Monday, February 16, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!



Wedge Salad with Elegant Blue Cheese Dressing
(from allrecipes.com)
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 pound crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar 1 clove garlic, minced
ground black pepper to taste

1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into 8 wedges
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 pound crumbled blue cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine 1/2 pound blue cheese, sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, sugar, garlic, and pepper in a bowl; blend using a hand mixer; chill until serving.
2. Build the salad by placing 1 lettuce wedge on each of 8 plates. Drizzle equal amounts of dressing over each wedge. Scatter tomatoes, onion, and 1/2 pound blue cheese over each salad.

Flan
(from Better Homes and Garden cookbook. I love this book! Thank you Kati!)

1/3 c sugar
3 beaten eggs
1 1/2 c milk
1/3 c sugar
1 t vanilla
dash ground cinnamon

1. To caramelize sugar, in an 8 inch heavy skillet cookie 1/3 c sugar over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally to heat sugar evenly. Do not stir. Once sugar begins to melt, reduce heat to low (I reduced to low and the sugar immediately hardened, so I would say put it down to medium heat). Cook about 5 mins more or until all of the sugar is melted and golden, stirring as needed with a wooden spoon. Immediately divide caramelized sugar among four 6 oz cups. Coat bottoms evenly. Let stand for 10 mins.

2. Meanwhile, combine eggs, milk, the 1/3 c sugar, and vanilla. Beat until well combined but not foamy. Place custard cups in a 2-quart square baking dish. Divide egg mixture into the 6 cups. If desired sprinkle with cinnamon. Place baking dish on oven rack. Pour boiling water into the baking dish into the baking dish around custard cups to a depth of 1 inch. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30-45 mins or until a knife inserted near the center of each flan comes out clean.

3. Remove cups from wather. Take cups out to cool. You can chill until serving time. To unmold, loosen edges of flans with knife, slipping point between flans and side of custard cups. Invert a dessert place over each flan and turn plate and custard cup over together. Remove cups from flan.

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