Sweethearts Dinner

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow.  Did you know?  You didn't?!?!!  Better get your butt in gear buddy and whip up an amazing dinner for the Mrs. before you're left sleeping on the couch... alone... on Valentine's Day.  That sounds horrible.  I know.  

You shouldn't be faulted for "forgetting" a Tuesday, but whatever.  In case your other half is a big V-Day freak, here's a dinner menu that is sure to get you a nice back rub and maybe more.  ;)  Like a bubble bath and a glass of wine...while you get to relax alone.  That sounds AWESOME!!

Come join The Salad Social at TidyMom sponsored by The International Olive Council’s Add Some Life.

Pomegranate & Pear Salad

Ingredients:

Seeds of 1 pomegranate

1 pear, cored and thinly sliced

Field Greens

Crumbled Feta cheese

2 teaspoons honey

Salt

Pepper

Pomegranate Vinaigrette (from McCormick)

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup pomegranate juice

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients in and small bowl until well combined.  Or you could put everything into a bottle/jar and shake vinaigrette ingredients to combine.
2. To plate: place field greens on your plate.  Top with cheese, pears and pomegranate seeds.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Top with vinaigrette and then drizzle with honey.

Now that you've got your hunny's attention, it's time to wow them with your fancy chef skills.  Risotto is unctuous and wonderful.  Unctuous is such a great word.

I love really good words.  I'll have to post more about that later,

we've got dinner to cook!

I have to admit my risotto did not come out right.

Good risotto should ooze on the plate a little.  I used cheapo grated (powdery) Parmesan cheese.

It made the entire batch of perfectly oozing risotto tighten up.  Use freshly shaved Parmesan here.  Please.

Sauteed Shrimp & Lemon Risotto

Ingredients:
Lemon Risotto  (from epicurious)
3 cups canned chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter
2 1/4 teaspoons olive oil
1 large shallot, minced
1 cup Arborio rice  {yes, it HAS to be Arborio rice}
1/8 cup dry white wine  {I recommend a Pinot Grigio to go with the citrus}
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese  {get the good stuff, it matters!}
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (1 lemon)
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

Sauteed Shrimp (from Tyler Florence)
1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and cleaned
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup chicken broth
Salt and pepper
Chopped flat leaf parsley, for garnish

Directions:
Lemon Risotto

1. Bring broth to a simmer in a large sauce pan over medium heat.  Reduce heat to low; cover and keep warm.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat.  Add shallots and saute until tender, about 6 minutes.  Add rice; stir 1 minute.  Add wine and stir until evaporated, about 30 seconds.  
3. Add 3/4 cup warm broth;  simmer until absorbed, stirring frequently.  Add remaining broth 1/4 cup at a time, allowing broth to be absorbed before adding more and stirring frquently until rice is creamy and tender, about 35 minutes.
4. Stir in cheese and remaining tablespoon butter.  Stir in parsley, lemon juice, and lemon peel.  Season risotto with salt and pepper.  Plate and serve warm.

Sauteed Shrimp

1. Pout the flour on a plate and season with a healty amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to combine evenly.  Dredge the shrimp in the season flour to coat all sides.  Shake excess flour off shrimp.
2. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet over medium heat until butter stops foaming and just starts to turn a light brown.  Add the shrimp, and give it a toss.  Saute for 5 minutes, turning once, until the shrimp is firm and there is a crispy coating on the outside.  Remove shrimp to a side plate and cover to keep warm.
3. Put the pan back on the heat and add the garlic and shallots.  Cook and stir for 1 minute until soft.  Add the lemon juice and chicken broth, give it a stir and let it cook down for 1 minute to thicken slightly.  Pout the shrimp back in the pan and coat in the lemon sauce.  Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

To plate:  Put a few spoonfuls of risotto on the plate, allowing it to spread a little.  Top risotto with shrimp.  Garnish with some chopped parsley and half a lemon.

For dessert, cupcakes.  Everybody like cupcakes.  Okay not my friend Rusty, but he doesn't like anything sweet.  I still can't wrap my head around that idea, but whatever.

These cupcakes are sure to make you and your hunny melt.

And they have booze in them which is never bad thing.

Asti Tortine Rose  (Pink Asti Cupcakes)

Make sure you tell your love the name of this dessert in Italian.  You'll sound smart, seductive, and super sexy when you roll those R's.  (Ah-stee  Tort-een-eh  Rows-eh)

You can find the cupcake recipe here.

I highly recommend serving the white wine you use for your risotto with your salad and entree.  For a little bubbly kick, switch over to Martini & Rossi Asti with dessert.  You can't go wrong serving the wine you put in your food.  It's a foolproof pairing.