I want to welcome Crystal Maleski again of MakeDinnerEasy.com. Crystal will be a contributing writer for Mom Technology bringing us tips to get dinner on the table! Crystal makes dinner much easier with weekly dinner plans, shopping lists and child approved recipes sent right to your computer…. that is technology making life simple! This month Crystal will make your Valentines Easy!
Valentine Gift of Food
A simple, inexpensive, and much appreciated way is through the gift of food. The following are two easy recipes that you could either give or enjoy with the special person or persons in your life. The Cinnamon Kissed Sugared Pecans make a great gift, and the White Tiramisu is an easy no-bake, make-ahead dessert that both kids and adults will enjoy.
Cinnamon Sugared Pecans
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound pecan halves
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Mix together the egg whites and the vanilla and pour this mixture into a large zip style plastic bag. Add the pecan halves and massage the bag so that the pecans are coated with the egg white mixture. Mix together the sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour this cinnamon mixture into the bag with the pecans. Once again, massage the bag so that the pecans are coated with the cinnamon mixture. Pour the pecans out onto a greased cookie sheet and use 2 spoons to spread the pecans into a single layer. Bake at 300°F for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. At first the pecans will look wet and bubbly, every time you stir them they will dry out a bit more until they have a crispy cinnamon sugared coating.
White Tiramisu
30-32 hard ladyfinger cookies (I use half of a 500 gram package, usually found in the Italian or cookie section of grocery stores that carry international foods)
2 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese, softened
3 (1/2 pint) containers of heavy whipping cream (they look like small milk containers)
4 Tablespoons brandy (optional if kids are eating this)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup espresso or strong coffee
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
A chocolate candy bar (i.e. Hersey’s)
Line the bottom of a 9″x 13″ glass pan with a single layer of ladyfinger cookies (about 15 cookies – you may have to turn some in a different direction to make them all fit)
Mix 1 cup of coffee, the brandy, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Slowly pour 1/2 of this mixture over the cookies. Do it slowly so that each cookie has the liquid poured over it.
Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add the whipping cream. Initially beat this mixture on a slow, then gradually increase the speed (otherwise it will slosh out of the bowl!). Continue to mix until it looks like a thickened whip cream (may take up to 10 minutes!). Stir in 3/4 cups of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Spread half of the whipped cream mixture on top of the cookies. Then add another layer of cookies. Pour the remaining coffee mixture evenly over those cookies. Spread the rest of the whipped cream mixture on top of that.
Take a small chocolate candy bar and using a vegetable peeler, make chocolate curls. You can also grate chocolate on top using a vegetable grater, or sprinkle unsweetened cocoa powder on top.
Chill covered. Can be made up to 1 hour to 1 day in advance and refrigerated.
Variation: – if you like a darker colored filling, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa can be added to the whipped cream mixture.
What is your Favorite Valentine Gift?
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