Valentine's Day Cheeseburger Pizza

Yes, I know.  It's well past Valentine's Day.  I just couldn't help but share with you guys what I made for Andy on Valentine's Day.

And some of you may turn your nose up to some of the ingredients... well, one in particular - Velveeta.  Yes, I know, it's not real cheese.  But to Andy.  It is real cheese.  In fact, he thinks it's the best cheese.  While we don't obviously share the same opinion regarding this, Valentine's Day is a day of love.  And because I love that man, regardless of his food and cheese preferences, I set my food snobbishness (or well, real sensibility, hehe) aside, and made this heart-shaped pizza for him using one of his favorite things... Velveeta.

Hope you guys have a great weekend, and I promise to post those Nutella cupcakes next week!



Ingredients:
Adapted from a Taste of Home recipe

2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 & 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 & 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. meatballs, about 10-15 (you can use homemade or frozen - just make sure to defrost them a little if they're frozen), chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup Pecorino-Romano cheese, grated
1/2 cup homemade tomato soup, or sauce (I made a tomato soup recently that had a pizza sauce taste, so I used that)
1/2 onion, sliced
4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
1/2 cup Velveeta cheese, chopped
1/2 cup pepperjack cheese, shredded

Start by making the crust. In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.  Add the warm water and oil.  Mix until the dough is smooth.  Add additional flour if dough is still sticky.

Knead on a floured surface for about 5 minutes or until dough becomes elastic and smooth.  Cover with a warm damp towel and let rise for about 10-15 minutes.

In a large skillet, cook the chopped meatballs and garlic.  Season with salt and peppper, if desired.

Preheat oven to 450 F.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a large circle, about 1/4 inch thick.  Or if you like a thicker crust, you can always make a smaller circle.  If you want to be cutesy like me, you can make the circle into a heart shape, but it's not necessary.

Roll the edges slightly to form a thicker outer edge.  Poke the dough with a fork. 

Place crust on a greased baking stone or baking sheet.  Bake for about 7-10 minutes, or until crust is slightly browned. 

Sprinkle the crust with the pecorino cheese and top with tomato sauce/soup.  Add meatball/garlic mixture, onion, chopped bacon, and Velveeta and pepperjack. 

Bake the pizza for about 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.  Slice and serve.

Seriously.  This was a 'man' pizza.  Andy said he liked it a lot.  I could give or take on it.  We both agreed that the crust was different and unusual.  Not something you associate a pizza crust with being, but it was pretty tasty.  The toppings, of course, could be alternated to suit your tastes.  This was a winner in Andy's book, and seriously, that's all that mattered to me. =) 

So have a great weekend guys and I'll see you back on Monday!

Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Tarts

TGIF!  You know how excited Fridays make me.  I've just 8 hours of work to get through and then the weekend is mine to conquer!

And you didn't think I'd leave you empty-handed for Valentine's Day did you?  Andy received these a week early, so he's been slowly munching on them.  They've made him a very happy camper, let me tell you.  He even almost threatened me, as I was taking a few of them to work!  But I had to explain to him that I am the boss, especially since I made them.  So I can choose who receives them!  Hehe.  He straightened up after that. =)

So browsing the internet last weekend, I came across Mary's, over at One Perfect Bite, recipe for a Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte.  My mouth was drooling and I was faced with the decision of whether to make a large torte, like Mary's, or make miniature versions to share (and of course portion control!).  It was obvious, I needed to miniaturize this beauty, and that's exactly what I did!

So whether you make these for your Valentine, yourself, or just the random guy/gal walking his/her dog down the street.  I urge you.  Make them.  They will instantly brighten your mood, and are definitely not Valentine's Day specific.  Chocolate and Peanut Butter are a combination deemed fitting for any day of the year!

Oh, and don't forget this week's poll at the bottom!

