Recipes Looking for a recipe, or do you just have a great one that you think everyone will enjoy? Share recipes with people from around the world.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-14-2008, 06:14 PM
Gummy-Bear's Avatar
Gummy-Bear Offline
Registered User
Culinary Experience: Cook At Home
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 280
Blog Entries: 1
Default Starting Early

Because Valentine's Day seems to be a Hallmark Holiday for the ladies, I was clueless on what to get my boyfriend for this so-called holiday. I have decided to make him an EXTREME chocolate cheesecake yet top it so that it is festive for this day. I was thinking of topping the entire cake with chocolate covered strawberries but I would like to see if you geniuses could help me think of a better topper. Thank you in advance,
Gummy-Bear
__________________
Cooking is too an art. Your sculpture versus my 4-course dinner. We'll see whose art gets more votes. ~Gummy-Bear~
Reply With Quote


  #2  
Old 01-16-2008, 11:37 AM
chefswanny Offline
Registered User
Culinary Experience: Professional Chef
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 26
Default

I have to agree that nothing goes better with Valentine's day than chocolate and strawberries (maybe a little champagne too!). Here are a couple of ideas:

Cover the cheesecake with a simple ganache before adding the strawberries.

Have a contrast of color, dipping the strawberries in white, milk and dark chocolate, making sure to leave some of the red strawberry visible.

Make it a chocolate creme brulee cheesecake by mixing 1/2 cup brown sugar with 1 TB. water, then topping the chilled cheesecake and brown under the broiler for 2 minutes (or use a hand torch). Top this with a little whipped cream with a splash of chocolate or raspberry liquor. A nice garnish would be slices of chocolate praline. Here's a good recipe:
Chocolate Praline

1. Place 1/4 cup slivered almonds in a 9-inch pie pan. Bake in a 300 degree F (150 C) regular or convection oven, shaking pan once, until nuts are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Coat a 12-inch square of foil lightly with vegetable oil (about 1 teaspoon).

2. In an 8 to 10-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, combine 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, and 1 1/2 teaspoons milk. Stir occasionally until mixture is bubbly and golden, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa and stir until smooth, then stir in toasted almonds. Pour mixture onto oiled foil and spread about 1/4 inch thick. Let cool until solid, about 10 minutes. Break praline into 6 to 8 large chunks.
__________________
The meaning of life is to give life meaning.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-16-2008, 07:54 PM
Gummy-Bear's Avatar
Gummy-Bear Offline
Registered User
Culinary Experience: Cook At Home
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 280
Blog Entries: 1
Default yummy

I had forgotten about ganache. That is a very good idea. I'm scared about what the prices of high quality strawberries are going to look like around that time *cringe*. As for the pralines, I may make and eat those by myself, they sound delectable.
__________________
Cooking is too an art. Your sculpture versus my 4-course dinner. We'll see whose art gets more votes. ~Gummy-Bear~
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Man, I started at an early age... RPMcMurphy The Late Night Cafe (non-food/cooking discussion) 6 08-17-2008 06:56 AM
Early Christmas Gift phatch Cooking Equipment Reviews 2 03-18-2003 01:28 PM
Is it too early to start thinking about ... Suzanne The Late Night Cafe (non-food/cooking discussion) 11 12-13-2002 12:37 PM
The Artichoke War of the Early 1900s ShawtyCat Food & Cooking Questions and Discussion 2 04-19-2002 10:08 AM
preparing early kpollard_2000 Food & Cooking Questions and Discussion 6 09-26-2000 03:24 AM