V-day Easy rum chocolate truffle.

Basic truffle ingredient:

3/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cup (10oz) Good bitter sweet chocolate.
2 tbsp Jamaican rum

Method:
In a heat safe glass bowl set chocolate aside.
In a sauce pan heat the cream and just when it starts bubbling at the sides remove and pour over chocolate. Wait a few mins util it melts, then use a rubber spatula to combine. Add rum, stir and set in the refrigerator for no less than 2 hours, overnight is best.

Using a melon or small ice cream scoop,  scoop chocolate and form round balls, you can use your hand but gently in order not to melt the truffle.
Place balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and place in refrigerator for another 2 two hours to firm up.

Top coat.

Ingredients :

5 oz bittersweet chocolate
Sweet Coconut shavings, store bought
Cocoa powder for dusting
Blended pistachio

Place chocolate in a glass bowl and melt over a double boiler ( sauce pan with water simmering and heat safe glass bowl atop).

Put chocolate truffles on a cooling rack or it can remain on parchmented baking sheet, which ever preferred. Pour melted chocolate over them and let cool for about a minute.

In three separate bowls add pistachio, Coconut shavings and Cocoa powder. Gently roll the amount of truffle you want covered in whatever covering you wish into each topping and for the remaining truffles keep as is to achieve that crisp chocolate shell covered truffle. Refrigerate and serve to your special someone for dessert with champagne, prosecco or Moscato.

Believe me they won't be disappointed knowing that instead of going out to buy those processed stuff you took the time out to make them yourself, he or she will be immensely impressed. Happy valentine day. Enjoy!

V-Day cioppino for two.

Ingredients :

3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp butter
2 large shallots, diced
1 large onion, chopped
1 large fennel, chopped
5 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
2 tbsp fresh basil (some for garnish)
2 tbsp fresh parsley (some for garnish)
1 tsp red pepper flakes
4 pinches of kosher salt
1/2 tsp Fresh cracked black pepper
4 cups dry white wine
3 1/2 cups seafood stock
1 large can tomato sauce
1/2 lb fresh clam
1 lb fresh mussels
1/2 lb scallop,  seared.  (Seared for extra crisp and flavor)
A few king crab legs
1/2 lb shrimp, cleaned and peeled
1/2 lbs fresh calamari

Method:

In a dutch oven or large soup pot on high heat, heat oil and butter. Add onion, fennel, garlic, shallots, basil, parsley, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and sauté until onion is translucent.

Bring heat to medium, then, add wine, seafood stock and tomato sauce, stir and let it simmer for 30 minutes.

Add calamari, clams and mussels. Cover and cook until mussels and clams opens up, this should be about 7 mins( if they don't open up, toss it, they're no good).
Add shrimp, crab legs and scallops and simmer for another five minutes for the shrimp to cook through (do not over cook shrimp)  Add more pepper flakes if you like your food really spicy. 

Remove from stove and serve in a bowl with crisp butter toasted bruschetta bread and a glass of prosecco.   Enjoy!

Seafood potato bake. V- day dinner recipes

Dinner for two.

Ingredients :

2 pieces flounder fish fillet, pat dried
2 cups fresh jumbo shrimp, cleaned and pat dry
1 large organic sweet potato, peeled and par-boiled
2 tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large lemon, zest and juice
1 tbsp fresh black pepper
kosher salt to taste
1 tsp garlic powder
6 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
2 tsp fresh rosemary
1 habanero, chopped
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup Holland house lemon wine (Yes I do cook with wine alot)
2 large pieces of heavy duty foil.

Method :

Pre-heat oven to 475 °.  In a medium bowl, whisk all except shrimp, fish and potato.

Slice par-boiled potato and place on foil. Should be eight pieces, 4 for each foil.

Place fish and shrimp atop potato then place both foil packages in an oven safe baking dish or skillet.

Spoon herb/wine mixture over fish.

Place skillet in oven, foil open and roast for 15 mins.

After 15 mins remove and enjoy with your significant other .  V- day dinner ideas.