Valentine Day gives us the chance to celebrate love and romance, but it can be a stressful event if a little planning is not done in advance. For example, consider the Valentine dining experience, restaurant reservations, long waits and high tabs plus tip. There is an alternative you know, GourmetStation Valentine Dinner For Two delivered.

The Valentine menu is exquisite, French of course. Start your Valentine dinner with a tasting of bistro mushroom soup & tomato basil soup and don’t forget the traditional French baguettes. Entrees include salmon en Croute, chicken Montrachet – both served with creamy spinach & artichokes. Delicious! Best for last – dessert is chocolate truffle cheesecake and St. Ives coffee. The Valentine Dinner Gift includes 3 complimentary gifts: a Valentine candle inscribed with “love”, a Valentine poem including history and best of all, an MP3 download from Rui Serodio, romantic new age music “straight from the heart of Europe.”

Now for the price: $89.99 for two plus shipping. Visit our menu page and receive a coupon for 50% off 2^nd day shipping. All this value and convenience is going to leave you with more time for romance. Bon appetit! Happy Valentine’s Day.

Are you a hopeless romantic? Do you love poetry? Would you like to express your emotions in poetry to someone special but don't have the writing talent? Well, I have a website for you. A Gift of Poetry. The next time you are preparing to celebrate a special occasion - like an anniversary, or a birthday - or just because, consider A Gift of Poetry.

The poems are personalized to each individual and their situation. As an example, this web page describes how a woman on her 1st wedding anniversary expressed love for her husband. As you can see, the profile of the individual was taken into account with real life examples of how the relationship had enriched each other's lives. The end result - My Lifetime Lover.

I can see other applications as well. In trouble with your significant other and need a little humor to break the ice? Consider a gift of apology along with a personalized poem from A Gift of Poetry. Let your imagination go. You may not be Edgar Allen Poe, but A Gift of Poetry is the next best thing!

New Valentine Dinner Delivered - GourmetStation

GourmetStation, the leading national merchant for gourmet dinner gifts, upscale gourmet meals and fine food gifts delivered nationally, announced the introduction of the Eiffel Tower Menu for Valentine dinners delivered.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) January 24, 2008 -- Valentine's Day is a booming event for restaurants. Finer establishments provide multiple seatings and are sold out weeks in advance. Long waits and the hassle can cause much stress. GourmetStation believes Valentine dinner is the last event that should be ridden with stress and proposes to send romantic Valentine dinners directly to romantic couples. With only 30 minutes preparation, romantics across the US can enjoy fine French cuisine in the comfort of home.

The Eiffel Tower menu sets the stage with elegant gift packaging featuring old world postcards from regions like Paris, Tuscany and New Orleans. Inside the elegant packaging is delicious cuisine starting with artisan bread, creamy soups, entrees like Chicken Montrachet and Salmon en Croute and chocolate truffle cheesecake with Euro blend coffee. 4 complimentary gifts include a heart shaped candle, Valentine poem, and bonus dessert & beverage. The price for this Valentine dinner delivered is $89.99 for two plus $19.99 shipping. Additionally, the company is offer 50% off 2nd day shipping.

"We selected French cuisine when developing the 2008 Valentine dinner delivered" says founder & President, Donna Lynes-Miller. "The French are romantic by nature and this romance is reflected in their elegant en Croutes and rich sauces. Our goal is to bring the elegance of a fine French restaurant to our patron's home."

About GourmetStation
GourmetStation delivers a delicious in-home dining experience complete with the flavor of travel to an exciting cultural destination. The online retailer offers the unique opportunity to give or receive a unique gourmet food gift to mark a life-cycle occasion or just to take a night off from cooking. GourmetStation offers multiple regional menu options including Parisian, Tuscan, Cajun, Fusion, Americana as well a Romance menu and seasonal menus like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine dinners delivered. The wide variety of destination themed food gifts is designed to spark the imagination of both the giver and receiver. Each chef-inspired dinner is intended to provide a dining experience similar to that of its regional inspiration.

Internationally themed three and four course gourmet meals are delivered anywhere in the United States. Deep-chilled gourmet dinners require only 30 minutes preparation include European blend coffee or organic tea, after-dinner candy, floating candle and matches. Prices for multi-course dinners for two range from $69.99 to $89.99. Gourmet gift certificates, including Dinner of the Month certificates and Soup of the Month certificates are ideal for birthdays and anniversaries. For more information, visit www.GourmetStation.com or call 1-888-944-9794.

