What's an easy treat I can make my girlfriend on Valentine's day?

Question

I'm no cook...but I want to impress my girlfriend by making some sort of dessert for her. Any suggestions? Preferably something that looks harder to make than it really is.

Answer 1

Cheesecake. Very easy, sounds hard. Doesn't have to be made in a springform pan, you can use any cake pan--an 8" would be fine. You can use a hand mixer, stand mixer, or just your arm, all work fine since it doesn't have to be beat to a pulp to work.

Recipe:
3 8oz cream cheese
3/4 c sugar
beat till blended--don't overbeat, it'll make the cheesecake fall. The more air in the mixture, the more likely the center of the cake will fall--really not too serious, it just puts a rim on the outside to hold your topping, at least that's what I tell people when mine fall :)

3 eggs--add one at a time, beat each till incorporated

1/2 t vanilla
1/4 c lemon juice--again, beat till blended, it doesn't have to be completely uniform, probably means it's over mixed if it is. Really no problem if you did, cheesecake is a bit forgiving.

Preheat oven to 400. Put in another pan filled with water below the rack you'll put the cheesecake on, or get a big pan and put the cheesecake pan in it, add water to the big pan, just be sure to not get any water in the cheesecake. The extra moisture can help the cheesecake cook completely without turning brown.

Cook till the top gets a slight bronze, could be 30-45 minutes, sometimes longer--It won't look totally cooked, but if you wait till it actually browns, it's overcooked. Again, no major problem since cheesecake is forgiving. The middle should just be set when you jiggle the pan.

After it cools off--
Easy topping, get some 100% fruit preserves (figure the whole small jar for an 8" cheesecake), whatever she'd like, heat in a small pan mixing frequently till it's nearly uniform. Pour over the cheesecake somewhat evenly. When that cools, put cheesecake in refrigerator till ready to serve.

Alternative topping if you want to impress--after the preserves cool, heat 1/2 c cream to boiling while frequently stirring, add the hot cream to 1 c chocolate--either chocolate chips or small chunks, let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir till fully mixed (it won't look right for a while, keep stirring), pour over the cheesecake. When cool, put in refrigerator. This is kinduva ganache, sounds like it could be tough, impressive when describing to someone, but it's very simple.

Answer 2

Try a frozen yogurt parfait. Find a couple fancy-looking, tall glasses, and layer vanilla frozen yogurt (or ice cream if you want it less healthy) with chocolate shavings and/or fancy canned or frozen fruit. You can alternate layers (yogurt, chocolate, yogurt, fruit) or you can put the two together (yogurt, fruit, chocolate, yogurt). Start with a little fruit on the bottom, and end with either fruit or chocolate on top. If you use frozen fruit, thaw it overnight so it is not hard and cold. There are some neat canned fruits, like raspberries, available at most grocery stores. To make chocolate shavings, freeze a milk chocolate bar and shave slices off with a sharp knife. Top it with some whipped cream (the canned kind is fine) and mini chocolate chips or more shavings. If you want to get more creative, you can try some other layers, but remember, this should look pretty, and not like a banana split. :) Good luck!

Answer 3

Here is a recipe that is easy, delicious and looks hard to make!
Apple Ladybug Treats

"Red apples are decorated to look like lady bugs. This is a quick and fun snack that kids will enjoy making and eating. For once kids can play with their food."



INGREDIENTS
2 red apples
1/4 cup raisins
1 tablespoon peanut butter
8 thin pretzel sticks
DIRECTIONS
Slice apples in half from top to bottom, and scoop out the cores using a knife or melon baller. If you have an apple corer, core them first, then slice. Place each apple half flat side down on a small plate.
Dab peanut butter on to the back of the 'lady bug', then stick raisins onto the dabs for spots. Use this method to make eyes too. Stick one end of each pretzel stick into a raisin, then press the other end into the apples to make antennae.

Answer 4

This one will knock her socks off. If she likes chocolate she'll love these super easy oreo truffles.

ingredients:

45 Oreo cookies, divided (1 package)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages semisweet baking chocolate, melted
* you can melt choc chips in the microwave *

Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in a food processor; reserve for later use. (This can also be done in a resealable bag with a rolling pin.).
Crush the remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs and place in a medium bowl.
Add the cream cheese and mix until well blended.
Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1" in diameter.
Dip the balls in the melted chocolate and place them on a wax paper covered baking sheet.
Sprinkle the tops of the truffles with the reserved cookie crumbs.
Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
Store leftover truffles, covered, in the refrigerator.

