Showing posts with label Valentine's Day recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine's Day recipe. Show all posts

Monday, February 16, 2026

Neiman-Marcus Quiche

This Neiman-Marcus Quiche (inspired by the popular Allrecipes version) turned out to be one of the most delicious and unique quiches I've ever made—truly like nothing else I've tried before. The buttery Ritz cracker crust was phenomenal, crispy and golden, while the filling brought smoky bacon, sharp Cheddar, fresh green onions, and sliced almonds together in a creamy, custardy way that felt both hearty and elegant.
Number two son stopped by on Valentine's Day to grab some mail and packages (they're still displaced after the October 18 fire), and he walked away with a portion. I've been eyeing this recipe for ages because the ingredients list is so unusual: a cracker-based crust and almonds in a quiche? I had to try it.
 Fifteen minutes after Andrew left I got the following text:

 “I can confirm the quiche is good. Thankfully I had a few bites before Emma devoured it.”

 Fortunately for him, I sent home a half of quiche, so he’ll certainly get his share. But, this just confirms how good it is.

The original on Allrecipes had a couple of issues—I found it overly salty (so I reduced the salt as reflected here), omitted when to add the bacon (now clearly stirred in), and preferred layering the cheese on the bottom of the crust before pouring the egg mixture over it for better distribution rather than mixing it in.

Neiman-Marcus Quiche

 Crust:

35 buttery round crackers, such as Ritz

⅓ c. flour

1 T. sugar

½ t. kosher salt

6 T. unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

8 slices center-cut bacon, chopped

2 oz. cream cheese, softened

¾ c. half-and-half

3 large eggs

¼ t. kosher salt

½ t. garlic powder

4 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded

⅓ c. thinly sliced green onions, plus more for garnish

¼ c. sliced almonds

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

 For the crust, process the crackers, flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground (15–30 seconds), scraping down sides as needed. Add the melted butter and pulse until evenly moistened and the mixture holds together when pinched (10–15 pulses).

 Press the mixture evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Line with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until fragrant, toasted, and set, 10–12 minutes. Remove weights and parchment; let cool slightly on a wire rack.

 Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 10–12 minutes, stirring often and adjusting heat to avoid overbrowning. Drain, reserving 1 Tbsp. drippings in the pan. Add cream cheese to the hot pan and stir until melted; gradually whisk in half-and-half until smooth. Set aside.

 In a large bowl, whisk eggs, salt, and garlic powder until combined. Whisk in the cream cheese mixture, bacon, cheese, green onions, and almonds until evenly distributed.

 For better cheese distribution, scatter the shredded Cheddar over the bottom of the cooled crust first, then pour the egg mixture over top.

 Bake until the quiche is set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 25 minutes.

 Garnish with extra green onions and serve warm.

 This quiche was incredibly filling, flavorful, and special—I'll definitely be making it again. The cracker crust adds such a fun, buttery twist, and the almonds bring a surprising crunch that pairs perfectly with the bacon and cheese.

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Saturday, February 10, 2018

Amaretto Cherry Butter & Kiss Me Scones

If you’ve been following along with me this week then you should have a lovely batch of Amaretto Cherries on hand. You can turn these cherries into the most absolutely delicious Amaretto Cherry Butter, and/or use them to flavor sugared Kiss Me Scones, both of which you can serve for Valentine’s breakfast. I used the entire jar of maraschino cherries that yielded approximately a cup of cherries. I divided these in half in order to make a half-cup of Amaretto Cherry Butter, and used the rest in the scones. This is a delicious combination, sure to please and delight your loved one on Valentine’s morning.
Amaretto Cherry Butter
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup Amaretto Cherries

Mince cherries (I pulsed mine a couple of times in my bullet blender), and beat into softened butter. You can use an electric beater for this, or, if you have decently strong arm muscles, a whisk. I molded my butter into heart shapes using
this mold, but you can just as easily turn yours out into an attractive container and set it on your breakfast table.

Kiss Me Scones

2 cups sifted cake flour
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

6 T. unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 egg

1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

1/2 cup heavy cream

Heavy Cream
Pink Sanding Sugar

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.





In the work bowl of a food processor combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter.  Pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal; empty mixture into a large bowl. Place cherries into the food processor; pulse, and empty/scrape into the large bowl.

Place egg, cream, and almond flavoring into the food processor and pulse until combined. When thoroughly blended, pour it over the flour/cherry mixture in the large bowl and fold until it just comes together.  Add 1-3 more teaspoons of cream, if needed.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, press into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle. Cut out hearts with a heart-shaped biscuit cutter and arrange 2 inches apart on a Silpat-lined baking sheet. Gather scraps together and cut out additional scones.

Brush tops of scones with cream and sprinkle liberally with pink sanding sugar. Bake scones, rotating baking sheet halfway through, until edges are golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack before serving. Serve with Amaretto Cherry Butter.


Makes 8-10

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Friday, February 9, 2018

Beef Stroganoff for Two


If you’re trying to decide what to fix your sweetie on Valentine’s Day, nothing says romance like a nice piece of beef (and you can take that anyway you like). This recipe for beef stroganoff, based upon one by Sara Moulton, makes two servings, employs the use of a filet mignon (the most romantic cut of beef), and despite what you’ve come to think in the past, can be made a day ahead. Generally, because of the last-minute addition of sour cream, it’s thought that it should be served immediately. You can do that, but this can also be held in the refrigerator until the following day, and warmed gently on top of the stove. That way you’re not spending your evening in the kitchen, but where you belong, beside your loved one, even if that loved one happens to be your dog.

