Rich Chocolate Pudding and Amaretto Whipped Cream Parfaits
Individual desserts like these make your dining companion feel special. The chocolate is so rich and the hint of amaretto in the whipped cream will really set the mood!
Herb-Roasted Potatoes
I like to keep things simple for a romantic dinner so that I'm not spending too much time in the kitchen. These potatoes are very easy and taste great.
Haricots Verts with Grape Tomatoes
Haricot vert is French for green bean. I blanch the beans before quickly sauteing them to retain their bright green color. They look beautiful on the plate with the red tomatoes.
Oysters on the Half Shell with Mignonette Sauce
Oysters are supposed to be an aphrodisiac. I'm not so sure about that, but I really like eating them. They make for a nice light appetizer paired with a glass of Champagne-perfect for a romantic dinner.
Sole Meunière
This is the signature dish of Le Dome and a total classic. They use Dover sole, but if you can't find it at your fish market, just substitute sole, lemon sole, grey sole, or flounder. It's a very simple dish and tastes so light and perfect.
Roasted Beet and Beet Green Salad with Warm Pistachio Salsa Verde
Whether with friends or my loved one, I like to have at least one dish on the menu that is heart-healthy. This year, I'm making my Roasted Beet and Beet Green Salad with Warm Pistachio Salsa Verde. Besides all of the health benefits, the most positive effect of this salad is that it tastes so darn good! Enjoy in good health and Happy Valentine's Day!
Herbie's Tacos
My friend Steve made me these tacos, named for his father, Herbie, who taught him the recipe. They are, without a doubt, the best tacos I have ever eaten.
Lemony Caesar Salad
With all of the heavy foods going on in this menu, a Caesar salad helps to round things out. My Caesar dressing has two lemons so it has a really bright, fresh flavor.
Heavyweight Hoagie
This is the mother of all hoagies. I use a whole loaf of ciabatta with turkey, ham, and salami, but try mixing it up with roast beef or mortadella.
Chili-Cheese Dip
When I was in college, we used to melt cheese and chili in the microwave on movie nights. I re-created my college junk-food obsession with this chili-cheese dip that only takes a few more minutes than the microwave version.
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
These quesadillas are perfect for reheating . Make them in advance and then pop in the oven for a few minutes before serving .
Beef, Bean & Veggie Burgers
I created this Beef, Bean and Veggie Burger for our annual New Years healthy eating episode of The Kitchen. It's a way of feeling like you get the satisfaction of beef, just having less of it and having more veggies and beans.
Breakfast Bread Pudding Recipe
Who ever thought that dessert could be breakfast, well, recommended as breakfast? My go-to brunch recipe is a breakfast bread pudding. Which can be made in advance and baked just before serving.
Big Pitcher of Bloody Marys
Nothing cures a hangover like a Bloody Mary! This recipe makes a large amount, but if your friends are like mine, they probably won't have just one drink over the course of a long weekend brunch.
Breakfast Hash with Poached Eggs
This recipe was inspired by my friend Todd Thompson, who happens to be the other half of one of my favorite chefs, Giada de Laurentiis.
Nutella French Toast Sandwiches
This recipe is truly decadent — it's borderline sinful. I love baking French toast in a casserole dish because it's way less work and can even be assembled the night before.
Grapefruit Brûlée
My grandma makes these for breakfast all the time. I think she started serving grapefruit this way just to get the kids to eat it, but everyone liked it so much that it stuck.
Campari & Blood Orange Sparklers
Bubbles make any occasion special. These sparklers are particularly merry because of the bright color created by the Campari and blood orange juice.
Mexican Wedding Cookies
It wouldn't be the holidays at our house without these cookies. My great-aunt, Pat , makes these every year and puts them in tins as gifts. They are simply delicious.
Triple Chocolate Brownies
Okay, what 's not to love about the sound of these? I'm a self-confessed chocaholic and I have to be watched like a hawk around these or else they might disappear.