Gift Strawberry Macaroons on Valentine’s Day

It’s well said, “Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own.” I completely agree with this saying. Do you? You can do anything to see your baby smile. Gift your valentine, something that's original, homemade and your creativity. Isn't that a great idea? I'm sure it's gonna win the heart. Nothing would be better than gifting soft, lite pink strawberry macaroons made with your whole heart and soul. The best part is that you can add in any cream filling, keeping in mind the choice of your partner. Hope you liked my crazy Valentine’s Day ideas. For now let’s start with this sweet affair.

Ingredients:-

4 large egg whites,

1/3 cup caster sugar,

1 1/2 cups icing sugar,

4 teaspoons almond meal,

Food coloring as per choice.

Preparation Method:-

1. Preheat the oven to 150 D.C. Place egg whites and caster sugar in a bowl. Beat with blender until stiff enough to turn the bowl upside down without it falling out. Continue to whip for 2 more minutes.

2. Add gel or powdered food coloring and continue to mix for a further 30 seconds. Sift the almond meal and icing sugar and salt twice, discarding almond lumps.

3. Add the egg white mixture. Pipe onto trays lined with baking paper. Prefer heart shape if you are gifting.

4. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Check if one comes off the tray clean, if not bake for a little longer.

5. When cool, taking two, add in the cream of your choice. I prefer strawberry cream. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Cheers with Valentine’s Day Cocktails

A good date's first impression is as essential as a refreshing cocktail, oozing with love. Whether it is a sit-down dinner date at restaurant, a movie at home, party at bar or more creative ventures, certainly a stimulating cocktail makes the time most memorable. The classic and all-time great cocktails opens way to perfect blend of vodka, champagne, wine etc. These are the drinks that time has refined and enhanced. Happy Valentine’s day to all of you. Hope you enjoyed my last year's collection of Valentine's Day Cocktails also. Juz check what I’ve got for you.

Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Martini - Want a perfect addition to your Valentine's Day celebration? Here I present the perfect blend of Raspberry and Chocolate with a kiss of Martini. The super flavor is made by adding mint-infused simple syrup, chocolate cookies, raspberries, vodka and cranberry juice with loads of ice. All you needa do is fill the mint syrup, place thawed raspberries, add in vodka and cranberry juice and shake it in a shaker. This is the sip of love.

Hot Chocolate Cocktail - Your loved one may still crave for something warm in these chilling. A warm mixed drink of peppermint schnapps, coffee liqueur, and hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream will keep up the spirit of love forever and ever. This is enough to keep you warm in winter especially on the lovestruck day called the Valentine's day. This is a super fun and flirty drink which brings the steaming love to the par. 

Pomegranate-Champagne Punch - Break out the punch bowl with this perfect punch recipe. Celebrate a stress-free affair and serve this favorite, make-ahead date drink with a fizzy and fruity way. All you require is to boil the water and sugar in small saucepan. Simmer for seven minutes. Cool the syrup. Take a punch bowl, add champagne, rum and pomegranate juice to it. To this add prepared sugar syrup. Mix lemon slices, pomegranate seeds and mint leaves. At last add ice. The recipe is super simple and oozing with love.

Enjoy the date!

The Foodie Affair...

Food for love life?? Yes, we’ve got some delights and combos that add your romantic mood. So improve your love life. Just follow these:-

The sensuous feeling - Some food are tempting and enticing naturally. This may be because of their texture or color. Red wine and chocolates are the best you can give your girlfriend on a romantic date. Banana custard, melted oysters and strawberries are perfect examples that tempt your lover because of their shape, smooth texture or vibrant color. Meal if taken slowly with eye contact is really sensuous for the couple.

Romantic ambience - The ambience boosts up the mood. Soft lighting along with pleasant music is what every lover craves for. Lovely flowers and charismatic essence of mild perfumes add to your dinner date. Never go for an overcrowded hotel or busy restaurant. Prefer serene place. Decorate the bottle of drink with red ribbon. It’s a must on every couple’s table. This leads to receptiveness, good memories and finally intimacy.

The chemical formula - The food high in zinc increases the level of romance, believe it or not!! Oyster is the perfect example for this. Variety of oyster recipes ranging from appetizers to main dish casseroles are available. Oyster mushroom soup is a good supper to go with. On the other hand try to include chocolate desserts for an exotic date. The reason behind this is the existence of phenylethylamine (PEA), the so called "love chemical".

