Valentine's Day - A Day of Wine, Roses, Rich Food and Love

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and romance, and what better way to celebrate than with a bouquet of roses, a fine wine, and a delicious meal? It is much simpler than you might think to fill the evening with a touch of amour!

Roses are a traditional gift for this special day, although really any flower, particularly red and pink blooms, isappropriate. One way to surprise and delight your sweetheart might be to create your own bouquet. A mix of red roses, white daisies, yellow Gerbera daisies, Baby’s Breath, and miniature pink carnations is one idea for bringing the sun into your sweetheart’s day; another is a blend of red roses, calla lilies and orchids. Place these in a crystal vase and a thing of true beauty will be there to greet your loved one. Whatever you choose, you can be sure to find exactly what you are looking at Canada Floral Delivery.

Now, for the wine – red (may we suggest a Spanish Madeira to pair with dark truffles or a Tuscan Merlot?) or white (a German Gewürztraminer), or even genuine Champagne (try it with chocolate dipped strawberries) or a delicate California rosé…all of these are excellent choices and sure to bring romance into the night. Or perhaps you would like to enjoy something Canadian, in which case you might consider a rich Chardonnay from Quebec or a superb Cabernet Franc from the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

Finally, try these lovely recipes to make your meal and dessert perfect.

Chicken Brie

Ingredients:

2 medium chicken breast halves

1 tart apple

3/8 cup apple cider

2 oz Brie

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pre-heat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Separate the chicken skin from the breast. While the oven heats, prepare the stuffing. Warm a skillet over medium heat and pour in the olive oil. Chop up the apple and add the cider, salt and pepper, and thyme. Cook for 5 minutes. Stuff the chicken breasts by folding in the ingredients under the loosened skin, including the Brie. Put everything into a 13 in. x 9 in. baking dish and cook for 35-40 minutes.

Tiramisu

Ingredients:

4 oz cream cheese

1 package of vanilla instant pudding

1 square of semi-sweet baking chocolate

1-1/2 cups cold milk

1/3 cup French Roast coffee

6 oz. Ladyfingers

Beat the cream cheese until it is softened; add the milk and continue blending, then pour on the dry pudding mix. Blend for 1 minute. Sprinkle on the ladyfingers and top with coffee. Layer a 9 inch baking dish with ladyfingers, followed by pudding mix until the ingredients are used up. Refrigerate for 1 hour.