Chocolate Raspberry Turnovers

These mini turnovers are a whole lot of delicious. Time to buy some phyllo dough and get some truffles from Ethel M chocolates, because it's Turnover Time!

Chocolate Raspberry Turnovers

Chocolate Raspberry Turnovers (Women's Day)

Ingredients

• 12  sheets phyllo (fillo) dough (each about 14 x 9 in.), thawed if frozen*
• 18 Ethel M's milk or dark chocolate truffles
• 1/2 pint(s) fresh raspberries
• nonstick cooking spray or melted butter

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Have a baking sheet ready. Unfold dough; cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying.
2. Remove 1 sheet phyllo; lightly coat with nonstick spray or brush with melted butter. Fold in thirds lengthwise; lightly spray or brush top. Place 1 piece chocolate about 1/2 in. from bottom end of strip; top with 1 raspberry. Fold lower right corner over filling, forming a triangle. Continue folding triangles to other end of strip. Place on baking sheet. Repeat to make 12.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Melt remaining 6 pieces chocolate in microwave; drizzle over turnovers. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with remaining raspberries.

*Note: You can also use puff pastry or croissant dough for these. Follow package directions.

Chocolate Raspberry Trifle

Chocolate Raspberry Trifle

From our friends at Women's Day

This is a decadent, delicious, absolutely chocolaholic/berry-fanatic divine dish to serve up for very special occasions. The use of liqueur, chocolate and raspberries is inspired. I can't wait to try this one out! Think: Mother's Day. From our friends at Women's Day.


Ingredients

• 1/3 cup(s) dark crème de cacao liqueur or dark rum
• 1/3 cup(s) brewed black coffee or water
• 2 tub(s) (22 oz each) refrigerated chocolate pudding
• 1 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 cup(s) heavy (whipping) cream, well chilled
• 3 tablespoon(s) confectioners’ sugar
• 1  chocolate-marble loaf or pound cake (14 oz), cut in 16 thin slices, slices cut in half
• 1 bar(s) (3.5 oz) bittersweet chocolate, shaved with a vegetable peeler or coarse grater
• 3  baskets (1⁄2 pt each) red raspberries (reserve 8 berries for garnish)

Directions

1. Have ready a 3-qt trifle bowl or clear glass serving bowl (about 8-in. diam), preferably straight-sided.
2. Mix liqueur and coffee in a clear 1-cup measure. Combine pudding and sour cream in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat cream and confectioners' sugar with mixer on high speed until stiff, billowy peaks form when beaters are lifted.
3. Arrange half the cake slices in bottom of trifle bowl; drizzle with 1⁄2 the liqueur mixture. Spread with 1⁄2 the pudding mixture; sprinkle with 1⁄3 the chocolate shavings. Top with 1⁄2 the raspberries, then 1⁄2 the whipped cream. Repeat layers (reserve remaining shavings for garnish). Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or up to 1 day.
4. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate shavings; garnish with reserved berries.

A Romantic Valentine's Dinner for Two

Turn the lights down low, select quiet music to help set the ambience, get out the candles and special tablecloth. Set the table just right or even spread a picnic blanket on the floor, because this is the night when anything is possible and romance is in the air. Valentine's Day dinner for two. There is no such a thing as being "too old" to rekindle old sparks or kindle new ones! And yes, it's possible to do this without breaking the bank. The beverage of choice can be a white or rose wine to complement the game hens and accompaniments. You can always sip a bit of Grand Marnier along with the dessert. Here's to love...


A Romantic Dinner for Two

APPETIZER (optional)
Cheese Puffs - a bit of a spicy to way to introduce a rather sweet meal. Nice mix. Or there is always cheese fondue if you prefer an all-evening event!

INGREDIENTS:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 (4 ounce) can diced jalapeno peppers note: You can use Pepper Jack cheese and leave out the jalapeno peppers

2 cloves garlic, pressed 3 green onions, diced 1 (16 ounce) package wonton wrappers 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, jalapeno peppers, garlic and green onions.
2.	Fill wonton wrappers with approximately 1 teaspoon cream cheese mixture each. Fold wrappers into triangles and press the edges with a moistened fork to seal.
3.	In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Drop 4 wontons at a time into the oil and quickly fry, turning once. Remove when golden brown and drain on paper towels.

SALAD
Waldorf Salad


MAIN DISH
Cornish Game Hens for Two

INGREDIENTS:

1 (8 ounce) package dry bread stuffing mix  2 Cornish game hens 3 tablespoons seasoning salt

1 (16 ounce) package frozen green beans 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 2/3 cup chicken broth

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Prepare dry bread stuffing mix according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	Using fingers, separate the skin and meat of the Cornish game hens, and rub 1 tablespoon seasoning salt into the meat of each hen. Rub remaining seasoning salt into the cavities of the hens. Stuff each cavity with about 1 1/2 cups prepared stuffing. Sprinkle hens with lemon juice and approx. 1 tbsp of rosemary, each.
3.	Place hens and green beans in an oven bag. Bake 90 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear.
4.	Drain hen drippings into a medium saucepan. Over medium heat, stir in flour until bubbly. Gradually mix in chicken broth. Stirring occasionally, cook until a thick gravy has formed.

An alternate stuffing would be a mixture of cooked (cooled) long-grained white rice, finely chopped dried apricots, raisins, pecans or almonds and 1/4 c of chicken broth. Best served with either green beans or asparagus. Should be served without gravy.


DESSERT
Strawberries for a light, sweet finish to a perfect meal.
Strawberries Romanoff

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup sour cream 1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened 1 cup sweetened whipped cream 1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur, or to taste 2 c fresh strawberries, hulled 2 springs mint leaves for garnish shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl, stir together the sour cream, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream. Gradually stir in the orange liqueur. Divide the berries between two parfait glasses, and spoon the cream mixture over them. Garnish with mint leaves and shaved chocolate.

Note: If you are looking for a more substantial dessert, or one for a picnic atmosphere, why not serve Old- Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake? Just modify to serve on individual biscuits or on little individual flans. You can even briefly flambe using a bit of the Grand Marnier (orange liqueur).