Episode One ~ Be My Valentine

Mesclun Salad Medley (For the super salad chart, click here!)

3 Cups Mesclun Greens, washed and dried
1/2 C Sliced Strawberries
1/4 C Goat Cheese Crumbles
1/4 C Chopped Pecan Pieces

Place greens on a salad plate and then garnish with remaining ingredients.
Drizzle with vinaigrette

Vinaigrette

1/4 C TSG Balsamic Condimenti
1/4 C TSG Lemon Oil

Whisk together in a bowl until thick and drizzle over salads.

Garlic Grilled Steak

2 8-ounce Delmonico Steaks
2 T TSG Garlic Gusto Seasoning
2 T TSG Roasted Garlic Oil
Sea Salt and Peppercorns to taste

Mix Garlic Gusto and Garlic Oil together in a bowl to make a paste.
Rub paste over both sides of both steaks. Season with sea salt and fresh cracked peppercorns.

Turn on grill or grill pan and heat to medium-high.
Once the grill is hot, grill the steak to desired temperature, turning once
and checking temperature carefully with a meat thermometer. Let the steak rest
for 2-3 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.

Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

1 lb. medium sized red skinned potatoes (3-4 potatoes) washed & cut into 3/4" chunks
1/4 C Milk
1/4 C Freshly grated parmesan cheese (shaker cheese OK too..)
Sea Salt and Peppercorns to taste

Fill a 4 quart pot with 3 quarts of water, add potatoes and boil for 7-10 minutes until fork tender.
Drain potatoes completely.
Add milk, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
Smash potatoes with a fork or potato masher. Smash only a few times for textured potatoes, many times for smoother potatoes.
If consistency is a too dry, add a little more milk.

Super Easy Chocolate Lava Cakes

(Please note, this is NOT a low-calorie, low-fat recipe, but for once a year on Valentine's Day, it's ok to indulge!)

Ingredients (serves 4)

6 oz. Endangered Species Chocolate Gourmet Baking Rounds

1 Cup Smart Balance Spread (NOT light)

3 Eggs

1/2 cup Granulated Sugar

1/3 cup White whole wheat flour

Non-stick cooking spray for Ramekins

How to Make It:

Preheat oven to 350°F

1. Melt chocolate slowly in a double boiler.

2. When melted, take off the heat and stir in Smart Balance, until it melts.

3. In another bowl, whip the eggs and sugar with a whisk until the mixture is a little frothy.

4. Stir the melted chocolate into the egg mixture and then gradually add the flour.

5. Spray 4 individual ramekins with non-stick spray and pour in chocolate batter.

6. Bake for about 15 minutes.

7. Turn ramekins upside down onto dessert plates and serve.

Tips:

These are best served piping hot.   To make ahead of time, follow the recipe up to step 5, cover with plastic wrap and set aside.   When ready, bake them for 15 minutes right before serving.

15 minutes baking leaves you with a super-delicious, gooey center.   If you want them a little more done, simply cook for another 3-5 minutes & you'll have an incredible dense, moist chocolate cake.

To serve, simply sprinkle the cake with a little powdered sugar or a pinch of Sinful Cinnamon Blend.   You can also garnish with a little whip cream (put on the side of the cake- if you put it on top of the hot cake it will melt) and add a strawberry or mint leaves.    Your guests will beg for more!