Drink in limit - Always drink without an intention to get drunk. Excess of drinking would make one utmost lousy, hence deleting the romantic mood. Drink till you think you can, in a safe manner. Remember no one likes a drunk person, your fiance will not like it either. Champagne is the only wine that enhances a woman's beauty. Sparking or rose champagne placed on a neat dining table, yes, the thought is itself so tantalizing… Caviar go very well with champagne. Caviar is a delicacy composed of salt cured fish eggs.

The balanced food - Relaxing as well as energy giving food must go hand in hand. We feel relaxed while consuming a drink whether it’s vodka, whiskey, beer or wine. On the other hand we need protein to boost up our energy. Contrast does matter. Vegetarians and vegans can go for black Greek olives and sparkling cider. The combo will definitely boost up the romantic mood. Another combo of sweet and sour or dark and salty, adds to your love life.

Just try this!! I’m sure it’s gonna work...

Gift for Valentine's Day - Not Just Chocolates!!

It’s often said, “love your lady just as you love chocolates”. This Valentine’s day hunt for something more than chocolates. What about gifting her some alcoholic chocolates?? Chocolates is something any girl can fall for and adding some dizzy alcohol will double the romantic date. With the box of chocolates in one hand and a rose in the other, will cheer her up definitely. So what are you waiting for?? It’s the perfect gift for your Valentine.

Brandy Chocolate - Brandy filled chocolate assorted gift box is the best you can give your love if she chooses brandy as her all time favorite liquor. Brandy is a spirit that is composed of distilling wine. Salted caramel with brandy and cardamom is the most tempting flavored brandy chocolate. Known and loved by Europeans and Americans, this chocolate is the best, one can make out of brandy and chocolate blend. The mild cardamom flavor is very enticing and soothing for your taste buds.

Whiskey chocolate - Pairing chocolate with whiskey is an interesting soothing exercise, since it is an assault on all your senses. Swiss chocolate when combined with whiskey forms the best chocolate bar ever. Whiskey, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. You gaze first, then it's time to drink. So gaze at your lady, driving her crazy and offering her yet crazy whiskey chocolates. Superb Whiskey combinations are:-

• Cacao dark chocolate and Old Irish Whiskey,

• Milk chocolate and Rye Whiskey,

• Milk chocolate with almonds and Scotch Whiskey,

• Cacao spiced chocolate and Scotch Whiskey

Vodka Chocolate - Vodka chocolates can be combined with flavors offering varied and intoxicating thrill. The flavors include raspberry, strawberry, blueberry and nuts like almond and cashew nuts. Not to a surprise, vodka chocolates are amazing when blended with cayenne pepper and bacon. Dark chocolates sync very well with any superior brand of vodka to ultimately satisfy your sweet tooth. Variety of colors like pink, violet or red can be added to white chocolates, if one opts for a sweeter taste. Marshmallow skewers with melted chilli vodka chocolate is all time favorite for any vodka and chocolate lover.

Wine Chocolate - Love is like wine, you know it's good when it gets better with time. Chocolates are very well designed to complement wine. If you are a real wine lover and love to pair wine with appetizers or main course, you'll simply fall in love with these chocolates. Various known brands consisting of beautiful gift hampers are available in the market. There are various types of wine like red wine, white wine, rose wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine that span from rich and creamy to light and zesty flavor. These wines when added to chocolates will simply make your love irresistible. 

Beer chocolate - Beer Chocolate comes in four flavors. Each chocolate pairs very well with the perfect beer. Types of beer chocolates:-

• White Beer Chocolate - White beer chocolate is a caramel that is flavored with an IPA (India Pale Ale) and covered by white chocolate. IPA is a hoppy beer style that falls under the pale ale.

• Raspberry Dark Chocolate - This chocolate is flavored with a Belgian raspberry. The acid nature of beers blends perfectly with raspberries. Rich aroma with delicate palate of raspberries. Yummzzz!!

• Lager Milk chocolates - Boston style lager caramel is covered with milk chocolate.

• Stout Dark Chocolate - This is flavored caramel surrounded by dark chocolate. Stout is a dark beer made up of roasted malt or barley, hops, water and yeast.

Rum Balls - Rum balls are the perfect heaven for adult indulgence. These sweet and mushy no-bake balls are mixture of crushed cookie crumbs, cocoa powder, confectioners sugar, light corn syrup and rum. We can use both dark and light rum. One can purchase these chocolate rum balls and also prepare the same at home. There are ample of ways to garnish rum balls. They can be dipped in melted chocolate, dark or white, depending on the choice.  We can roll them in confectioners sugar, cocoa powder or even finely chopped nuts for an absolute nutty taste. Pecans, walnuts, almonds, peanuts or pistachios are widely used to give these balls, a yet richy rich taste.