Served with my
Sweetheart Salad, and a nice glass of red wine, it makes a wonderful Valentine's dinner.
Beef Stroganoff for Two

3 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
1 1/2-ounce package Melissa's dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
1-1/2 cups beef broth
1 8-ounce filet mignon, cut into strips
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
4 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dry red wine
4 ounces egg noodles
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon
Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

In a small sauce pan combine the dried porcini mushrooms and beef stock. Bring the mixture just to a boil, remove the pan from the heat to allow it to steep for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid, reserving it, and rough chop the mushrooms.

In a large skillet, fry the bacon over medium high heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a warm plate, leaving drippings in the pan. Season filet with salt and pepper; add it to the pan, and sear quickly on all sides. Transfer it to the same plate as holds the bacon.

Reduce heat to medium and add the shallots, cooking and stirring until softened. Add the mushrooms and cook until lightly browned, then add the garlic, thyme, tomato paste, flour, and cook, stirring, one minute.

Add the red wine, reserved mushroom water, 1-1/2cups water, the chopped porcinis, and noodles to the skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally until the noodles are done to your liking, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in sour cream, Dijon, and lemon juice, taste and adjust seasonings. Add the beef, beef juices, and bacon to the pan, and simmer until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Sweetheart Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette


If you’re hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner for a sizable group, or just for two, you are going to want to make it romantic from beginning to end. An excellent way to begin your dinner is with my pretty and delicious Sweetheart Salad. It’s a great starter, can be served in large portions as a meal, or accompanying a sandwich or bowl of soup for a romantic lunch.
Not only is it attractive and can’t-stop-eating-it delicious, but it packs quite a nutritious punch. From the leafy green lettuce, to the nutrient-rich walnuts, to the beets loaded with antioxidants, this salad has at all. Cutting the beets into little heart shapes with this darling set makes this salad extra special, and will bring an appreciative smile to the face of your diners.
Sweetheart Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

1 head of Romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and rough chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup hearts of palm “coins”
1 8-oz.
pkg. Melissa’s organic beets, cut into heart shapes 
Raspberry vinaigrette (see below)

Two types of hearts are used in the salad -- hearts of palm, and beets cut into heart shapes. Mix all the ingredients together and toss with your favorite vinaigrette or do as I did and serve it alongside in one of these darling
heart-shaped sauce bowls. I held out my beet hearts and sprinkled them on top so that they didn’t get mixed in with the other ingredients. You might consider doing the same. Makes four servings.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup raspberry balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons grated shallot
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
Pinch of salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Place all ingredients EXCEPT the oil in a small mixing bowl. Whisk together until blended. Continue to whisk as you slowly pour in the oil. Whisk until emulsified.  Drizzle over salad.


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Thursday, February 1, 2018

Deviled Ham Spread


It's February! Time to start thinking about Valentine's Day. Whether you have a sweetheart or not, there's no excuse not to do something special on Valentine's Day if only for yourself. Life is too short to not celebrate every single day. 

A Valentine's Day tea is but one fun way to celebrate. There's something about hearts and flowers that just lend themselves to afternoon tea. In the upcoming weeks, I'm going to be sharing recipes for easy Valentine's Day teatime goodies, as well as a tablescape to get your creative juices flowing.

First up is this very easy recipe for Deviled Ham Spread that I served on toasted heart-shaped cutouts of bread. It occurred to me, not long ago, that I didn't have any heart-shaped cookie cutters. Imagine! I remedied that with
this darling set. Once I got it, I started cutting everything into heart shapes. Somehow, cute food always seems to taste better than food that's not so cute. Maybe it's just me.
Whether you make this delicious Deviled Ham Spread or not, your friends and family are going to get a kick out of seeing whatever sandwich spread you use served up in such a romantic style. Consider not just cutting the bread into heart shapes, but slices of deli meat, cheese, and roasted red peppers, and layering them. How cute would that be?
Deviled Ham Spread
Adapted from Allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups cubed cooked ham
​3 tablespoons mayonnaise​
​ 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard ​
​1 teaspoon Frank’s Hot Pepper Sauce
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder​
​1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery​

​Toss all ingredients into a food processor and process until desired texture is reached.​



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Sunday, February 14, 2016

"Be Mine" Valentine's Day Cookies


Last December, when my dad gave me all of my mother's Christmas decorations, I found this heart-shaped cookie mold in amongst them. To my knowledge, my mother never used it. This comes as no surprise because I still have the pristine Santa cookie mold that I got around the same time (1985). I've been thinking a lot about my mother lately, for obvious reasons, so thought it was time to finally put it to use. I think it was largely fear of the unknown (read: fear of failure and a colossal kitchen mess) that kept me from attempting this with my own cookie mold years ago.
The mold is a product of Brown Bag Cookie Art, but no recipes or instructions were attached, so I went onto the Internet and found all of the information that I needed. How cute are these?!
Not only are they cute, but they are tasty as well, and surprisingly easy to do (I see Santa cookies in my distant future.) The key thing, I think, is to thoroughly spray the mold with PAM before each use, flour it, knock out the excess flour, and then press the dough in firmly. Once this has been done, and leveled off with a sharp knife, if necessary, press the dough back from the edges with your thumb around all sides. Then, turn cookie and mold on the side, and rap it firmly on the countertop or cutting board, turning the mold slowly as you do and, gradually, the imprinted dough will release.
With the re-rolled scraps of dough, I used my new set of bee cookie stamps to make the bee cookies that I found most appropriate coupled with the hearts.
Have any of you ever used cookie molds? If so, I'd love to know of your experiences. Here's the recipe that I used if you want to try it. 
Sugar Cookies
From Brown Bag Cookie Art

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon cream or milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350
ºF.

Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg, milk or cream, and vanilla. Whisk together flour and salt and add to the creamed mixture. Child dough for 30 minutes. Roll or press into mold.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

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