Blog Archive

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Valentine's- Linguine & Clam Sauce, Roasted Asparagus, Easy Chocolate Truffle Cake

February 14th is right around the corner. An intimate dinner for two, your sweet heart's favorite chocolate and if you have school age kids-the Valentine's Day exchange. Hallmark and floral shops do a lot of smiling as those orders are being placed$$$$$. This year, I think many of us out here will get the creative juices flowing as our pockets will dictate if this is a true necessary expense.

Can a very nice dinner for 2 be made for less than $20.00? I am not talking fast food chains. Do you have to buy that expensive box of chocolate or go out to "Wally World" aka Walmart and pick up 2 boxes of Valentine Day cards and candy for you kid(s) class? Last year the trip to Wally World cost me around $12.00. I might add, that I buy Valentine Day cards after the 14th just for next year as a cost saver. I just have to remember where I placed them.

Today's posting will give you a nice dinner (which will feed more than 2)-approximately $20.00; an easy chocolate truffle cake recipe-$7.00. An ingredient list will be added so that you can just print and take to the store with you. Make cake in the morning. Enjoy!
PS: For those who want a steak dinner for 2 under $20.00, buy a nice boneless rib-eye ($12.00)-cut into 2 pieces, wrap it with bacon and broil according to my steak recipe; 2 russet potatoes ($1.60), bulk green beans (a big handful will cost less than $2.00) Fisher's 1/2 cup sliced almonds (.97) and generic French bread ($2.00).
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Linguine & Clam Sauce
Roasted Asparagus
Italian Garlic Bread
Chocolate Truffle Cake


Linguine & Clam Sauce

2 TBSP unsalted butter
1 shallot, chopped finely
1 jar capers
1/4 cup milk
3 cans chopped clams, do not drain
1 bottle clam juice
1 jar Bertolli Alfredo Sauce (or Bertolli Marinara sauce if you want a red sauce)
1/2 jar pesto sauce
1 TBSP. all purpose flour
1 lb. Barilla Fettuccine noodles
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese


1)In a spaghetti pot or large pot bring 4-6 quarts. water to boil. Add 1/2 TBSP. salt. Cook Fettuccine noodles according to directions-8-10 minutes.

2)Drain capers, place in a small dish and add milk. Let sit while preparing sauce-10 minutes, then drain.

3)Melt unsalted butter in large saute pan. Add red pepper flakes and shallot. Saute on medium heat until shallot is translucent in color-3 minutes.

4) Sprinkle flour and stir mixture for another minute-reduce heat to low.

5) Whisk Alfredo or Marinara sauce, pesto sauce, clam juice, clams and capers. Simmer until heated through-3-5 minutes. Serve over noodles. Fresh Parmesan cheese can be grated at serving time on top-not the one from the can!
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Roasted Asparagus

1 bunch of fresh asparagus
3 TBSP. olive oil
1 garlic, minced
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat Oven 375F

1) Rinse asparagus and snap in half. I prefer to use potato peeler and peel bottoms of asparagus then cut in 1/2 inch pieces.

2) In a large bowl toss asparagus with garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

3) Place on baking sheet and bake 15 minutes


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French Garlic Bread

1 loaf French bread
1 clove crushed garlic
2 TBSP unsalted butter
2 tsp. pesto sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1) Heat oven to broil
2) Split bread length-wise
3) Melt butter on low heat in saucepan
4) Saute crushed garlic for 1 minute-add pesto sauce
5) Spread mixture on bread including cheese and place on a disposable aluminum cookie sheet or heavy duty cookie sheet
6) Broil approximately 3-5 minutes

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Easy Chocolate Truffle Cake

Cake:
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Glaze:

2 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 ounces unsweeted chocolate
1/4 cup unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375F-with rack in middle.

1) Butter and flour one 9 inch round cake pan. Line it with a circle of parchment or wax paper cut to fit, and grease and flour the paper. This is an important step.

2) In the top of a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter, except the mini chocolate chips. Let this mixture cool.

3) In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt for 15 minutes. (Yes, 15 minutes).

4) Gently fold in chocolate mixture then;

5) Gently fold in the flour and mini chocolate chips

6) Scrape the mixture into the pan and bake for 20 minutes

Let cake cool cool completely on a rack. Turn it out onto the rack. Line the serving plate you'll be using with four 3 inch strips of wax paper. Please make sure the wax paper extends around the rim of the plate. Place the cake on the serving plate lined with wax paper.

GLAZE:

In the top of a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the chocolates and the butter. Stir frequently until melted. Remove from heat. Cool for 2 minutes then pour glaze on top of cake. Let cake stand for 6 hours and then remove wax paper from under cake. Cut hardened choclate away from wax paper if necessary. This is a dense chocolatey cake. Serve in small slices.
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List:

Produce Section

1 garlic head
1 shallot
1 bunch of asparagus
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1 loaf of bread
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Pasta Section

Barilla Fettuccine or
your favorite noodles

Bertolli Alfredo or
Marinara Sauce
1 jar of Pesto Sauce

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Condiment/dressing
Section

Capers in a jar
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Dairy/Deli Section

8 ounces
Shredded Parmesan
Cheese or Parmesan
sold in rounds

Land O Lakes
Unsalted Butter sticks

"Pint of milk and a
half dozen of eggs
if you don't have
any at home".
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Baking Section

6 ounces Ghirardelli 60%
semisweet chocolate
bar

Bakers unsweetened
chocolate bars

Mini Chocolate Chips

McCormicks Vanilla
small bottle

(buy salt, sugar,red
pepper flakes, olive oil
and
all purpose flour if
you do not have
any at home)


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Paper Section

Wax paper or
parchment paper
(I prefer just using
wax paper)
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Alternate Valentine's Day Dinner


If your making the Rib-Eye steaks, buy a thick cut and half it. Place a slice of thick bacon around each piece and secure it with a water soaked skewer. Broil according to Absolutely Perfect Steak recipe. Rinse and cut green beans. In a large bowl, add green beans, garlic and toss with 1 TBSP. of olive oil, Salt and pepper to taste. On medium heat in a sauce pan lightly toast almonds, then add green beans and just enough water to cover bottom of pan. Cover with lid and cook for 8-10 minutes. "I like mine crisp". Baking Potatoes: Scrub and clean potatoes. Dry and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and poke holes around potatoes. Place in microwave for 10 minutes (high), then wrap in aluminum foil. Let sit for 5 minutes. Serve with soften butter, sour cream and chives. Serve with Garlic Bread recipe and a salad.
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Favorite Cook Ware Gadgets: Cuisinart Nylon Spaghetti Fork with soft gripped handle and MIU Electric Lighted Pepper Mill http://www.amazon.com

Enjoy!

The Frye Girl 2 U

















1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful recipes for Valentines Day dinner... I'll try them!!