Valentines Day

Valentines Day will soon be here and I want to share some menu ideas.

The quick and very easy starter of Shrimp with Goat Cheese is a big favorite, page 220 in my book Authentic Portuguese Cooking.  A combination of shrimp simmered in an onion tomato base and topped off with soft goat cheese is a family favorite. Make sure you have some nice sour dough or artitsan bread to dip in the sauce. Allergic to shrimp? Substitute scallops for this flavorful dish.

Follow up with Chicken S. Jorge cheese, page 75. Chicken breast medallions are lightly pan fried, topped with sautéed chouriço or linguiça sausage rounds and a grating of wonderful S. Jorge Topo cheese, then finished in the oven. Just add your favorite veggies and a great Portuguese wine like Montaria reserva.

Dessert?  What would Valentines Day be without dessert? Finish up your lovely dinner with a light on the stomach dessert.  A melt in your mouth, light as a cloud dessert is in order.  This may look like and angel food cake but, trust me, it is more heavenly. How about a nice light baked egg white meringue pudding cake, topped with custard sauce, and a light infusion of carmelized sugar, called Molotoff?  Check the recipe  in my other book, Portuguese Home Cooking.  However, the baking time was printed incorrectly.  It should be 20 minutes, not 10 minutes. Nonetheless, it is a luscious, very light dessert.

Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions at:    ana@portuguesecooking.com