1

Valentine’sDayMovieNightSnacksIngredients:FortheCake:

• 1cupAPFlour(plusmorefordusting)• ¼cupUnsweetenedCocoaPowder• ½teaspoonBakingSoda• ¼teaspoonSalt• 4ouncesChocolateChips• ½stickButter,cutintopieces• ½cupLightBrownSugar• 1Egg• 3tablespoonsRedFoodColoring

Instructions:

1. Whisktogetherflour,cocoapowder,bakingsodaandsaltinsmallbowl,setaside.2. Heat1-2inchesofwaterinsaucepanuntilboiling,putmixingbowlontopandlower

heattosimmer.Addchocolate,butter,andbrownsugartotopbowl,stiruntilmostlymelted.Removefromdoubleboilerandstiruntilbutterhasmeltedcompletely.Setaside.

3. Pourwarmchocolatemixtureintostandmixer.Beatonlow,thenaddeggandmixuntilblended.

4. Addflourinthirdsuntilcompletelyincorporated.5. Addfoodcoloringandmixtocombine.Thiswillbeastickydough.

2

6. Dividedoughinhalf.Rolleachhalfoutontoparchmentpaper,usingmoreflouracrossthetopwherenecessarytokeeprollingpinfromstickingtodough.Placedough(onparchment)ontoacookiesheetandslideintothefreezerfor20-30minutes,untilfirmbutnotfrozen.

7. Heatovento350˚.Removeonesheetofdoughfromfreezerandflipitontocounter.Peelparchmentfromback.Usingheartcookiecutter,cutoutlittleheartsandplaceonbakingsheetwith½inchbetweeneachcookie.

8. Bakecookiesuntillightlytoastedandfirmtothetouch,about9-11minutes.9. Transfercookiestocoolingrack.

CaramelMascarponeWhip:

• 18-ouncepackageMascarpone• 1cupHeavyCream• ⅓cupCaramelSauce• ¼cupPowderedSugar• ½teaspoonVanillaExtract

Instructions:

1. Beatmascarponewithhandmixeruntillightandfluffy.2. Addheavycream,continuewhippingfor2-3minutes,untilvoluminous.3. Addpowderedsugar,vanilla,andcaramelsauce,beatorfolduntiljustcombined.4. Servewithredvelvetchocolatecookiehearts.

1

ConversationHeartCakesInstructions:

1. Useyourfavoritecaketocutouthearts,usingaheart-shapedcookiecutter.(Usebigenoughheartcookiecutterthatwillallowenoughroomforwriting.

2. Placeheartsinfridgetoharden.OPTIONAL:Cutheartsinhalfandputfrostinginthemiddleandsandwichthetwohalvestogether.Youcanalsofrosttheedgesasacrumbcoattoguaranteesmoothedges.

3. Meltchocolatecoatedcandiesandaddcoconutoiltocreateathinnerconsistency.NOTE:Useacoolingrackplacedonasheettraytoplaceheartcakeson,sothatthereisaplaceforthechocolatedrippingstopool.

4. Takeoutheartcakesfromfridge,anddripmeltedchocolateoverthehearts.5. Placechocolatecoveredheartsonasheettraylinedwithwaxpaper,andplacein

fridgetocool.6. Takeoutoffridgeandpipeon“conversations”withyourfavoritefrostings.

1

MexicanFrittataTotaltime:25min,Yield:2to4servingsIngredients:

• ½tablespoonoliveoil• 2to3greenonions/scallions,sliced(whiteandpalegreenpartsonly)• 3largeeggs• 1tablespoonwater• 1tablespoonchoppedfreshcilantroleaves• Saltandfreshlygroundblackpepper• ¼cupMexicancremaorsourcream• ¼cupshreddedOaxacaormozzarellacheese

Instructions:

1. Preheattheovento425degreesF.2. Inan8-inch,nonstick,oven-proofsautépan,heattheoilovermediumheat.Addthe

scallionsgreenonionsandcookuntilsoft,about3minutes.3. Meanwhileinamediumbowl,beattheeggswith1tablespoonofwater.Addcilantro

andseasonwithsaltandpepper.4. Addeggmixturetopanandcook.5. Cookforabout8minutesliftingtheedgeswithaspatula,toallowanyuncookedegg

toflowtothebottom.6. PourtheMexicancremaoverthetopandsprinklewiththecheese.7. Transferthepantotheovenandbakeuntilpuffedandgolden,about8to10

minutes.Servewarmoratroomtemperature.