Contact Information:
Donna Lynes-Miller
Founder & President

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I love biscotti, as I am sure many of you do. Especially, the kind of biscotti that is dipped in dark chocolate on one end and served with a very strong dark coffee…ahhh…what a way to spend an afternoon in repose...meditating over a nice strong cup of coffee, with chocolate biscotti.  Just my preference…or so I thought.

I recently received a large gift basket of homemade “Rosemary Biscotti” from my friend “Rhubarb Barb”…a recipe contributor and comrade in arms go anywhere dining companion from a past gourmetstation blog on pies. Rhubarb pies to be specific.

The wonderful thing about the rosemary Biscotti was that it wasn’t overly sweet…or really sweet at all, but had a wonderful earthy natural flavor of rosemary and currants. An exceptional flavor profile as we used to say in the fast food business when sampling some new food offering that exceeded expectations...”yes a wonderful flavor profile.”

Well…as I thought more about it, where did biscotti come from? So I did a little research.

Well, obviously from the spelling, it had Italian origins and that much I knew. So after a little online digging I uncovered that “biscotto” means cookie and getting into the structure of the word reveals that the latin bis and coctum later becoming the Italian cotto means something like twice baked…the original process to prepare the traditional biscotti we are all used to eating. The twice baking gave the cookie the “finish” and crunch and provided the consistency. It was also used in those early roman times as a long shelf life baked good for easy transport and flavored with almond.

Well I am all for convenience and I also discovered online a device to allow for a faster baking process for those who have to worry about time and labor and energy costs. (It’s called Pipe and Bake System…google it under biscotti if you want to know more) They have figured out a whole new way to achieve the same results in a faster time frame then twice baking. Hmmm...does that then make this new product an “unacotti”??... once baked or from a traditionalists view point “half baked”…a subject no doubt for a future episode of Rachel Ray.

Well, even though biscotti is supposed to last a long, long time, at least from a perishable stand point, the rather large amount of rosemary biscotti that Barb sent me was gone in a week. What can I say… alone…with no shame and a hot beverage to wash it down, why the biscotti became my nightly and afternoon snack…and best new friend.

So if you would like to try some very tasty rosemary biscotti, Barb has included the credited recipe below.

Wedding Biscotti
Recipe courtesy Katie Lee Joel

Wedding Biscotti
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup dried currants

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and 
rosemary. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer and a large mixing bowl, beat butter and 
sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs, 
1 at a time, incorporating each egg fully before adding the next. Add 
the vanilla. and gently stir in the flour mixture until just 
combined. Stir in currants.

Cut dough in half and shape into 2 logs. They should be about a 12-
inches long; and 1-inch thick.

Bake until just starting to brown at the edges, about 35 minutes. Let 
cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets. While the biscotti logs 
are still warm, cut each log into 1/2-inch wide slices on the 
diagonal. Place the slices back on the baking sheet (using 2 baking 
sheets if necessary to fit all the slices). Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. 
Remove the baking sheets from the oven. Turn the biscotti over and 
bake for an additional 7 to 8 minutes, until the biscotti are crisp.

Let the biscotti cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet(s). Serve 
when cooled to room temperature, or store in an airtight container 
for up to 2 weeks.

There you have it. A great afternoon of baking and enjoyment and keep your friends in mind as it makes a great personalized gift……I know!

Mark Stine

According to legend, St. Valentine actually
sent the first Valentine greeting himself.
While in prison Valentine fell in love
with a young girl who often came to visit.
Before his death he wrote her a letter
signed "From Your Valentine."

FOR YOU MY LOVE
I have searched my heart
For the words to say
Just how much you mean to me
This Valentine's Day.

You are All of God's Blessings
Rolled into one
My dreams, my desires
My nightfall, my sun.

My every waking moment
My hopes and my fears
My disillusion, my contentment
My joy and my tears.

But most important of all
I thank God when I pray
Because you make every moment
My Valentine Day.

For food gifts, Valentine dinner delivered, gourmet dinner gifts or gourmet meals delivered, please visit GourmetStation.com

Valentine's Day is prime time for most restaurants. Reservations are difficult to secure. Waits are often long. Valentine's Day is one day we do not need more stress. Let GourmetStation take the stress out of Valentine 2008 by sending the restaurant to you.

