THE “TAKE-A-BITE, TAKE-A BREAK” BEDSIDE CHEESE TRAY
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I can understand the logic regarding the “healthy” tantalizers. I mean, if you don’t feel good or have the energy to even stay awake, how are you going to do much else, right? Thus, the “yes, if you don’t mind that I just lay here” kinda evenings. You know what I’m talking about, Ladies.
With all these thoughts and imaginations stirring inside me, I figured why not a whole mixed tray of healthy, inhibition lifting and visually stimulating food?
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Matcha Green Tea Almonds:
1 egg white (beaten til frothy),
1 cup of almonds,
1 tsp. Matcha Green tea powder, 1 Tbls. sugar.
Whisk the egg white in a small bowl. Add the almonds in and coat thoroughly. Mix the Matcha and sugar together and sprinkle over the almonds. Toss to coat. Spread the almonds out in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake on 200 for 40 minutes. Turn over half way through.
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1 small Shallot (peeled and sliced into thin rings)
1 cup Buttermilk
¼ cup flour
salt/pepper to taste
Separate the Shallot rings and soak them in a cup of Buttermilk for at least 30 minutes. Drain and toss in salt and pepper seasoned flour. Using tongs will help the rings stay separate and not clumped together.
In a deep saucepan, bring vegetable oil to 325F and fry small batches of shallots at a time til lightly browned. Drain on Paper towels before plating.
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
1 bunch Asparagus, trimmed and cleaned
6 slices of prosciutto, cut length wise to make 12 long strips
Olive oil, salt, pepper
Toss the Asparagus in a bit of Olive oil just to coat, then wrap a piece of prosciutto around the bottom third of each stem. Sprinkle with pepper and salt to taste, but remember that prosciutto is already a bit salty.
On a sheet pan, place the Asparagus with the loose end of prosciutto facing down. Bake in oven at 375F for about 12 minutes. Turn at least once during cooking.
Creamy Mints
4 oz. Cream Cheese softened
3 cups of Confectionary Sugar (sifted) (you may need more or less depending on moisture)
Drop of red or pink food coloring
In a mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese til smooth and soft. Gradually add the Confectionary sugar a little at a time until a dough is formed. Remove and knead a drop of food coloring in if desired, and also knead in the remainder sugar until a very stiff dough is formed. Roll out on Confectionary sugar sprinkled parchment to ½ inch thick. Cut out using tiny garnish shapes or designs of your choosing. Leave for 24 hours at room temp to dry and harden over just a bit. These can also be frozen for later.
Chocolate Hearts w/ Candied Ginger
2 oz. of 70% Chocolate
1 cube of candied ginger minced
Melt chocolate slowly in a microwave or over a double boiler. Spoon out round dollops onto a parchment cover sheet pan or silpat. Drop a couple tiny pieces of ginger onto the chocolate. Using a toothpick or skewer, drag the tip from just above the round dollop, through the center and out the bottom. Lift the skewer. As the melted chocolate moves back together just a bit, this should leave a heart-shape with a quill-like tail. Chill for just a few minutes to set the chocolate, and then remove from the pan.
Happy Valentine's Day and I hope everyday is an aphrodisiac for you!
3 comments:
What a great -- and very sexy -- idea!! Love the pictures too...this is making me hungry. Rowr...
I love the idea of the buttermilk-fried shallots -- because why not get some sizzling snacks in the bedroom, eh? Great idea, all of it. Thanks for a wonderful VDay post, Cathy!
Very sexy and very yummy! Love the photos too. what a story. hahaha
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