Valentine's Day Treats

by Ellen Wilson

The meal guaranteed to win a heart this Valentine's Day. Don't just buy boxed chocolates this Valentine's Day.  Take the heart-shaped theme to the max and prepare dinner to dessert with all heart-shaped items. Also, make sure you have heart-shaped goodies all throughout the day.

Using a heart mold or cookie cutter, you make almost any dish Valentine-worthy. For dinner, make some homemade heart-shaped ravioli, stuffed with cheese, spinach, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, or any other filling. If homemade ravioli seems like too much of an ordeal, go for a breakfast theme. Fry up eggs in a heart mold and serve with heart-shaped pancakes.  Another quick option is a hearty soup with heart-shaped croutons.

For dessert, the easiest options are sugar cookies or cake. Personalize your dessert by adding icing and phrases, like conversation heart sayings. Try the old classic, "UR 4 Me" or maybe a newbie, like "Txt me!"  Other desserts that can easily be made heart-shaped are tarts and, of course, jello.

Other desserts, or just goodies for the day are cake pops, homemade peppermint patties, and homemade marshmallows with red food coloring. A quick and easy treat that uses leftover Christmas candy canes is heart lollipops made by melting together two candy canes.

Enjoy your dinner and don't forget the flowers!

BBQ Chicken Calzone

Where: Freschetta

What: BBQ Chicken Calzone

Price: Calzone only - $5.99, Calzone Combo - $7.69

Includes:
BBQ chicken calzone only. Combo is served with a side of cinnamon bites and a medium drink.

The lines may be long, but quick and efficient service keeps them moving at a brisk pace. It is well worth the short wait to have a delicious BBQ chicken calzone from Freschetta in the Cougareat. Some may ask...what is a calzone? In short, it is a pizza folded in half to be eaten like a sandwich. They can be eaten on-the-go if you are in a rush or enjoyed at a table while finishing your current book. If the calzone isn't enough to fill you up, the side of cinnamon bites glazed in icing will be.

Freschetta

calzones come in many options from pepperoni to chipotle steak. Other sides available are mozzarella sticks for $0.50 more or a desert calzone can be added for just $1.40.

*PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

San Francisco Melt

Where: Legends Grille

What: San Francisco Melt

Price: $6.99

Includes:
Chipotle mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, grilled Anaheim chili and beef brisket on a grilled sandwich. Served with one side.

Legends Grille combines the tastiest food and best sports environment on campus, which is why the Lunch of the Month once again comes from there. The San Francisco Melt is one of the most popular items at Legends Grille with a not-so-common beef brisket at its core. The bread is grilled to a perfect golden br

own and combined with beef brisket, spicy mayonnaise, cheddar cheese and grilled Anaheim chili. It's one kickin' sandwich. The meal does include one side and you may choose from any of the cold or hot sides available, which vary from macaroni salad, mixed fruit, baked beans and French fries.

*PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Candy/Cupcake Box

Supplies:

• 1 box (choose your size depending on what treats you'll put inside)
• Multiple spools of ribbon in different colors
• White/Colorful accent paper
• Hot Glue Gun
• Needle
• Thread

Directions:

1. Fold box according to directions.
2. Add accent paper and attach with hot glue to bottom of the closing flap of the box. Make sure that you'll be able to open the box without destroying your decorations.
3. Arrange runner ribbon according to taste and attach the same as the paper with a hot glue gun.
4. To make a ribbon flower:
1. Tie a knot at the end of a piece of thread and thread a needle on.
2. Start with one end of your ribbon and make petals by folding the ribbon over and putting the needle through it.
3. Continue to add petals in a circular fashion. Keep all the layers of ribbon on the needle until your flower is the proper size.
4. When finished making petals, you can pull the thread through to the knot and secure your flower by sewing all the layers of ribbon together a couple of times.
5. Attach to box with hot glue gun.
5. Once everything is dry, fill box with candy, cupcakes, or any other treat.

Chocolate Truffles

Executive Pastry Chef Fernanda Dutra
Chocolate Truffles
Makes 30-40 truffles

Truffles:
8 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (high quality, 62% cacao or higher)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Optional base flavorings:
1 cup mint leaves, chopped (about 1 bunch, stems removed) OR
1 cinnamon stick, 2 cardamom pods OR
1 teaspoon a

lmond extract


Truffle coating:
Cocoa powder
Finely chopped walnuts or almonds


In a small, heavy saucepan bring the heavy whipping cream to a simmer (this may take a while, be sure to stir and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula every few minutes). If you are using one of the other recommended flavorings, stir it in with the cream (and ignore the vanilla in the next step). If adding mint or other solids, after the cream simmers, remove from heat and let steep for an hour. Then strain away solids, and return the cream to a simmer and proceed with recipe.
Place chocolate in a separate bowl. Pour cream over the chocolate, add the vanilla, and allow to stand for a few minutes. Then stir until smooth. (This chocolate base is called "ganache").
Allow to cool, then place in the refrigerator for two hours. Remove and with a teaspoon roll out balls of the ganache. Roll in your hands quickly (as it will melt from the heat of your hands) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in refrigerator overnight.
Roll in cocoa powder or chopped nuts and serve, or place back in the refrigerator until needed.