Every February is decorated in pretty little cut-outs of pink and red hearts with pictures of Cupid fluttering about ready with his bow & arrow about to strike his next couple meant for romance.  Who said that Valentine’s Day was meant for exclusive celebration made only by romantic couples? Those of us who are not “attached” deserve some TLC with good company too.  So on this holiday dedicated to lovers adorned by Cupid, go on and make the most of it with people you’re guaranteed to have a fabulous time…your girlfriends on the year’s ultimate “ladies night”.

Throw on your favorite heels, pretty little red dress and pop that bubbly while enjoying sinfully sweet treats paying “tribute to love” with those that love you year round.

A girl can never enjoy too much of a good thing. Start off the night with a fabulous cocktail.  Welcome to the grown up version of a root-beer float. Fresh raspberries, vanilla bean ice cream and white chocolate paired with what else?CHAMPAGNE!

Raspberries & Creamsicle Cocktail 

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ CupChambord
• 1 Bottle Brut Champagne (chilled)
• 1 Cup Raspberry Syrup
• 1 Pint Fresh Raspberries
• 1 Pint Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• 2 Tablespoon Cold Milk
• 2WhiteChocolateCandyBars

INSTRUCTION:

FRESH RASPBERRIES

* (Using the small colander)Wash, rinse and dry the fresh raspberries, add to prep bowl.

* Add ½ CupChambord(pour over) to the bowl of raspberries.

* Let soak until ready for assembly.

 WHITE CHOCOLATE

* (Still in the wrapper; to prevent a mess) Smash/break the white chocolate candy bars

* (Using small sauce pan) Bring the stove top burner’s heat to a low level (too high and you’ll burn the chocolate).

* Add 2 Tablespoon of milk to the sauce pan.

* (Carefully open candy wrappers) Add the white chocolate pieces to the sauce pan.

* (Using a wooden spoon) stir the white chocolate until it breaks down as a melted sauce.

* Lower the heat slightly more (to prevent burning, but not cool down until ready for assembly of the cocktail).

 ASSEMBLY

*Ready 4 chilled martini glasses.

*(Using your wooden spoon) Take a spoonful of the melted white chocolate and swirl the sauce in the bottom of the martini glass. 

*(Using melon ball scoop/small ice cream scoop) Add 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream.

* Drizzle 1 Tablespoon raspberry syrup on top of the ice cream.

* Add several fresh raspberries to the ice cream.

* Add 1 teaspoon ofChambord.

* Pour theChampagneover the raspberries until the martini glass is full.

VOILA! A dreamy, creamy sweet cocktail that you and the girls will want another round of without hesitation.

 Now, I don’t know about you but Valentine’s day is the one day of the year I want anything sweet but chocolate. A fresh alternative would be the warm baked sugary goodness of strawberry shortcake with mascarpone frosting.

Strawberry Shortcake & Mascarpone Frosting

INGREDIENTS:

• ⅛ Cup Hot Water
• ½ Cup Confectioners’ Sugar
• ½ Cup Granulated Sugar
• ½ Cup Raw Sugar
• ½ Cup Strawberry Syrup
• 1 ½ Cup Heaving Whipping Cream
• 1 Pint Fresh Strawberries
• 1 Pre-Packaged Biscuit Dough (refrigerated)
• 1 Tablespoon Brandy
• 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
• 8 oz. Mascarpone

FRESH STRAWBERRIES

* (Using the colander) Wash, rinse and dry fresh strawberries.

* (Using the cutting board and small chopping knife) Cut the “tops” or head of each strawberry (removing the leaves/stem).

* Slice the strawberries in to quarter pieces and place in prep bowl, wait for assembly.

STRAWBERRY SAUCE

* (Using the electric blender)

* Add ¼ Cup hot water

* Add ½ Cup freshly (sliced) strawberries

* Add ½ Cup strawberry syrup

* Add 1 Tblsp Brandy

* Add 1 Tblsp of granulated sugar

* Set blender at high speed until you get a thick sauce/syrup consistency.

* (Using rubber spatula & small mixing bowl) Add blender’s contents.

* Add ½ Cup of fresh strawberries to the Brandy syrup to small mixing bowl

* Hold remaining sliced fresh strawberries on the side, wait for assembly.

MASCARPONE FROSTING

(Part One)

*(Using electric standing mixer with the whisk attachment or hand held mixer)

* Add 1 ½ Cup heavy whipping cream

* Add 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

* Add ½ Cup granulated sugar

* Set the mixer to medium/high speed. Whip the mixture until you get a thick, fluffy “whipped cream/frosting” consistency. 

Note: If you do not have an electric standing mixer or hand held mixer you can whip the heavy whipping cream by hand using a wire whisk.

 (Part Two)

* (Adding to the current bowl filled with whipped cream & Using the electric standing/hand held mixer)

* Add 8 oz. Mascarpone Cheese

* Add 8 oz. (softened) cream cheese to the mixing bowl.

* Add ½ Cup Confectioners’ Sugar.

* Set the mixer to medium/high speed. Whip the mixture until you get a thick, fluffy “whipped cream/frosting” consistency. 

* Keep mixing bowl chilled (in refrigerator) until assembly.

  SHORTCAKE BISCIUTS

* Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

* Prepare cookie sheet by covering it with aluminum foil.

* Evenly spread the 1 Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil all over the aluminum foil (to prevent the biscuits from sticking)

* (Using the small mixing bowl) Add the raw sugar to the bowl.

* Open the pre-packaged (refrigerated) biscuits dough

* Add a raw biscuit, place in raw sugar bowl, completely cover the raw biscuit dough.

* Place the raw sugar covered biscuit dough on the oiled aluminum foiled cookie sheet. 

* Space each sugared biscuit 1 to 2 inches apart (to allow room to rise).

* Place cookie sheet into oven and bake for 14 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.

* (Using oven mitts) Remove the cookie sheet from oven.

* Place biscuits on cooling rack for 5 minutes.

* (Using the small/bread knife) Carefully slice cooled biscuits into halves horizontally.

* Repeat process with each biscuit, set aside for assembly.

 ASSEMBLY

* Ready your serving plate

* Add bottom half of baked sugar biscuit

* Add 2 Tablespoon fresh strawberries

* Add 2 Tablespoon of the Brandy strawberry syrup mix

* Add 2 Tablespoon mascarpone cream cheese frosting

* Add top half of baked sugar biscuit (with the raw sugar crystals facing up)

(repeat)

* Add 2 Tablespoon of the brandy strawberry syrup mix

* Add 2 Tablespoon fresh strawberries slices

* Add 2 Tablespoon mascarpone cream cheese frosting on top of the fresh strawberries

* Garnish with a few fresh strawberry slices.

 When all of the cocktail glasses are empty and plates have cleared you will realize that the stories, laughs and delicious sweet treats shared with your best friends will be in fact a result of the best Valentine’s Day you’ll possibly ever have.