garlic-n-Herb Goat Cheese Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes

• 3 boneless chicken breasts, skin-on
• 4 to 5 oz. garlic-n-herb goat cheese
• 3 sun-dried tomatoes, julienned
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Good olive oil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving one side attached. Cut the goat cheese into 1/2-inch-thick slices and place 1 or 2 slices plus 1/3 of the julienned sun-dried tomatoes under the skin of each chicken breast. Pull the skin over as much of the meat as possible so the chicken won’t dry out. With your fingers, rub each piece with olive oil, and sprinkle them very generously with salt and pepper. Bake the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned and the chicken is just cooked through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

And you can’t have meat without potatoes! Rather than going through the hassle of mashing or peeling your spuds, try tiny fingerlings. They’re quick to cook and easy to eat. Plus, they’ll complement your chicken with subtle spices, rather than overpowering it.

Dill Fingerling Potatoes

• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 lbs. fingerling potatoes, rinsed, not peeled
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tbsp. chopped fresh dill

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot. Add the whole potatoes, salt, and pepper, and toss well. Cover the pot tightly and cook over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are just tender when tested with a small knife. From time to time, shake the pot without removing the lid to prevent the bottom potatoes from burning. Turn off the heat and allow the potatoes to steam for another five minutes. Don’t overcook. Toss with the dill, and serve hot.

Don’t forget your veggies. An elegant side to your chicken is asparagus. Asparagus is easy to prepare, no matter what style you like. But I recommend keeping it simple.

• Roasted Asparagus
• 1 lb. fresh asparagus
• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and, if they’re thick, peel them. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 25 minutes, until tender but still crisp.

Once your meal prep is underway, begin putting together your table setting. Create a setting that will be intimate with cloth napkins (no paper! Tacky, tacky) and candles that are low, like votives, which give a subtle and dreamy ambiance.

Entertaining Tip: Never use scented candles during dinner; most of the time the scent is too strong and you cannot smell the sumptuous food you’ve slaved over (or in some cases, didn’t).

Here’s a fun thought. Try combining the carefree attitude of a picnic with the romance of an intimate dinner. Try clearing a spot on your living room floor by your fireplace, throwing down a blanket, and having an indoor, elegant picnic. Not only is this romantic, but you get all the effects of a picnic without the ants.

Sprinkle flower petals on the blanket to add a passionate element or heart confetti to add a whimsical effect.

No matter what you decide to do, be inventive, imaginative, and be daring. What about all those things you have thought about doing to show that extra special someone how much you care? Now is the perfect time to do it! Throw caution to the wind! You might just surprise yourself on what a success it will really be. You don’t even have to break the bank (especially in this economy), be a gourmet cook, or even be the most creative person on the planet. With just a little preparation and willingness, it can be done.

But let’s not leave out the pièce de résistance: dessert. Nothing says “I Love You” like a chocolate cake. And nothing says “Easy” like a flourless chocolate cake.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

• 8 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup brandy
• Powdered sugar, sifted, for garnish
• Seasonal berries, for garnish
• Whipped Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch spring form pan with baking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper and spray again. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate and butter, constantly stirring until fully incorporated. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, add the sugar and eggs. Using a handheld mixer, beat together until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). While mixing, slowly add cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, and brandy. Add the chocolate mixture and blend until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the center of the preheated oven for about 50 minutes or until a thin crust forms on the top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with few crumbs attached. Remove and cool in the pan on a baker’s rack. Invert onto a cake plate and remove parchment paper. Dust with powdered sugar and arrange seasonal berries in a pleasing fashion on and around the cake. Serve with Whipped Cream.

Whipped Cream

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

With a hand-held mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.

Remember, presentation is everything. It doesn’t matter what route you decide to go as long as you do it with style and flair...make it memorable; make it fabulous!

Celebrate this passionate and loving day with that very special person. Remember, romance is in the air...

Article appeared in our 26-6 Issue - February 2010