Celebration Meal Plans: Happy Birthday
Caipirinha | Bruschetta | Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic Shrimp | Dana's Flourless Chocolate Cake
Caipirinha
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 6 |
| Category: | Misc |
| Meal: | Happy Birthday (Celebration Meal Plans) |
| 0.5 | cup | lime juice |
| 1 | cup | water |
| 0.5 | cup | sugar, brown |
| 0.5 | cup | sugar, granulated |
| 1 | cup | brandy |
| 4 | whole | limes, sliced |
| 0.5 | cup | club soda |
| 4 | cup | ice |
| |
Heat sugar and water in pan until syrup is combined and clear.
Put lime juice, sugar syrup, brandy and ice into blender and mix well.
Pour into tall glass; add lime slices and splash of club soda. Decorate with lime slice on rim of glass.
Bruschetta
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Appetizer |
| Meal: | Happy Birthday (Celebration Meal Plans) |
| 1 | medium | baguette |
| 2 | Tb | oil, olive |
| 1 | 10.5 oz can | tomatoes, diced |
| 3 | cloves | garlic, minced |
| 3 | Tb | cheese, Romano, grated |
| 8 | medium | basil leaves, whole |
| |
Cut bread lengthwise, brush on oil, place on cookie sheet and toast in broiler until just starting to get tan. Remove from oven. With a slotted spoon, spoon on tomatoes, sprinkle on garlic, romano.
Broil until light brown. Cut basil into small strips, sprinkle on bruschetta
Cut into 2” pieces and serve.
Optional items: chopped olives, ham, arugula, if you use arugula, delete basil.
Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic Shrimp
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 4 |
| Category: | Fish Entrée |
| Meal: | Happy Birthday (Celebration Meal Plans) |
| 2 | Tb | oil, olive |
| 2 | Tb | lemon zest, finely chopped |
| 4 | medium | scallions, sliced |
| 3 | cloves | garlic, minced |
| 1 | lb | shrimp, deveined, shelled |
| 1 | medium | lemon, juice of |
| 0.75 | cup | tomatoes, diced |
| 0.25 | cup | milk, 2 % |
| 1 | lb | pasta, angel hair |
| 4 | Tb | cheese, Romano, grated |
| 1 | Tb | parsley, flakes |
| 0.5 | tsp | pepper, fresh ground |
| 1 | pinch | salt to taste |
| |
Heat oil in pan; add 1/2 the zest, all the scallions, garlic, and shrimp. Reduce heat and simmer until shrimp are done,( about 3-4 minutes) add lemon juice, tomato, and milk. Simmer 3 more minutes. Cook pasta in boiling water with 2 Tb salt. Add pasta to pan, mix well, plate. Sprinkle top with parsley flakes, black pepper, remaining lemon zest and romano.
Serve with garlic bread.
* See note
If your pasta is too dry add a little of the pasta water.
Wine Pairing Ideas!
Dana's Flourless Chocolate Cake
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Medium |
| Serves: | 10 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | Happy Birthday (Celebration Meal Plans) |
| 8 | Tb | butter, salted |
| 16 | oz | chocolate, semi-sweet bits |
| 9 | large | egg, separated |
| 1 | cup | sugar, granulated |
| 3 | Tb | cocoa |
| 1 | recipe | chocolate ganache |
| |
Preheat oven to 350. butter a 9” springform pan; line the bottom with buttered wax paper, dust with cocoa powder. Melt chocolate and butter together, allow to cool slightly. Separate eggs; beat yolks on medium for 1 minute, add sugar and beat until light yellow. In a separate bowl beat egg whites until just peaking. Blend cooled chocolate with egg yolks, add cocoa; fold in egg whites. Pour into pan, bake for 40-45 minutes. This is a very moist cake and an inserted knife should come out barely wet. Allow to cool for ½ hour prior too removing from pan. Pour chocolate ganache over top, leave on counter until ready to serve.
If you refrigerate this cake the ganache will lose its shine.
·Note: This is almost a souffle; it will rise and drop, if the center caves in don’t panic. Fill with berries and pretend it was on purpose. It happens to all of us.