Our Eiffel Tower menu is French cuisine at it's best - 4 delicious courses in this exquisite romance dinner for two. We are including 4 complimentary gifts plus offering 50% off 2nd day shipping. Details for our Valentine Dinner Delivered are a click away. Plus we have a full line up of romantic dinners delivered from our Parisian, Tuscan, Cajun, Fusion & Americana menus. Bon appetit!

If you're seeking food gifts that are a cut above the crowd, try our gourmet meals delivered. These exquisite gourmet dinner gifts are delivered in free packaging nationwide.

It’s July and hot in the south. Some might say, “not very romantic.” Gone are the red roses from Valentines Day and here we are in the dog days of summer. So how do we put a little zip into these days – a little romance and intrigue, so to speak.

I have an idea…..of course, it relates to food. Maybe you’ve having an anniversary this month and you’re thinking about anniversary dinner ideas. Or maybe you just want to show love and appreciation for no reason at all. Try planning a small intimate dinner party for two for your significant other. Make it a surprise if you wish and pull out all the bells and whistles. If it’s not too warm outside, consider dining out doors. If you can find flowers growing naturally in your yard or area, consider these flowers instead of pricey arrangements from the florist. Don’t forget a nice wine – if you need help in this category, check out wine consultant Susan Anderson’s suggestions.

Now for the menu. Let GourmetStation do the work for you with their gourmet dinner delivery. All you need to do is heat & serve and the cuisine is extraordinary. For a romantic occasion or an anniversary dinner idea, I recommend the Parisian anniversary dinner delivered – or the Tuscan Romance meal delivered. I recommend lamb shank and salmon en Croute from the Parisian menu and chicken Saltimboca and baked salmon with sundried tomato alfredo sauce from the Tuscan menu.  Priced at $110 for two including shipping, you won’t be able to shop, chop and serve cuisine of this quality and beat the price. Both menus are delightful and give you the time off to relax and get on with the romance of your evening. Good luck.

For a food gift they will long remember, bookmark GourmetStation.

To all you hopeless romantics across the world, Happy Valentine's Day!

To all our loyal patrons that supported GourmetStation by purchasing our romantic dinners delivered this Valentine's Day, a heartful "Thank You."

If you've let the day slip your mind, here is a beautiful e-card site that has unique and top quality e-greeting cards.

Valentine Day count down is on for you hopeless romantics with only 11 days left to plan your Valentine dinner and party. I’ve already given you tips on how to boycott cooking Valentine dinner with a gourmet dinner delivered from GourmetStation. My recommendation is the Eiffel Tower menu. Not only can you whisp them away to France with a taste of Paris, you’ll also receive free shipping, leaving you with dollars to spend on other aspects of your Valentine Day party.

So what can you do with those extra $. Where can you spend them? I’ve got the perfect solution thanks to my friends Mark Deutsch & Cathryn Barmon of Undici.com. Mark & Cathryn are consultants with for a cool company called Plum Party. This web site lets you take any party or event to the next level with unique party supplies. Pretty serving plates and coordinated table accessories are just the beginning. What caught my eye was party accessory themes – after all, we’re all caught in a creative drought from time to time. Just go to Plum Party and let them help you select a unique theme. What about a 1950’s theme party with rock & roll accessories. They even have retro sunglasses. Or an Elvis party – the king lives at Plum Party.

What caught my eye was one particular offering – a Valentine Day romance kit to go with your romantic dinner delivered from GourmetStation. Here’s what you get:

Set of 6 Sweetheart Badges, Lacy White Heart Banner - 7" by 12", Heart Centerpiece - 8" by 11"/Two-sided, Shiny Hearts - Package of 40 assorted sized shiny foil hearts, 'Be My Valentine' Banner, Valentine Loot Bags - 5.5" by 9"/Pack of 12/Six designs/2 of each style, Cupid Cut Outs - 6 Piece Set/3 sized cupids/2 of each, White Fun Fringe - 25' of tissue festooning, and Pink Fun Fringe - 25' of tissue festooning.

Talk about doing it right. This Valentine’s Day a dinner from GourmetStation with party accessories by Plum Party will put your event over the top. Go for it!

Bouna di San Valentino:

Romance is born in the spirit of your heart and is nurtured by the experiences of your life.  One of the finest places to nurture the sweetness of romance is Tuscany. 

