Food 4 Lovers Series # 4
1:01PM on February 06, 2010
It is that time again. Food 4 Lover's Blog time! And it is Valentine's Day, So for this little party, this is how I would set up. Make sure these recipes have been fully prepared and set aside, covered, in a warm oven to keep warm should they be served warm. A warm oven is set to 200 max! If you are planning to wait to serve for an hour or longer you may want to heat the oven to say 350 for 25-30 minutes. Then turn off the heat and add your food. This will keep it hot while you are busy but not continue to cook your food. If this is not something you can do or don't want to over do the shrimp try the steam method. Heat water to boiling in a pan that your plate will fit over and then turn off. Place ceramic or stone plate or platter over pan like a lid to keep just the plate warm. Cover your food. All your supplies for serving should already be set out and waiting for you.
I love the idea of an intimate bath for two. So make sure your home and the bathroom are well heated. Always make sure to use mood lighting, so turn off that crazy florescent bulb and get you some candles. *Hint: tea-lights are small. You will have to use a lot of them to get good illumination. Play with the scent and the amounts of candles and sizes of your candles. You can use a lot or just a few depending on your bathroom size and set up. Don't spend a lot. For tonight, go to the dollar store. CVS sells a bag of 50 tea-lights for about 7 bucks. Florists sell bags of rose petals or other flower petals with prices as low as 2 bucks. Get them. They are beautiful in a bubble bath and help to scent the room. Scent plays a big part in your chemical sexual response, so use it. Don't run water until you and your lover are almost ready to get in. To ensure your bath is warm enough for you and your lover, run the bath with any bubble or salt additions a little warmer then you would like. That way while you are getting your lover and getting ready to get in the water it is cooling. Make sure to allow proper time to cool before you go get your lover because a burned toe kills the mood asap! Blind fold your lover keeping what you have done a secret. And then when the bathroom is completely set up you can reveal what you have done and not only will your lover be surprised and touched by your caring nature, he or she will also now have their mind-frame completely where it should be! ;)
Now personally I hope you have set up your video recorder! This is an intimate Vday surprise or gift for your lover! The bath, the food, and your presence is all a gift to them! In addition to anything you may have actually bought them. You don't think they would LOVE a special video of the experience to keep???
So get your lover into the tub gently. Get comfy. Enjoy your closeness and just the intimacy of bathing with a partner! Do NOT cheapen this by trying to have sex the minute you get in, folks! You have a lot more in-store for you and your lover so draw this out. Make sure that you use soft washcloths, folks. They feel better and will make this feel more like a massage to your lover! When the water is starting to feel less warm and bubbles are fading, Hop on out by telling your lover they can stay and relax while you get the rest of your surprise for them ready. Throw on that robe and head downstairs. It's food and drink time. Make your drinks and go deliver this to your partner while they relax in that tub! You just bought yourself some more time! Go get the plates. I would serve the shrimp cocktail on a big platter for you both to pick from and the crab cakes is what I would put on pretty individual desert plates with just a dollop of sauce. Remember if you are on a diet to say no to the sauces and yes to the food. Eat less at a time and give yourself plenty of time to feel full. Don't deprive your lover, feed them from your fingers. This is very sexy and intimate. REFUSE TO TALK WORK, KIDS, FAMILY, OR FINACES TONIGHT!!! Instead talk about each other and you will find you enjoy the time better plus you will feel closer to your partner. Been together too long for that? Never, ask your partner what has changed in their mind about your head skills or your riding dick skills or eating pussy skills. Or ask your partner what porn they saw recently that made them excited! You would be surprised at their answers and don't you dare get offended! This should help you be a better lover! If you aren't willing to take this as an opportunity to know your lover better then agree to sit in silence. NO FIGHTING ALLOWED! :)
Enjoy your Valentine's Day with your lover, however you decide to romance. I hope you enjoy these recipes and the tips on how to possibly turn up the heat in your relationships. A person who is sexual and emotionally satisfied will look & feel better so never be afraid to try more or do more! We are what we eat!
Sauteed Shrimp Cocktail
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 4 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled tail-on, deveined
1 tablespoon herbes de Provence
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups plain yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard (recommended: Maille)
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and herbes de Provence. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 2 minutes each side.
In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, maple syrup, turmeric, and basil until smooth. Season again with salt and pepper. Place the yogurt mixture in a dipping bowl.
Place the bowl of dipping sauce on a serving platter with the cooked shrimp.
Crab Cakes
Ingredients
Makes 3 dozen
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
10 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
4 stalks celery, finely diced
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon hot-pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound lump crabmeat, drained and picked to remove shells
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Roasted Red-Pepper Sauce
Directions
In a large skillet, heat butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell
pepper, celery, Worcestershire sauce, pepper sauce, salt, and pepper; saute until the vegetables have
softened, 8 to10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer the cooled vegetable mixture to a
medium bowl. Add crab meat, bread crumbs, basil, mayonnaise, mustard, and eggs, and stir to combine
well. With your hands, shape mixture into 2-inch patties. Heat oven to 250 degrees. In a large saute pan
heat 4 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add 8 to 10 crab cakes, and cook until golden brown,
1 to 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Transfer crab cakes to a baking sheet, and keep
warm in the oven. Repeat, cooking the remaining crab cakes, adding remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil
as needed. Serve hot with roasted red-pepper dip.
Bellini
Invented at Harry's Bar in Venice, the Bellini is best when made with ripe peaches. If peaches aren't in season, try creme de peche (peach syrup). Use a 1:4 ratio of syrup to prosecco. Or any champagne.
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