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Valentine’s Cocktails

February 14, 2011 - Written by Diana

Here are some cocktails to enjoy with your sweetie on Valentine’s Day.   :)

Sealed with A Kiss

  • 40ml/ 1.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
  • 4 fresh strawberries
  • 1 Shiso leaf
  • 15ml/ ½ oz Koshinokaghiroi Sake

Muddle strawberries with a dash of simple syrup. Add rest of ingredients and shake with cubed ice. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a strawberry slither and Shiso leaf.

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Chocolate Mousse with Berries – Quick Valentine’s Dessert

February 14, 2011 - Written by Diana

Here’s a Chocolate Mousse recipe that’s so quick, easy, delicious and perfect for Valentine’s Day. For the Superbowl I made vegan cupcakes that were delish.  I thought the glaze tasted like pudding, but it was thick and sweet.  I took that recipe and changed it into a mousse.    This dessert is pretty fast and easy to make.

The microwave was used to melt the chocolate and goat cheese together before putting it into the magic bullet to combine it and add air (to moussify).  That’s really all it takes, pour the mousse  red raspberries and sliced strawberries in ramekins and then decoratively top with one of each and refrigerate.  This is a dessert you can make after work and cool while dinner is being devoured. I loved it and so did my husband.  One for us tonight, and another for tomorrow (no kids, oh well).

Ingredients:

Use a paper towel or cloth to drain and pat dry the …

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Valentines Day Cocktails featuring Yazi Ginger Vodka and Pama Pomegranate Liqueur

February 14, 2010 - Written by Diana

I’ve never tried Yazi Ginger Vodka, but it sounds really interesting.

Yazi contains four different species of ginger, an ancient aphrodisiac, along with lemon, orange, cayenne and red pepper, giving it a distinctive (and seductive) taste.

For Valentine’s inspired cocktails to complement Valentine’s Day chocolates, Hood River Distillers suggests the following:

Warm Embrace

1 part Yazi Ginger Vodka

½ part coffee liqueur

1 part half & half

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice, serve on the rocks and garnish with a cherry.

Cupid’s Kiss

1 part Yazi Ginger Vodka

½ part pineapple juice

½ part cranberry juice

Splash sweet & sour

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice, serve on the rocks with a lemon garnish.

Yazi Amore

2 parts Yazi Ginger Vodka

½ part Amaretto Liqueur

Splash club soda

Mix the Yazi and amaretto in a cocktail shaker, serve up, top with a splash of club soda and garnish with a cherry.

Yazi is produced by Hood …

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Fun Valentines Ideas!

February 13, 2010 - Written by Diana

I saw a commercial that showed a man in a grocery store picking out a Valentines card for his wife.  She passes by and asks what he’s doing, and he says – nothing.  Then they mention the store and say fast, cheap and easy.  Well, maybe fast, cheap and easy, but imaginative?  Thoughtful? Creative?  Depends on what you expect.  My husband does buy me flowers because I just love to see blooms on my kitchen table in the middle of winter.  I like to make my husband some Chocolate Covered Almonds.  They’re so delicious and he’s a lover of nuts, especially those. For my kids I make chocolate bars with fruit or nuts, or in fun shapes.  I have lots of ideas and most are quick and easy (though not as easy as running into the store to pick up a card) and they know that I do it because they’re worth the effort and that there’s love involved.

 

Host a Wine and Chocolate Tasting:

…

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