Valentine's Day Recipes

Planning a romantic dinner for V-day?
Restaurants can be so crowded during Valentine's Day. So why not do it at home or have a picnic under the stars.
Below is a menu, we at Stamford Catering came up with for V-day.

Entree

Mixed Greens with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

4 cups mixed salad greens
1/2 cup grape tomatoes
1 small red onion, chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries
1/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar

1. Preparation - Combine greens, tomatoes, onions, cherries, pecans and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and vinegar until well blended.
3. Add salt and pepper.
4. Pour half of the dressing over the salad.
5. Toss to mix well and thoroughly coat.
6. Add additional dressing according to taste.

Main

Seafood Bouillabaisse

2 cans chopped clams with juice
1 cup clam juice
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup olive oil
3 sprigs parsley, chopped
1 cup fresh king crab legs
1 cup angel hair pasta

1. Simmer clams, juice, garlic, olive oil and parsley for 30 minutes.
2. Add crab legs and simmer an additional 30 minutes.
3. Serve over pasta.
4. Seafood mixture can be prepared in advance.

Dessert

New York Chocolate Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 pounds cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped from inside of pod and reserved
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces melted semisweet chocolate, cooled slightly
Fresh strawberries, for garnish
Whipped cream, for garnish
Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch spring-form pan.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the chocolate wafer crumbs, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, and the butter and mix well.
4. Press onto the bottom of springform pan and set aside.
5. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, remaining cup of sugar, vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds and beat until light and creamy.
6. Add the flour to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.
7. Add the melted chocolate and sour cream and mix well.
8. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition until just blended.
9. Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, until the center is almost set.
10. Run a sharp knife around the rim of the pan and allow cake to cool on a wire rack before removing rim of pan.
11. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
12. Cheesecake may be made up to 2 days in advance before serving and will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
13. Serve the cheesecake garnished with fresh strawberries, whipped cream and mint sprigs.