Valentines Day Recipes

Valentines Day is fast approaching so I thought it would be appropriate to get a jump on all the different ways to celebrate whether you’re having a night out on the town or staying in. Below are some delicious recipes for dinners, desserts and drinks!

Three Cheese Manicotti

Ingredients

1 package Manicotti noodles, 8 ounces
1 container Ricotta Cheese, 15 ounces
1 pound freshly grated Mozzarella Cheese, 4 cups
3 ounces finely, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, about ¾ cup
2 large eggs
1½ tablespoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 Recipe Marinara Sauce
Marinara Sauce:
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans crushed Roma tomatos, 28 oounces
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions listed on package and drain.

In the meantime prepare Manicotti filling, in a large mixing bowl, using a fork blend together Ricotta cheese, eggs, parsley and pepper.

Stir in grated Mozzerella and Parmesan cheese and mix until well blended.

Divide cheese mixture evenly among the 14 manicotti noodles stuffing each one full (hold one hand over the bottom opening of the manicotti noodle, then press cheese mixture into the noodle and slightly pack it in until the cheese mixture fills to opposite end).

Align noodles in a single layer in a 13×9 baking dish.

Pour marinara sauce evenly over filled manicotti noodles.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

*Marinara Sauce*

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan, simmer 20 minutes (do this while preparing the manicotti filling and pasta).

Cherry Vodka Shooter

1 part cherry vodka
1 part amaretto
1/2 part grenadine
1 maraschino cherry (optional)

Put the cherry in first, if you’re adding one, and then add each liquid on top of it. Done!

Cherry Vodka Cocktail

1 part cherry vodka
1 part amaretto
1/2 part grenadine
Cherry 7UP
Maraschino cherries (optional)

Just like with the shooter, you’re going to add the cherries to your glass with some ice and pour the liquids over them. Then, fill your glass with 7UP to taste.

Red Velvet Truffles Ingredients

• 16 oz white chocolate
• 8 oz cream cheese-softened
• box red velvet cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box to prepare the cake)
• 2 oz dark or semi-sweet chocolate

Red Velvet Truffles – Instructions

• Prepare the 9 x 13 inch cake according to package instructions, let it cool completely then crumble the cake in a large bowl.
• Add softened cream cheese and knead gently with your fingers until cream cheese is fully incorporated.
• Roll about 1 heaping tablespoon of the mixture into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. You will get about 35-40 balls. Set in the fridge to chill.
• Melt white chocolate, remove cake balls form the fridge and using a fork dip them into melted chocolate. Place one ball at a time into the melted chocolate, roll the ball to coat evenly coat with the chocolate, then slightly tap the fork against the side of the bowl to trim the excess chocolate and place the truffle on the parchment paper. Set them back in the fridge until chocolate is firm.
• Melt dark chocolate, transfer into a small bag, cut the corner off and pipe melted chocolate on top of the truffles.
• Store in the fridge.