Well, don’t I feel validated! The “Ask Lemmonex” idea was well received, and my adoring public, I thank you for humoring me. My friend B the other day said (with love, natch), “I kinda cannot believe people are asking you for advice. It is not like you are a professional or anything”. This is true, but I have had enough disasters to help you kids out; there are some lessons in life I can learn. So, without further ado…
The hot and sexy suicide_blonde asks:
what i reallly i wanna see/try are some fun “valentine” recipes… not so much cakes shaped like hearts..more like water for chocolate stuff… that a novice could manage…
I like where your head is at, dear. Heart shaped cakes and red roses are cliches that make me die a tiny thousand deaths.
A girl has to get every party started with a cocktail, and these champagne ginger cocktails look to die for. Did you know ginger is an aphrodisiac? So are chocolate and mint, and this frozen andes drink calls for both and has the added bonus of cooling things down if it gets too steamy, too fast. Looking to get a man with money all liquored up? Try this billionaire’s cocktail. Just make sure the sexy lingerie is already on before the drinking gets under way.
I have been way in to Culinate lately and these chocolate truffles look super delicious and easy to make. The recipe calls for use of a microwave; you cannot get much easier than that. How about chocolate pudding? Simple and delicious, this would be awesome topped with some homemade whipped cream. (To make whipped cream: 1 pint super cold whipping cream, 2 heaping tablespoons powdered sugar, and some sort of flavoring. Whip like hell with a whisk. Vanilla or orange extract would be good with this, but I think a splash of raspberry liqueur would be the bees knees.) I also have had fondue on the brain lately; here is a basic recipe for chocolate-rum fondue that will bring all the boys to the yard. This dark chocolate and toffee macadamia bark looks great and something that a novice could handle easily.
Nothing says Valentine’s Day more than some time in bed, so how about having breakfast there? These lime-pineapple scones would be great with a tropical fruit salad and some mimosas. (If you don’t have a rolling pin, drop them by heaping tablespoons on to a sheet and keep an eye on them.) I have made this french toast casserole(with Bailey’s!) with lots of success. If you want to keep things a little spicier in bed (Oh…the puns!!) how about huevos rancheros?
And from the Culinary Couture archives, might I suggest these pear champagne cupcakes (easy and a non chocolate option!), strawberries in balsamic reduction (I think strawberries on Valentine’s Day are a rule), and this triple chocolate cheesecake (more intermediate level, but still…I know you can do it!)
Happy Valentine’s Day, kiddies. And if you are a hot, emotionally available (but not too available because that freaks me out), tall boy with a scar on his face and dark hair that doesn’t overly abuse alcohol and has a refined pallet and you are looking for love, call me!
9:33 am on February 8th, 2008
So many fun ideas… how did I miss your pear-champagne cupcakes the first time around? Very pretty new avatar photo by the way.
OK, so here’s my question for Ask Lemmonex: What the heck is the difference between “Minestrone” and “Pasta e Fagiloi”?!?!? I make what I call minestrone with ditalini pasta and cannelini beans but now I am starting to think I named it wrong. Help!
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9:58 am on February 8th, 2008
Fondue? I also recommend a fiesta cheese for dipping breads and vegetables.
And did you really just write “bees knees?”
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10:18 am on February 8th, 2008
you know, you shouldn’t tease a girl about pear champagne cupcakes after she’s gotten back from weight watchers.
these are great, thanks!
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10:22 am on February 8th, 2008
ch: aw, thanks so much. the photobooth on my new macbook is like an exercise in vanity. also, i will add this question t the queue. i know the answer.
i-66: yes I did and what are you going to do about it.
carrie m: I feel your pain sister. BUT, the pudding is actually low in points (it is from a low fat cookbook)–just skip the whipped cream.
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12:48 pm on February 8th, 2008
oh my god…ive been printing recipes for 30 min now!!! you out did yourself..huevos rancheros is my FAVE ..but ive never tried to make it…
first thing in the morning.. im gonna try both the huevos rancheros AND the scones…
FIRST Question..(of many im sure)…can you make the scones in advance??
Second question..leave it to me…how do you Grate Ginger or pears?? i suppose ive only been using crystallized ginger??
but i def want to try the champagne and cupcakes!!
thank you thank you!!!
xoxo
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12:57 pm on February 8th, 2008
s_b: Glad this helps–I actually had a really fun time pulling this together.
Yes, you can make scones a day or two in advance. I kinda like mine a little warm, but that is a personal preference–15 seconds in the micro will warm them back up and make that butter melty (if you so choose to use butter on them).
You grate pears using a box grater, like for cheese. Very easy but watch your knuckles. As far as ginger goes, you can find the fresh little nubs generally near the fresh herbs (at my store they are in a bin near the shallots which are near the herbs). The are knobby and have a brown skin. Peel the skin using a spoon or just cut the skin off. Grate it using a fine cheese grater (more like the one you would use for parm cheese with the handle) or a microplane. If you don’t have one of those, I promise I wont tell if you just cut it super finely. Feel free to chime back in with more questions–here or over email.
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3:30 pm on February 13th, 2008
umm…can you buy a mixer at the grocery store?
xoxo
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3:49 pm on February 13th, 2008
s_b: a hand mixer? no, you can at linens and things though. also, you can usually use a spoon.
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3:40 am on March 7th, 2008
[...] encountered the following clusterfuck minor setbacks trying to make Lemmonex’s champagne pear cupcakes [...]