Valentines Day is around the corner, restaurants are booked, and you are at a loss for unique ideas of what to do for that special someone. Why not cook your Valentine a candle light dinner. Nothing says Love, like something created by your own hand. You don't cook? No problem; the recipes below are not only classically romantic, but quick, simple and already paired with great wines. So light the candles; put on your most romantic CD and prepare a dream dinner for your Valentine.

Menu

Appetizer

Melon Prosciutto Cube

Wine Paring

Serve with a classic glass of sparkling champagne, Moet is a good choice.

Main Fare

California Salad

Buttered Snow Peas

Feta Spinach Salmon Roast

Wine Pairing

Paired with a Willamette Valley, Pinot Grigio

Dessert Menu

Hugs and Kisses Chocolate Fondue, Served with Pound Cake cubes and fresh Strawberries

Dessert Wine Pairing

Dessert Wine, a nice Raspberry Framboise or Chambord, Champagne Cocktail

Recipes

Melon Prosciutto Cubes

¼ Cantaloupe

¼ Honey Dew Melon

4 oz. Prosciutto

Cube your melons, then wrap with Prosciutto slice that you fix with a toothpick.

Mixed Greens with Warm Brie Dressing

Wash and dry all fresh vegetables.  Toss together, ¼ head romaine, ¼ head red leaf lettuce, 1/8 head radicchio, two sprigs finely chopped parsley, 1 thinly sliced scallion, 3 medium white mushrooms, add about 12 med seedless sweet red grapes, cut in two.  Keep salad refrigerated until ready to serve.

Warm Brie Dressing

1/8 c. extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium garlic clove

2 oz. Brie, rind removed cut into sm. Cubes

2 tbs. Sherry vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

Mix olive oil, and garlic in a heavy saucepan on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes. Add in Brie and melt, stir with whisk until completely melted, then ad in the Sherry vinegar, lemon juice and Dijon mustard.  Let cook and blend together for a few minutes.  Pour over salad, then toss and plate.

Feta Spinach Salmon Roast

3 oz cream cheese, softened

¾ cup crumbled feta

2 scallions, thinly sliced

½ cup fresh spinach, chopped

2 skinless salmon fillets about ¾ lb.

Olive oil

¼ lb crab

½ cup sour cream

Fresh dill, chopped

Pinch of salt

Lemon wedges

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Combine cheeses until smooth. Add scallions and spinach, combine well.  Place Salmon in shallow baking dish, spread mixture evenly over both filets, brush sides with olive oil.  Sprinkle crab over top of salmon, bake for 20 min. Blend together in a sm. Bowl, dill, salt, and sour cream. Slightly warm in microwave, no more then 30 sec. Plate Salmon, pour dill sauce over top.  Garnish with lemon wedges.  Serve over fresh spinach leaves with snow peas on the side.

Buttered Snow Peas

Four Tablespoons butter

Twelve ounces fresh snow peas

Pinch of garlic powder

Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add snow peas and sauté until tender-yet still crisp.

Hugs and Kisses Chocolate Fondue

1 pint fresh strawberries

1 raspberry swirl or plain pound cake

Rinse, bowl and chill strawberries

Cube and arrange pound cake on a plate

Melt in a fondue pot, or on stove on medium heat 8 oz. good quality dark chocolate

½ bag chocolate kisses

½ cup heavy cream

1 tsp. Brandy

If chocolate is stove melted pour into serving bowl, and serve the fruit and cake with skewers for dipping, otherwise serve from fondue pot.

Set an elegant table with red tablecloth and white napkins, put on your sexiest outfit, and Happy Valentines Day!

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