Ingredients:
Adapted from One Perfect Bite's Recipe

For Crust:

1-2 packages chocolate graham crackers (about 10-15)

1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
pinch of salt

For Filling:

1 & 1/4 cups unsalted peanuts, divided

1/4 cup peanut butter chips, chopped

1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, chopped
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
2 cups heavy cream
1 & 1/4 cups powdered sugar
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 & 1/2 cups peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk


For Topping:

1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Start by making your crust.  Preheat oven to 350 F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Add chocolate graham crackers to bowl of food processor and pulse until finely ground.  In a small bowl, combine graham crackers, melted butter, and salt.  Mix until the crumbs stick together nicely.

Press mixture into a thin layer covering bottom and sides of cupcake liners.  Freeze crust for 10 minutes.

Bake for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before filling.

For the filling,  place 1/2 cup of peanuts, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon and nutmeg in the bowl of your food processor.  Pulse until peanuts and chips are in little pieces.  Transfer mixture to a bowl and set aside.

In a separate medium-sized bowl, whip 2 cups of heavy cream until it holds medium peaks. Slowly add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and whip until cream holds medium-firm peaks.  Transfer whipped cream to fridge until needed.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar until cream cheese is smooth.  Add in peanut butter, whole milk, and 1/4 cup of chopped peanuts and mix until well combined.

Gently fold in about 1/4 of whipped cream to lighten the mixture.  Stir in chocolate chip & peanut mixture.  Then slowly fold in remaining whipped cream.

Fill each cupcake liner about 3/4 full of filling.  Refrigerate for about 3 hours, or until filling is set.

For chocolate ganache topping, carefully melt remaining chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl in 30 second intervals.  When chocolate is melted, pour in heavy cream, and mix until combined with chocolate.

Pour chocolate over each mini tart and smoothing with a spoon, if desired.  Chop remaining 1/2 cup of peanuts and scatter over top of tarts. Chill for at least 20 minutes, or until chocolate is set.

Then try to resist these.  It's damn nearly impossible.  Well... in our household anyway.  Hope you guys have a great weekend, with whatever you do!

So what should I make Andy for Valentine's Day this weekend?

3-Course Valentine's Day Dinner

I'll have to tell you, Valentine's Day didn't turn out quite how I expected. I've kind of been battling cold-like symptoms all week and waking up Sunday morning was no exception. In fact, it was probably the worst. I couldn't hear out of my right ear because of the congestion, my throat felt like a cactus, and I had a pulsing headache. But I knew I had to make the most of it.

When I finally did get out of bed, Andy had made breakfast (he tried to serve it to me in bed, but I felt like crap and I had 2 hovering dogs so it wouldn't have been a good idea). He kept it warm in the microwave and I came out to a big ol' waffle, bacon, sausage, and eggs. Yum!

Then I went to the computer to check my e-mail and stuff and I came across a card in an envelope and the newest issue of Bon Appetit. I open the card and it says that he bought me a 2-year subscription! I was elated. And the card was too cute as well... it had a bulldog just cheesing (kind of like how our dogs do) and it was just quite cute.

And so I continue the day, in sickness, but in a grand little mood. I made a 3-course dinner, from Bon Appetit's Valentine's Dinner menu and it was just marvelous.

First Course: Large Coconut Shrimp w/ Sriracha


Second Course: Beef Tenderloin w/ Potato "Risotto", Cumin-Carmelized Carrots, & Steamed Green Beans



Third Course: Chocolate Devil's Food Cake w/ Sour Cream Fudge Icing


My absolute favorite part of the meal was definitely the potato "risotto". It was creamy, delicious, and the potatoes were the best potatoes I've probably ever eaten. I could eat the everyday for the rest of my life and be happy. Andy loved the meal and we enjoyed spending the day together and he really gives me more reasons to love him everyday!

No recipe today, but if you'd like to know how any of these things are made, you can definitely check out Bon Appetit's Valentine's Day Dinner menu... I'd highly recommend trying the potato "risotto", if anything!!!