Valentine’s Day Truffles

Our adorable friend Meredith had a wonderful idea for Valentine’s Day: she got together five of her girlfriends to make truffles for the loved ones in our lives. Each girl made a different kind of truffles and while they were chilling or there was otherwise downtime, we sipped champagne and caught up with each other. It was a true win-win: we had a wonderful girls afternoon and our Valentine’s Day presents were highly appreciated. (We already gave them to the boys–we couldn’t resist!)

Here are the recipes for the biggest hits:

Traditional Truffles
A classic for a reason

Balsamic Truffles
Love the savory/sweet combination of these

Oreo Truffles
My favorite cookie with added sweetness. Can’t go wrong.

Raspberry Chocolate Truffles
Another classic

Cookie Dough Truffles
These were mine and I have to say the favorites of at least a few recipients! There has already been a request for another batch and it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet. Plus, they are SO easy!

Barefoot Contessa’s Omelet for Two

This one can not be good for you, but it is such a treat it turns breakfast into a special occasion. I discovered this recipe in Barefoot Contessa at Home when I had a few weeks off this summer. I cooked it three days in a row.

Ina says this serves two, but I think it easily serves 3 or 4. It would also be amazing for lunch with a green salad.

Photo: Quentin Bacon via barefootcontessa.com

You can find the original recipe and more of Ina Garten’s recipes on her website

INGREDIENTS

¼ pound good thick-cut bacon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup medium-diced Yukon gold potato
½ cup chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
5 extra-large eggs
2 tablespoons milk or cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup chopped scallions, white and green parts
4 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, diced, plus extra grated cheese for garnish

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the bacon in 1-inch slices. Cook the bacon in an 8-inch ovenproof sauté pan over medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Drain the bacon on paper towels and discard the fat from the pan. Add the butter to the pan, and then add the potato and yellow onion. Cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the onion starts to brown and the potato is tender but firm. Add the jalapeno pepper and cook for 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together with a fork. Stir in the scallions and diced Cheddar. When the potato is cooked, add the bacon to the pan and pour over the egg mixture. Place the pan in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the omelet puffs and the eggs are almost cooked in the center. Sprinkle with a handful of grated Cheddar and bake for another minute. Serve hot directly from the pan.

Nigella Lawson’s Mirin Glazed Salmon

courtesy of nigella.com

This is my go-to recipe when I don’t have a lot of time but I do want to but an impressive, healthy meal on the table. I fell in love with Nigella Lawson right before I moved to London, which turned out to be appropriate. She is a goddess of British cooking. She is as witty and bright as she is talented in the kitchen. Plus, her cookbooks are all display-worthy due to mouth watering pictures.

Without further ado, I give you Nigella’s Mirin-Glazed Salmon
The only modifications made to this recipe have been to convert measures into common US measures and to add estimated times. 

Following the recipe, this whole ordeal should take you less than fifteen minutes. I’d say from start to dinner on the table, it usually takes me less than half an hour (and none of those “meals in 30 minutes” ever take that little time). This is truly an easy one!

Estimated prep time: 10 minutes
Estimated cook time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
4 x 125g pieces salmon, cut from the thick part of the fillet so that they are narrow but tall rather than wide and flat
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1-2 spring onions, halved and shredded into fine strips

METHOD

Serves: 4
Mix the mirin, brown sugar and soy sauce in a shallow dish that will take all 4 pieces of salmon, and marinate the salmon in it for 3 minutes on the first side and 2 minutes on the second. Meanwhile heat a large non-stick frying pan on the hob.
Cook the salmon in the hot, dry pan for 2 minutes and then turn the salmon over, add the marinade and cook for another 2 minutes.
Remove the salmon to whatever plate you’re serving it on, add the rice vinegar to the hot pan, and warm through.
Pour the dark, sweet, salty glaze over the salmon and top with the spring onion strips.

You can find this recipe and many more from Nigella on her website.

New Recipe Section

Recipes

January is the time for New Years Resolutions and since food is one of my passions, starting a recipe section of this blog has been on my to-do list as long as this blog has been around.

Starting today, I’ll be adding some of my favorite recipes to this blog and hopefully soon starting to create my own here.

Check back for new recipes being added over the next few days.

To a full heart and a full stomach in 2012. Cheers!