Monday, February 14, 2011

Bacon wrapped Dates with Cheese and a Pomegranate Reduction with Chocolate Soup

Valentines day; even the very name evokes as many mixed emotions as humanly possible. To some that are alone..it may mean a sad day, to others, it is a celebration of a love they share with someone special. I guess I am overly romantic at heart. I like a quite, candle lit dinner at home, wonderful, sexy food, a great bottle of Champagne, some tantalizing desert, some old R&B playing in the background.......

This desert has two elements, something salty, savory and sweet that you eat with your fingers and a sweet, velvety smooth chocolate that is so decadent that it will put those butterflies back in your stomach! If your partner does not thing this is a romantic..I'm sorry you picked a boring partner! Remember...sounds of joy and "Oh My God.." are sounds you want to hear from the beginning to the end of your perfect valentines date, including the meal.  ( I think I just made this post PG-13!)

Bacon Wrapped Dates, stuffed with Goat Cheese

 

Ingredients

  • 4 oz of cream cheese
  • 3 oz of goat cheese
  • 12 pitted dates (preferably Medjool)
  • 6 slices bacon cut into half
  • 6 oz pomegranate juice
  • 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
  • 1tablespoon of sugar
  • 12 wooden picks

Directions

Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

First , in a small saucepan, whisk together pomegranate juice, balsamic vinegar and sugar, over medium heat cook down mixture till at least ½ reduced and mixture is thick and syrupy.

Mix together Cream cheese and goat cheese, transfer mixture onto plastic wrap, and roll into a cigar shaped tube in the plastic wrap; let refrigerator for an hour to make easier to cut. After cheese is chilled, cut into 1”-1 1/2” pieces and stuff into center of each date, then wrap one piece of bacon around each date and secure bacon with a toothpick. Arrange dates, bacon seam down and 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan. 

Bake 5 minutes, then turn dates over with tongs and bake until bacon is crisp, 5 to 6 minutes additionally. Drain on a paper towel or wire rack. Serve with pomegranate reduction drizzled over top immediately.

Chocolate Soup

 

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups of whole milk
  • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste (if you have fresh Vanilla bean work too!)
  • 10 oz Ghirardelli 70% Cacao Extra Bittersweet Baking Bar, chopped
  • 2 oz of Crème de cacao
  • 2 oz of Godiva chocolate liqueur
  • 5 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 5 tablespoons cold water


Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla bean paste. Bring the mixture almost to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, let cool for 5 minutes
Put the pan on low heat, add the chocolate, whisk until the chocolate melts. Combine the cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Add the a slurry little at a time, whisking constantly, until the soup is thick and smooth. Soup is nearly done when the bubbles are gone and the chocolate has thickened, about 5minutes . Add in Crème de Cacao and Godiva chocolate liqueur, whisk and heat an additional 2 minutes
Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with whipped cream.

9 comments:

  1. mmmmmm Chocolate Soup! Sounds dreamy!

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  2. Pics are Fantastic! Great Job.. drool worthy for sure!

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  3. I love these bacon treats, but I'm impressed with the soup...wow! Great food...thank you!

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  4. Wow this looks and sounds amazing! Such great flavors!

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  5. I love bacon wrapped dates, & this just takes it to an all new level. WANT.

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  6. Thank you all for the nice comments! Friends, this dish is so EASY to make...literally your children can make this dish. In my opinion, the pomegranate reduction is what really makes this pop...I let my reduction cool...it should be very thick, think Mrs.Buttersworth thick :)

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  7. Looks amazing. Recently made a version where you brush bacon with smoked paprika before cooking and stuff dates with manchego cheese. Very yummy also. As far as I'm concerned not much could be bad wrapped in bacon.

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