Oh Chocolate…Will You Be My Valentine?
Last night I brought my son Gabe into Fred Meyer and experienced the panic of last minute Valentine’s Day shopping. I think it was everyone else’s panic, really… candy, valentines, balloons and flowers exploded all over the place like a huge Valentine’s Day bomb! Oh and there was chocolate…TONS of chocolate!!
We picked up some organic strawberries in the produce section and I noticed they had strategically placed some chocolate ‘magic shell’ stuff next to the strawberries. I resisted, knowing that I had a huge bag of chocolate chips at home and could use them make chocolate dipped strawberries for my valentines at home.
delicious chocolate dipped strawberries
Chocolate Strawberries
Strawberries, washed and dried (Make sure they are dry because the melted chocolate won’t stick to a wet strawberry – just pat them with a paper towel)
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Sprinkles, if you have them
Equipment: Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
1. Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and melt them in one-minute increments in the microwave, stirring in-between until melted smooth.
2. Dip and swirl strawberries in chocolate, making sure most of the strawberry is covered in chocolate. Place chocolate strawberry on parchment-lined cookie sheet.
3. If using sprinkles, sprinkle them on the chocolate strawberry before the chocolate hardens.
4. Let chocolate harden a bit and enjoy!
Sundried Tomato Spread
This delicious savory spread is packed with smokey sundried tomato flavor. Spread it on bagels, crackers, baguette slices, sandwiches, etc.
sundried tomato spread
One of my favorite meals is to have a bunch of snacky appetizer items to choose from. This spread fits in nicely, along with various types of cold cuts or some smoked fish, cheese, crackers or baguette slices, maybe a dip with some veggies or a small salad, and some olives.
Sun-dried Tomato Spread
makes about 2.5 cups
2-8 ounce packages cream cheese
1-8 ounce jar sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
Salt to taste
Equipment needed: food processor
1. Place cream cheese in the work bowl of a food processor with the blade attachment. Add sundried tomatoes, using a fork to fish them out of the jar and letting most of the oil drain into the jar. Having some of the oil in the spread adds to the flavor, but not too much. Add garlic salt, dried oregano and thyme.
2. Pulse the items in the food processor until a rough mixture combines. Scrape the sides down and pulse again until smooth, but flecks of tomato still appear.
3. Season the spread with salt to taste, pulse to combine and place in a serving bowl.
4. If you have time, refrigerate for 2-3 hours to let the flavors combine.