Valentine's Day gift guide for foodies

Boozy Delights

David Nicholson Bourbon

A delicious sipping bourbon is thoughtful for any whiskey fan.  David Nicholson Reserve has a bourbon that is smoky and smooth and is great to sip on its own, but also can be used to make Bourbon Caramel Dark Chocolate Truffles. David Nicholson reserve may found at most liquor stores and the recipe for the truffles may be found below.

David Nicholson Reserve

 

Bourbon Caramel Dark Chocolate Truffles recipe

Ingredients:

· 9 oz. 60% dark chocolate chips

· 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (or coconut milk for dairy free)

· 2 tbsp bourbon

For Caramel Swirl:

· 1/2 cup sugar

1/8 cup water
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp butter
For Coating:

· Cacao powder

· Sprinkles

Instructions:

Combine sugar and water for caramel in small saucepan on med. Heat for 10 min (1/4 cup sugar + 1/8 cup water)
Add 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Simmer 2 min, then add butter and remove caramel from heat
Chop chocolate into small bits
In a small saucepan heat 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream to simmer, remove from heat, pour over chopped chocolate in heat safe bowl
Stir until smooth
You may use the microwave in 15 second increments for additional melting help if necessary
Let cool for 2 min and pour in bourbon, mix
Swirl in about 2/3 of the caramel, marble style.
Cover and place in fridge to chill for 1 hr
Scoop out chocolate using a melon baller, roll gently between hands until round
Coat in cacao or sprinkles by rolling ball on plate

Recipe courtesy of Brynn Houska
Breaking Bread XO

David Nicholson Bourbon Caramel Dark Chocolate Truffles

NV Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve

A Rosé Champagne is usually welcome for Valentine’s Day.  The NV Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve is rich and complex, but fruity and tastes expensive. It sells for around $80 and can be found here.

NV Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve

Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG

A great sparkling wine helps set the mood. Santa Margherita's Prosecco Superiore DOCG  is a fruity sparking wine that is rather mellow but is very tasty.  It can be purchased at most liquor stores for around $28.

 

Prosecco

Ferrari Trento Rosé

A festive pink libation really can make Valentine's Day special.   Ferrari Trento Rosé has a bit of a Chardonnay feel with some berry deliciousness. More information may be found about it here.  However,this drink pairs very well with decadent Italian truffles.  Chef Alfio Ghezzi of two-Michelin star restaurant Locanda Margon  has developed a lovely recipe for Neapolitan Pizza that may be found below.

Chef Alfio Ghezzi’s Neapolitan Pizza

Ingredients: Makes 4 servings
1 ½ cups cherry tomato sauce
2 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
1 pinch of pepper
2 pinches of dry oregano
4 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes
a bunch of fresh basil
Urbani halved truffle or truffle oil
For the pizza dough:
1 cup type 0 flour
3 1/2 cups type 00 flour
1 ⅓ cup warm water
1 ½ teaspoons yeast
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups type 00 flour
⅓ cup warm water
Method:
Knead the first part of the ingredients for 15 min keeping in mind to add the salt only at the end and then let the dough rest covered by a kitchen towel for 1 hour; afterwards add to the dough 3 cups of the type 00 flour and ⅓ cup water.

Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for another hour; divide the dough into four pieces, put them on a plate, cover them with plastic wrap and leave them in the fridge for an entire night.

The next day, take them out of the fridge, let them rise for three hours and then roll them out, obtaining disks of 11 inches in diameter, leaving more dough on the edge in order to make the characteristic crust once cooked.

Assembly: Season the cherry tomato sauce with salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and dry oregano, spread the tomato sauce on the pizza, cook them in the oven at 500°F and two minutes before taking them out add the mozzarella cheese. Before serving add the halved cherry tomatoes, basil, and shaved truffles or truffle oil to taste.

 Snowbirds Monterey County Merlot

A rich and fruity red pairs beautifully with the rich meats and chocolates that are synonymous with Valentine's Day.  The Monterey County Merlot from Snowbirds fits the bill.  They are reasonably priced fro around $18, are vegan and can be found at Whole Foods or other online retailers.

 

Image result for snowbirds Monterey County Merlot

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