Here you enjoy the beauty of a Tuscan sunset… a special passeggiata with your sweetheart… the romance of wineries and vineyards nestled on the Chianti hillsides… flowing fields of sunflowers   

and the beauty of romantic hill towns.  And of course, there is always the romance of the Vespa. Tuscany is a romantic paradise. Some believe there is no better place to celebrate the day tradition has set-aside for San Valentino than in this beautiful province of Italy.

While some Tuscan couples follow the tradition of visiting a ristorante or trattoria as part of the romantic celebration in honor of San Valentino, others prepare a special dinner at home.  Typically, the table is decorated with many candles and red roses. It is also Tuscan tradition that some of the home prepared foods include hot pepper and chocolate.

One of the traditional dishes, which is prepared in honor of San Valentino, is spaghetti with hot pepper.  To prepare it, put extra virgin olive oil, some cloves of garlic and anchovies into a large pan.  When the garlic turns a light gold color, add hot pepper, turn off the fire.  Add the parsley, coarsely chopped, and then, add the spaghetti “AL DENTE” mix together and serve.  This is a true Italian dish with the color of our flag.

It is also tradition to make a special cake called Cuore di Cioccolato for this special day.  For you, we have included the recipe in both Italian and English.

CUORE DI CIOCCOLATO

Ingredienti:   

·        4 uova

·        gr.120 zucchero

·        gr.300 cioccolato fondente al 70%

·        gr.35 mandorle in polvere (o tritate finemente)

·        gr.120 farina 00

·        gr.120 burro

·        un po’ di caffè istantaneo in polvere (NESCAFE)

·        g.150 di marmellata di arance

·        10 lamponi o scorze zuccherate di arancia

·        Petali di rose per decorare

·        Sale

·        ½ cucchiaino da caffé di lievito

Procedimento:

Accendere il forno a 180 gradi.

Sciogliere gr. 150 di  cioccolato a bagnomaria. Ammorbidire il burro e lavorarlo con metà dello zucchero, fino ad ottenere una crema soffice, aggiungere il cioccolato sciolto un cucchiaio per volta e continuare a mescolare,  aggiungere i tuorli di uovo 1 per volta. Montare a neve gli albumi con un po’ di sale e lo zucchero rimasto, unirlo all’impasto con il cioccolato, aggiungere la farina molto lentamente, la farina di mandorle ed il lievito.

Versare il composto in una teglia a forma di cuore e cuocere a 180 gr.per 30/45 minuti.

Quando il dolce è cotto sfornarlo e aspettare che si raffreddi. Tagliarlo a metà orizzontalmente per farcirlo. Spalmare sia le parti interne che l’esterno con la marmellata diluita con 2/3 cucchiai di acqua tiepida. Sciogliere il resto del cioccolato fondente e con la metà farcire la torta, il resto ricoprire la torta, decorare a piacere

(A PIACERE SI PUO’ AGGIUNGERE UN PO’ DI POVERE DI PEPERONCINO ALL’IMPASTO)

CUORE DI CIOCCOLATO

Ingredients:   

·        4 eggs

·        120 grams of sugar

·        300 grams of dark chocolate (70%)

·        .35 grams of almond powder (or finely chopped)

·        120 grams of flour grade 00

·        120 grams of butter 

·        a little powdered instant coffee (NESCAFE)

·        150 grams of orange marmalade

·        10 rasberries or sugared orange skins 

·        Rose petals for decoration

·        Salt

·        ½ teaspoon of powdered yeast

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 150 grams of dark chocolate in a double boiler.  Soften the butter and work it with half of the sugar until it gets soft and creamlike.  Add the soft chocolate a spoon at a time and continue to mix adding the yolks of the eggs one at a time.  Whip the egg whites with a little salt and the remaining sugar, blending the mixture with the chocolate and add the flour, the almond powder and the yeast very slowly.

Pour the mixture in a heartshaped pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.  When the cake is cooked, take it out and let it cool.  Cut the cake in half horizontally so that filling may be put in.  Spread marmalade (diluted with 2 or 3 spoons of warm water) on the inside parts and the cake.  Dissolve the rest of the chocolate. Use half to fill the cake and put the pieces together.  With the rest of the chocolate, decorate the cake.  Use rose petals for decoration.

(If it pleases you, add a little hot chilly powder to all the ingredients.)

To all we wish a most wonderful Valentine’s Day.  May the true spirit of romance be in your heart.

Ciao,

Simonetta, Edie and Dave

Casa Bellavista

FotoToscana