Valentines Dinner

I always try to make this day special for our whole family. Seems silly to leave the kids at home with a box of mac n cheese and then go out to eat. That's what Anniversary's are for! Today I aspired to make very special. While walking in Costco with my Love yesterday he mentioned Beef Stroganoff for dinner last night. Unfortunately I didn't have any meat defrosted thus we ended up with Ravioli. However, I did make sure to take the meat out early this morning so I could surprise him!

Lets be honest here, DESSERT is what this day is all about right??? OF COURSE right!! So lets start with the good stuff! I made Brownies! Now if you remember from my last post about Brownies, that my last try was an EPIC failure and I was on a mission to find a recipe for a good dense brownie....well, I DID! Here is the recipe!

Brownies
Multipurpose flour – 2 cups
Dark chocolate – 8 ounces
Soft Butter - 1 cup
Eggs – 5
Sugar – 2½ cups
Vanilla Extract - 1 tablespoon
Milk – 1 tablespoon
Pinch of salt
Roasted and chopped walnuts (optional) – 2½ cups
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.

Melt chocolate & butter over low heat until they make a smooth liquid and remove from heat. With mixer, blend eggs, sugar, & vanilla until thoroughly mixed. Add milk, flour and salt, and chocolate mix to egg/sugar mixture (slow w/ chocolate so eggs don't scramble). After it is thoroughly mixed, add walnuts if desired. Pour into greased pan. Bake for about 40 minutes @ 375.

THEN I made home made chocolate syrup!

http://smallnotebook.org/2009/07/10/homemade-chocolate-syrup/


SO easy and tastes better than...ahem.....Hershy's!

Next I chose to make home made noodles to go with my Beef Stroganoff! 

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1627,133186-249194,00.html

Last I made the Stroganoff and oh my! Well, my family knows they are loved! I felt very fulfilled in the kitchen today!!!! The dinner was a hit and dessert will live on in infamy in my world! I can rest now that I have found a recipe I like, OF COURSE you know I will be tweaking it as that's what I do best!