~Alexis Bledel Quote

“Every day I learn something. Sometimes it's difficult. Especially when I have to do something that I don't normally do.”

~Alexis Bledel

~Reese Witherspoon Quote

“Creating a cultural icon out of someone who goes, 'I'm stupid, isn't it cute?' makes me want to throw daggers. I want to say to them, 'My grandma did not fight for what she fought for just so you can start telling women it's fun to be stupid. Saying that to young women, little girls, my daughter? It's not OK'.”

~Reese Witherspoon

~ You Won't Be Single For Long Vodka Cream Pasta

You Won't Be Single For Long Vodka Cream Pasta
Serves 4
Tags: dinner lunch pasta vegetables 30 Minute Meals sauté boil simmer
Submitted by
Rachael Ray
on 09/06/07

This recipe will make enough for 2 couples. If you plan a romantic evening where more than two's a crowd, reserve half the sauce to freeze for another supper before the addition of basil, and only cook 1/2 to 2/3 pound of penne.




* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 shallots, minced
* 1 cup vodka
* 1 cup chicken stock
* 1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
* Coarse salt and pepper
* 16 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Crusty bread, for passing

Preparation

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add vodka to the pan, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. Reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.

Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Pass pasta with crusty bread.

~Pasta with Pink Sauce

1 lb pasta
1 lg jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 lb bacon
1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. red pepper flakes

Cut raw bacon into small (1/4 to 1/2") pieces. Cook in large fry or saute pan until cooked, being sure not to overcook the bacon. Add spaghetti sauce and red pepper flakes to the pan with the bacon.

Stir, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

Meanwhile, prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain.

Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream to the sauce and stir. Add more cream to taste. Sauce should be thick and pink.

Top pasta with sauce and serve! As in Lady & the Tramp this would be a great romantic dinner. With a twist :)

~Chocolate Crème Brûlée with Strawberries

Chocolate Crème Brûlée Recipe:
(makes enough for 4 ramekins)

Start a pot of water (4 cups) boiling for water bath, and preheat oven to 350.

1 cup half & half or cream
2 Tbsp sugar
very small pinch of salt
2 Tbsp Ghiradelli ground chocolate (or 1oz chocolate bar, chopped)
4 Strawberries sliced
Combine in saucepan, whisking over medium-high until sugar is incorporated and mixture begins to bubble gently, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and prepare egg mixture.

3 large or 2 jumbo egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla


Whisk the eggs and vanilla together thoroughly. Keep whisking, slowly pour hot cream mixture into egg mixture in a thin stream. Strain mixture through a fine sieve to remove any lumps. Put the mixture into a large measuring cup so that you can pour it easily.

Mist ramekins with nonstick spray and place in a flat baking dish with a rim. Pour mixture in, leaving 1/8 inch of space at the top. Pour hot water halfway up the outside of the ramekins. Transfer carefully to oven, bake at 350 for 20-25min. To check if it's done, give the pan a gentle shake. They are done when the center jiggles only slightly.

Remove ramekins from hot water and chill for 2-3 hours. They will keep for at least a week, but be sure to keep covered in plastic wrap or they will dry out and crack. Add the sugar layer last, because it will become soggy in the fridge.

Sugar layer (brûlée): Evenly sprinkle 1-2 tsp sugar on cooled custard. Tip and gently shake ramekin to even out. Heat evenly in circular motions with a culinary torch held 2 inches from surface. Stop heating when the sugar turns golden brown- it will go from brown to burned very quickly. Put Strawberries on top.

~Pretty as a Rose

These wafer-thin rose-scented soap petals dissolve in your bath as they soften, soothe and cleanse the skin. They can in a lovely clear glass apothecary jar with lid that will look great with bath salts or cotton balls when the soap is gone.

http://gifts.redenvelope.com//rosepetalsoaps-30001822?ref=REDorganicgglbrand&pagesplit=HomeSplitA&catid=carousel

~I'll Tumbler For Ya

Breakfast in bed for Valentine's Day? Why not start out the day with these love glasses. Each set of four includes each of the glasses shown above, and make for a fun Valentine's gift that will be enjoyed throughout the year.

http://www.iloveuma.com/home/blog/default.aspx?dtf=20070201000000&dtt=20070228235959