A Romantic Rendezvous with Food For the Mood, by Holly Clegg & Giveaway

Today – The Day of LOVE, I’m thrilled to have Holly Clegg visiting here at Libby’s Library.  I love connecting with “local” bloggers and when I can connect with a local blogger who is a foodie – DING DING DING DING…I’ve hit the jackpot!  Stay tuned for future reviews of Holly’s cookbooks…and pssssttttt – there is a giveaway today and there will be one with each review:-)

So, without further ado…

A Romantic Rendezvous with Food For the Mood

“A good marriage is like a good wine, it gets better with age” and even a novice cook can whip up a fanciful meal and sizzle in the kitchen! From Too Hot in the Kitchen:  Secrets To Sizzle At Any Age

A Romantic Rendezvous with Food For the Mood

The month of February has us seeing red and pink hearts and tokens of affections lining all of the store shelves weeks before the 14^th – all letting that special someone know just how much you care. Why not take heed to that old saying, “The way to your lover’s heart is through their stomach,” and win your sweetheart’s affection by heading straight to the kitchen?  No need to fight crowded restaurants when you can have a romantic rendezvous in your home.  Dining at home is less expensive, better for you, can be more intimate, and even good for your heart as February is also American Heart Association’s Heart Month!   It really doesn’t take much effort to create a romantic atmosphere in your own home.  This is the time to use your dining room and bring out the fine dishes to set the mood for the ultimate candlelight dinner.  Centerpieces can be affordable and simple by incorporating any red flower instead of pricy roses.  I like to fill small clear containers with layers of Valentine candy and place a small tea candle on top to light up the mood.  Keep the menu simple, yet appealing and alluring and for that I turn to my cookbook, Too Hot in the Kitchen and the chapter, Food for the Mood.  Did you know there are actually foods that boost the libido?

o   It was rumored that Casanova ate over 50 raw oysters a day to boost his libido–oysters are high in zinc content, a mineral that aids in the production of testosterone.

o   Figs are considered a symbol of fertility and revered as an aphrodisiac.

o   So it is said “hot food” generates a physiological response as when you get excited, so spice things up in your kitchen!

I have been married 34 years and I think Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday to prepare dinner.  Fast and fancy you can whip up a meal with these simple recipes.  Also, pine nuts are a sign of fertility so sprinkle them on your salad or veggies.  Nothing beats the aroma of homemade bread and this four ingredient Beer Bread will get any man’s attention.  Who doesn’t love a decadent dessert to end the dining experience especially when you can make this four ingredient White Chocolate Cream Brulee with little effort.  I hope these recipes will perk up your special meal.

Beer Bread

Say the word beer and you have your man’s attention and when he smells the aroma of homemade bread, the evening is yours.

Makes 16 servings

4 cups self-rising flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 (16-ounce) bottle light beer

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Preheat oven 400°F. Coat 9x 5x 3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray

2. In large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, and beer, mixing only until moistened.

3. Transfer batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, pour melted butter over top.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories 134 Calories from fat 9% Fat 1g Saturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 4mg Sodium 411mg Carbohydrate 27g Dietary Fiber 1g Sugars 3g Protein 3g Dietary Exchanges: 2 starch

White Chocolate Crème Brulee

 

Fancy but have no fear as you can make this infamous dessert with my simple version- all the indulgence without the bulge! Romance in the air!

Makes 4 servings

1 (3-ounce) package instant white chocolate pudding and pie filling mix

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1/4 cup white crème de cocoa

6 teaspoons sugar

1. In bowl, whisk together pudding mix, milk and crème de cocoa. Pour into 4 small ramekins.

2. Refrigerate 5 -10 minutes or until set. Sprinkle each ramekin with 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.

3. Preheat broiler. Broil, watching carefully, or use small ‘chef’s’ torch to crystallize sugar. Serve.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories 194, Calories from fat 0%, Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 2mg, Sodium 337mg, Carbohydrate 37g, Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 34g, Protein 3g, Dietary Exchanges: 2 1/2 other carbohydrate

Check out Holly’s Blog- The Healthy Cooking Blog

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