Answer 5

Easy Dark Chocolate Mousse
Makes 4 servings

1 tablespoon pure canola oil
1/2 cup dark chocolate syrup
1-1/2 cups cold heavy cream

Whisk together oil and chocolate syrup in small bowl until well blended.

Whip cream in large bowl until soft peaks form. Slowly fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Mousse can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in refrigerator. If mousse separates, stir until blended.

Throw some whipped cream and a couple of fresh raspberries on top!



Sautéed Bananas
2 large servings

3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter or butter flavor Crisco
2 tablespoons half-and-half
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 large bananas, sliced
Vanilla ice cream

Combine brown sugar, Butter Flavor Crisco, half-and-half and vanilla in medium skillet. Cook and stir on medium heat until mixture boils. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add sliced bananas. Stir gently to coat. Cook on low heat about 2 minutes, or until soft, stirring occasionally. Serve plain or over ice cream.

Answer 6

Chocolate bundles: cut a sheet of phyllo dough into four squares, place two chocolate kisses and one miniature candy bar of your choice(snicker is yummy) in the center of bundle and gather and twist the dough to make a little package. Bake on cookie sheet in 350 oven for about 7-10 min or untill golden brown.

Answer 7

Bake some brownies in a pan...Use a boxed brownie mix... let them cool, then put some whip cream on them, with some sliced strawberries on top of the whipped cream and then drizzle some chocolate syrup on top.....Easy to make, a big hit and best of all looks like you out done yourself!!! Good Luck!

Answer 8

I have a delicious chocolate pie i like to make , it is a big hit w/everyone and very simple. You buy an already made pie crust (grahm cracker) and you soften an 8oz container of philadelphia cream cheese (you spread the cream cheese on the bottom ) then you make one box of chocolate pudding and you put that on top of the cream cheese . last but not least you top all of your pie with whipcream and chocolate shavings. you can also mix the three together(whip cream, chocolate pudding, and cream cheese ) for a totally different pie. it's easy ,affordable and a crowd pleaser. when pie is ready refrigerate for at least one hour.

Answer 9

Spaghetti and Meatballs

1 pound of ground beef, lean
1 egg, beaten
1/2 small cooking or boiling onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of grated Parmigiano (a handful)
1/2 cup of Italian bread crumbs ( 2 handfuls)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ( once around the pan)
1/2 cup of beef broth or dry red wine (a couple of splashes)
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon ( 2 shakes) crushed red pepper flakes
2 sprigs fresh oregano, chopped , or 2 pinches dried
A palmful chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
3/4 pound spaghetti, cooked al dente, about 8 minutes
Grated Parmigiano cheese and garlic bread, for the table
What you do:

Combine meat, egg, onion, garlic, grated cheese, bread crumbs, and a little pepper in a bowl.
Heat a deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle in oil. Roll small balls and drop into hot pan. When all the meat is rolled and in the pan, give the pan a good shake and cover. Cook meatballs for 8 minutes, giving the pan a good shake frequently to keep meat from burning. If balls are browning too quickly, reduce heat a little.
Add broth or wine and let reduce for 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and red pepper flakes, then oregano and parsley. Simmer until pasta is ready. Toss pasta with sauce and serve with garlic bread and grated cheese for topping.

http://www.homeschoolzone.com/m2m/valentine.htm
http://www.valentines4free.com/valentine_recipes/default.htm

Answer 10

Salmon Lime light

one tbs. of butter, melted
two(4 oz.) Salmon fillets
two tbs. of lime juice
one tbs. of teriyaki sauce
two green onions, chopped
1/2 tsp. of rosemary, fresh
one lime cut into wedges

preheat oven to 450`F
add butter to 11x17' baking dish; tilt dish to coat
add salmon
mix lime juice, teriyaki, and onions and herbs
drizzle over salmon
bake uncovered for 10 or till fish flakes with fork

I did this with and my girlfriend and i got some crazy sex after wards.