1

Cider,Apple,andSageRoasterPorkChopswithBrownButterGorgonzolaPolentaPrepTime:20minsCookTime:20minsTotalTime:40minsServes4Ingredients:ForthePorkChops:

• 4inboneporkchopsabout¾inthick• 2tablespoonsoliveoil• Koshersaltandblackpepper• 2tablespoonsbrownsugar• ½cupfreshsageleaves• 4tablespoonsbutter• 1cupapplecider• 1-2inchipotlepeppersadobochopped(optional)• 1tablespoonsfreshthyme,chopped• 2apples,sliced

ForthePolenta:

• 1½cupsmilk• 1½cupswater• 1cuppolenta• 2tablespoonsbutter

2

• 2-4ouncescrumbledgorgonzolacheese(maysubparmesan)• Koshersaltandblackpepper

Instructions:

1. Tomakethepolenta.Heatasmallskilletovermediumheat.Addthebutterandcookuntilbrownedandtoasted.

2. Pourthewaterandmilkintoamediumsizesaucepanandbringtoaboil.Lowertheheattomediumandslowlywhiskinthepolenta.Cook,stirringfrequently,untilthepolentaissoftandthick,about15to20minutes.Keepwarmandthenjustbeforeserving,stirinthegorgonzolacheeseandbrownedbutter,seasonwithsaltandpepper.

3. Meanwhile,preheattheovento450degreesF.4. Heatalargeovensafebraisingskilletovermediumhighheat.Rubtheporkchopsall

overwitholiveoil.Sprinkleeachsideofthechopswithsalt+pepperandthenrubthebrownsugaron.Nowgrab3-4sageleavesandpressthemontheporkchops,theyshouldstickontothechops,butdon'tworryiftheyfalloffduringcooking.

5. Oncetheskilletishot,butnotsmoking,addtheporkchopsandsearuntilbothsidesarecaramelized,about2-3minutesperside.Addthebuttertothepanandallowittobrown,about1minute.Slowlypourintheciderandaddthechipotlepeppers(ifusing)+thyme.Bringthesaucetoaboilandthenremovefromtheheat.Sprinkletheappleslicesaroundthepork.

6. Placetheskilletintheovenandroastfor15-20minutesoruntiltheporkiscookedtoyourdesireddonenessandthesaucehasthickenedintoaglaze.Iftheporkisdonebeforethesauceisthick,justremovetheporkfromthepanandplacethepanbackonthestove.Bringthesaucetoaboilandcookuntilithasthickened.

7. Toserve,dividethepolentaamongplates.Addaporkchop,applesandtheglazefromthepan.

1

RaindropCakeIngredients:

• ½tspagar• 2cupsspring/bottledwater• Brownsugar• Kinakopowder• RaindropCakeMold• WoodenBoat

Instructions:ForRaindropCake:

1. Inasmallpot,add½tspofagarto2cupsspring(orbottled)waterandstir.2. Heatonmedium/highfor3-4minutes,untilboiling.Stiroften.3. Boilsolutionuntilalltheagarisgoneandwaterlooksclear.4. Removefromheatandpourintomeasuringcupandletcoolfor5minutes.5. Carefullypourintomoldandsetfor2hoursatroomtemperature.(Donot

refrigeratetosetoritwillsticktomold).6. Afterithassetyoucanputthemoldintherefrigeratortochill&cool.

ForToppings:

1. Combinedarkbrownsugarand¼cupwatinasmallsaucerandstir2. Heatonlow/medonstove,stiruntilallsugarcrystalsarecompletelydissolved3. Carefullypourintoaheatsafecupsoit’seasytopourwhenyou’rereadytoplate

2

ForPlating:1. Carefullyremovecakesfromthemoldbypressingalongtheedgestofreecake,and

gentlylifeoutwithyourfingers.2. Gentlyplacethecakeonawoodenboatwhenyou’rereadytoserve.3. Adddarkbrownsugarsyrupononeside4. Addkinakopowderontheotherside5. Serveandenjoy!