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Maybe something hot and spicy or something sweet and tempting is more to your Valentine’s Day tastes. If you do not want to fight the crowds and an evening at home is more your style, then maybe a home-cooked meal is more in line for your plans.
Valentine’s Day is less than a week away. Unfortunately, it falls on a Tuesday night. After a hard day at work, it might not be a night that you want to spend out on the town. Having a meal that cooks in the slow-cooker, a Romantic/Comedy on DVD or Blu-ray, and a dessert that you can prepare in advance could be just the ticket for an entertaining and romantic evening at home.
We would like to suggest the following recipes for a romantic evening at home that have been shared with us by Nancy Michaud of North Caribou. We think they will work well around a busy schedule and are even tastier on a household budget than eating out would be. And guys... We bet if you do the cooking you might even be able to switch the movie to an Action/Adventure.
Recipes shared by Nancy Michaud
Dark Chocolate Butterscotch Brownies
4 sq. (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate
3/4 c. butter, cubed
2 c. sugar
3 egg whites
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips
1 c. butterscotch chips
Glaze:
1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter, cubed
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt unsweetened chocolate and the butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, combine sugar and chocolate mixture. Stir in egg whites and vanilla. Stir in flour. Stir in chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Spread in a greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake at 350º F for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. For glaze, melt chips and butter; stir until smooth. Immediately spread over brownies. Cool before cutting.
Slow-Cooked Pepper Steak
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. beef round steak
2 Tbsp. cooking oil
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 c. chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
4 tomatoes, cut into eighths OR 1 can (16 oz) tomatoes with liquid, cut up
2 lg. green peppers, cut into strips
1/2 c. cold water
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
Cooked noodles OR rice
Cut beef into 3x1-inch strips; brown in oil in a large skillet. Transfer to a slow cooker. Combine soy sauce, onion, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper, and ginger; pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or until meat is tender. Add tomatoes and green peppers; cook on low for 1 hour longer. Combine the cold water and cornstarch to make a paste; stir into liquid in slow cooker and cook on high until thickened. Best served over buttered noodles or rice. |
By Barbara Scott