THE RELUCTANT GOURMET COOKING COMMUNITY

[jfield]

I love to cook savory foods, but my profession is pastry and baking. So, to really feel in my element, I'm going to start my own topic. So there! :D

With Valentine's Day looming, we're featuring two special desserts at the restaurant. One is a chocolate mousse with a Rosa Regale sorbet. Rosa Regale is a lovely sweet sparkling Italian wine that pairs beautifully with chocolate. The other is more old school: red velvet cupcakes with swirly cream cheese frosting paired with a sweet cream milk shake.

What is your ideal dessert for Valentine's Day--or any day?

[French Foodie]

Well I'm no big Valentine's Day fan. in fact my girlfriend and I boycott it. It's just a corporate holiday anyways. As for my favorite desert, I'm a big fan of almost anything with chocolate in it. one time I made a quadruple chocolate brownies. 1 1/4 lbs of chcoolate for a 9x13 lb. it was heavenly, although one could only eat 1.5 sq in. and not gain 10 lbs. Not only was it delicious, but it was beautiful if I do say so myself.

[jfield]

Yes, while I agree that Valentine's Day is a Hallmark Holiday, I think it does give those folks who maybe aren't so romantic most of the time the incentive to pull out all the stops. Plus, if we can sell desserts, then hooray for us!

Brownies are one of my favorites. Here's the recipe I use, adapted from the anal retentive but very reliable Cook's Illustrated:

4 oz. pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped (optional--I use chocolate chips instead)
5 oz. cake flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine
6 oz. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
15.75 oz sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or substitute strong espresso, bourbon or a liqueur)

Melt chocolate in 30 second intervals on medium power in the microwave, or melt gently over a double boiler. Your choice. Cool.
Combine sugar, eggs, flavoring and melted butter.
Stir in the melted chocolate.
Whisk flour, salt and baking powder. Pour wet onto dry and mix thoroughly with a whisk. Mix in nuts or chips, if using. Pour into a greased and parchment-lined 9X9 or 9X13 pan.
Bake at 325 for about 30 minutes for the 9X13 pan and about 45 minutes for the 9X9 pan. They will rise slightly and top will be firm. Stab them with a knife to see if they're done. If it comes out clean, you're good to go. You can under-bake them a bit if you want them to be more dense and gooey.

These are the best brownies I've ever eaten. I'd love to see the recipe for your chocolate extravaganza, FF!

[French Foodie]

While I would love to post the recipe, if I understand copyright correctly, that isn't something I could do on a forum. It comes from the Food and Wine 2006 annual though. Great book with some really fun recipes in it.

[DaveJ]

I would love to prepare some nice romantic surprise dessert for my wife - preferably something with strawberries or grapes - unfortunately that is where my creativity ends - any ideas??

[jfield]

Try macerating some strawberries in some sugar/white balsamic vinegar and q wee pinch of salt and some black pepper. Serve over vanilla ice cream. Or, serve on a piece of angel food cake with some sweetened, whipped creme fraiche. I also recently purchased some pomegranate-flavored white balsamic vinegar. I bet that would be good, too.

[njwoods]

hello all,
Yes, I love brownies too and they are quick and easy to make. I have one that is bit different, add a can of crushed pineapple to it and they are so moist and keep well too.

You can use any recipe and just adjust your liquid amounts, one can usually tell from the batter.

[NatalieAE]

I'm a huge brownie lover!

I'm attempting Molton Chocolate cakes for the first time this year. Wish me luck!

[jfield]

Yum:) Sounds like a great dinner all around!

[barba25]