Tess and I both love Valentine's Day, but unlike the other holidays where she does most of the decorating, cooking, and pampering, this is the day when I brush off (some of)my culinary cobwebs and pamper my One and Only.
First, the flowers. Tess is partial to Sweet Peas and since it was too cold to grow them here in the East where we live and growing them in a hothouse would produce the flowers but not the exquisite fragrance, I have them grown in Florida and cut and shipped the day before Valentine's Day. Then I put them in every vase, in every room of the house and when she wakes up that morning she is surrounded by her favorite flowers. Romantic, I know. 😍 I try.
Next: Breakfast. ( Which she makes. Dinner is where I shine !)
French Toast ( her recipe follows) and Hot Chocolate.
Pain Perdu (French Toast)
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12 Slices Day Old French or Sourdough Bread (Challah bread is delicious too ! )
6 eggs beaten
1 cup Whole Milk ( 2% is alright)
1 T. Vanilla
Grated nutmeg to taste
In a large bowl, wisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and nutmeg.
Put butter or coconut oil into a heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) and heat on a low flame.
Soak each slice of bread in the custard mixture and cook until golden brown, turn over and cook other side. Put on a plate in a warm oven or on a plate over a pan of simmering water to keep warm while you cook the rest of the slices. Serve with powdered sugar, fruit spread, jam or maple syrup. Yummy !😋
Weather permitting, we go for a walk in the woods and collect pinecones and feed the squirrels and birds.
When the sun goes down I light the fireplace (if it isn't already lit) or build it up and throw on some pinecones rolled in allspice ( it makes the house smell like a bakery) and we sit down in front of the fire at a low table with lots of cushions spread around and I make my specialty...fondue !😋 (recipe to follow) You know the rules of fondue, don't you ? If the guy drops his chunk of bread or cake or fruit he has to drain his glass in one go , but if the woman drops hers .......Kisses ! 😚 Yeah !!!
Traditional Cheese Fondue
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A little history. The earliest known recipe for fondue comes from the book "Kass mit Wein zu Kochen " ( to cook cheese with wine) published in Zurich in 1699.
(Forgive the lack of proper punctuation on the foreign words. I'm not completely "computer literate" yet and I can't find how to turn on the button for that but I'm looking for it!)
1/2 lb.Gruyere cheese
1/2 lb. Swiss cheese ( Emmental is best)
1 glass of your favorite white wine ( You can use beer. I won't tell.)
Kirsch (cherry liqueur) (optional)
2 tsps. Cornstarch
Fresh-grated nutmeg
White pepper
A clove of garlic (optional)
Green apple cut into chunks (or mouth-sized cubes)
French bread (ditto)
Boiled new potatoes (leave them whole if small or halve them)
Put the cheese in a fondue pot on your stove, add the wine and let it simmer. Wisk the Kirsch and cornstarch together until blended (if you aren't using Kirsch do this with the wine or beer) . Peel the garlic clove, crush it and wipe it on the inside of the fondue pot. (This is optional. We don't do this step because garlic gives Tess migraines and then she looks like this 😢 and that ruins the evening, which you don't want.) It's still delicious without it.
Grate the nutmeg and pepper into the cheese and wisk in the cornstarch and Kirsch or wine (or beer. Shhh.) This emulsifies the cheese and makes it smooth.
Light the candle under the fondue base, put the fondue pot on top, put the plates of apple, new potatoes, french bread and fondue forks, napkins, wine glasses on the table. (I decorated the table with votive candles and flower petals sprinkled around them.) Light the candles, turn down (or off) the lights, turn on the stereo (Barry White is good. Tess likes Michael Buble at the moment)(A LOT !😟) and call her. I think most women would like this, but you know your own (or you should) lady or gentleman's preferences.
Chocolate Fondue
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1 16 oz. bag each of Milk Chocolate and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips(You can use all milk chocolate if you prefer)
Reddi-Whip or Cool-Whip
1tsp -1 T. Instant Coffee or 1/4 cup of fresh brewed coffee (optional)
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Demerara (or light brown sugar)
1/3 cup hot water
Cut up pound cake or angel food cake is also good.
Whole strawberries
Large Marshmallows
Pretzels, Hard Cookies
Melt the chocolate and cream in a saucepan, Mix in the coffee,sugar, and vanilla. Stir well until smooth. Pour into the washed cheese fondue pot or another one if you have two (I do !). Serve with the cake, fruit, etc. Coffee and cognac go well with this. The same rules apply. 😚😋😊
We start out with the cheese fondue for dinner and progress to the chocolate fondue for dessert and then......I'm a gentleman. Use your own imaginations on how to continue or end the evening. Have fun ! Happy Valentine's Day !😍
(This post is very belated, I know. To find out why, please read the next post. If you dare 😨!)
