Perfect for Two: Quick Valentine’s Desserts
February 9, 2012
Instead of a night out on Valentine’s Day you and your honey are planning on avoiding the crammed restaurants and having a quiet evening at home. Dinner is all planned, but what about dessert? Instead of buying something ready-made, why not make something that lets you put a little love into it. Here are a few easy desserts will impress even the hardest to please palates:
The Pie’s the Limit.
Nothing beats a freshly-baked pie for dessert. But if making pastry is too intimidating, try a frozen pie shell to make things a bit more manageable. Choose a smaller-sized shell for a pie that’s perfectly sized for a pair of lovebirds. Chefs need only add a cup of their Valentine’s favourite fruit, some sugar, cinnamon and in about 30 minutes (follow the cooking directions for the store-bought crust) the tasty dessert is ready to devour.
Light Your Fire.
This dessert works for company as well as a romantic dinner at home – Cherries Jubilee. It’s so easy.
Ingredients:
- ⅓ of a cup of water
- ½ cup of sugar
- A cup of cherries (canned or fresh, pits removed)
- ¼ cup of Kirsch (cherry liqueurs) or brandy
- Vanilla ice cream
Directions:
- Heat water and sugar in a saucepan until bubbling
- Add cherries, reduce heat and simmer for about 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and add in the Kirsch (or brandy) and ignite with a long lighter.
- Move the pan around and wait for the blue flame (the alcohol is burning off) to extinguish.
- Spoon cherries over vanilla ice cream and serve warm.
Freshen Up.
If you’re looking for a light dessert that’s sweet and mostly healthy, nothing beats fresh fruit paired with dark chocolate. Simply cut up an assortment of you and your Valentine’s favorite fruits (strawberries, melon, raspberries, banana) and arrange on a pretty plate. Next heat up dark chocolate (or milk chocolate) in the microwave in short, 10 second bursts. Do not overcook the chocolate as it will taste bitter. Stir the chocolate and serve along with the fruit. Use forks or fingers to dip the fruits in the chocolate and serve it to each other.
Now that you’ve sweetened up your Valentine’s Day, hopefully the next time you think of buying a ready-made pie or dessert, you will think twice. Besides it was easier than you thought, right?
