Cooking Date Nights
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Menu
Appetizer: Goat Cheese Cakes Main Course: Spicy Tomato Sauce with fettuccine and garlic bread Dessert: Chocolate Board Beverage: Seven Deadly Zins Music: Sinatra
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Prepare Ahead:
Goat Cheese Cakes
Grownup Chocolate Hazelnut Spread for Chocolate Board
Chai Spiced Shortbread for Chocolate Board
Goat Cheese Cakes
Grownup Chocolate Hazelnut Spread for Chocolate Board
Chai Spiced Shortbread for Chocolate Board
Tablescape
Supplies:
dish towel or placemat
2 cake pedestals in different sizes
3 large clear glass containers and or candle holders
1 medium glass vase
3 small glass vases or spice jars
3 pillar candles in varying sizes
granulated sugar
cut flowers from your yard or purchased
Directions:
1. Place pedestals on dish towel
2. Place an inch or so of sugar in the bottom of 3 containers/candle holders.
3. Set candles in the sugar, arrange flowers in medium vase, arrange flowers in small vases/spice jars.
4. Place two filled candle containers and small flower vase arrangements on pedestal. Place medium flower vase arrangement next to larger pedestal and last candle vase on smaller pedestal.
5. Play with the arrangement until it is pleasing to the eye
Note: I used camellias in this tablescape. Camellias are one of my favorite flowers. They bloom big and bold when it's too cold for much else and come in many varieties. I've had luck with most of the ones in my yard performing well as cut flowers, usually lasting 3-5 days before blooms begin to drop.
Supplies:
dish towel or placemat
2 cake pedestals in different sizes
3 large clear glass containers and or candle holders
1 medium glass vase
3 small glass vases or spice jars
3 pillar candles in varying sizes
granulated sugar
cut flowers from your yard or purchased
Directions:
1. Place pedestals on dish towel
2. Place an inch or so of sugar in the bottom of 3 containers/candle holders.
3. Set candles in the sugar, arrange flowers in medium vase, arrange flowers in small vases/spice jars.
4. Place two filled candle containers and small flower vase arrangements on pedestal. Place medium flower vase arrangement next to larger pedestal and last candle vase on smaller pedestal.
5. Play with the arrangement until it is pleasing to the eye
Note: I used camellias in this tablescape. Camellias are one of my favorite flowers. They bloom big and bold when it's too cold for much else and come in many varieties. I've had luck with most of the ones in my yard performing well as cut flowers, usually lasting 3-5 days before blooms begin to drop.
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The Date
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Need a simpler date?
No time to prepare items ahead? Make these easy swaps:
1. Instead of Goat Cheese Cakes, have this quick appetizer- place burrata cheese on a small plate. Top with a drizzle of balsamic reduction, a sliced green onion, a handful of quartered cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of garlic powder, black pepper, and sea salt. Serve with crackers.
2. In place of the Grownup Chocolate Hazelnut Spread on the chocolate board, you can purchase hazelnut spread from the store. Alternatively, make this quick chocolate dip while putting the chocolate board together with your date: Place a handful of dark chocolate chunks or discs (I usually use El Rey, but also like Raaka and Alter Eco) in a small bowl; add a pat of butter and a couple of tablespoons of milk. Heat about 45 sec in microwave and stir until melted. Cook longer (10-second increments) to thicken or add small amount of milk to thin.
3. Buy shortbread cookies instead of making the Chai Spiced Shortbread.
4. Just do the candle portion of the Tablescape.
Need a shorter date?
Skip straight to dessert! Together with your date prepare the chocolate board and enjoy some conversation while you graze on the final product.
No time to prepare items ahead? Make these easy swaps:
1. Instead of Goat Cheese Cakes, have this quick appetizer- place burrata cheese on a small plate. Top with a drizzle of balsamic reduction, a sliced green onion, a handful of quartered cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of garlic powder, black pepper, and sea salt. Serve with crackers.
2. In place of the Grownup Chocolate Hazelnut Spread on the chocolate board, you can purchase hazelnut spread from the store. Alternatively, make this quick chocolate dip while putting the chocolate board together with your date: Place a handful of dark chocolate chunks or discs (I usually use El Rey, but also like Raaka and Alter Eco) in a small bowl; add a pat of butter and a couple of tablespoons of milk. Heat about 45 sec in microwave and stir until melted. Cook longer (10-second increments) to thicken or add small amount of milk to thin.
3. Buy shortbread cookies instead of making the Chai Spiced Shortbread.
4. Just do the candle portion of the Tablescape.
Need a shorter date?
Skip straight to dessert! Together with your date prepare the chocolate board and enjoy some conversation while you graze on the final product.
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© 2019 Emily Haygood. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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