Matakaw Ako!

So, you want to make your Valentines Dinner with your loved one different and instead of going out on a fancy restaurant you’ve decided that you want to cook for your honey or cook with your honey instead.

Here is a 3 course aphrodisiacs meal that I’ve learned through Dona Elena’s Cuisinera Club last Saturday.  They are called aphrodisiacs meal because they used ingredients that is said to increase ones sexual desire, Oysters, Nuts and Chocolate are among the most popular aphrodisiacs available.

Starters:  Pan-fried Oysters and Aragula Salad with Creamy Dressing

Ingredients:
Dona Elena Pure Olive Oil, Bacon sliced into strips, Red Onions (chopped finely), Garlic (minced), salt, white pepper, pernod, light cream, egg yolk (lightly whisked), seasoned flour (salt, pepper, cayenne), Spinach (large stems removed) and Arugula (cleaned)

Procedure:

• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat.
• Add the bacon, shallots, garlic,  1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper and saute for 5 minutes.
• Fore the creamy dressing – add in the cream and the Pernod and reduce sauce by half, for about 5 minutes.
• Place the remaining cream and egg yolk in a bowl and whisk to combine.
• Add the Oysters into the mixture and set aside
• In a shallow dish, combine the flour with salt, black pepper, and the cayene. Dredge the oyster in the season flour and set aside.
• Heat Olive Oil in a pan.
• Add the oysters and cook until golden.
• In a large mixing bowl, add in the spinach, aragula, and creamy dressing, tossing to combine.
• Garnish with fried oysters.

** Since we used olive oil we have 62% less bad fat or saturated fat compared to regular vegetable oil.

Main Dish:  Almond Crusted Tilapia Fillets with Pasta

Ingredients:
For Tilapia Fillet
150-200 g Tilapia Fillets (2pcs of 75-100g each fillet) (or any white meat fish like Dory) , pinch of salt, pepper, paprica, almonds salted and crushed finely.
For Pasta
Butter, Olive Oil, White Onions (diced), Garlic (minced), Tomatoes (diced), Dona Elena Capers, Dona Elena White Wine, Spaghetti Noodles.
To Serve
Garlic sauce, reduced until thick
Balsamic vinegar reduced to a syrup

Procedure:

• Season tilapia fillet with salt, pepper and paprika
• Coat with almonds.
• Bake at 180c for 4  minutes
• In a saute pan, heat the olive oil and melt the butter
• Saute the onions and garlic then add the tomatoes and capers.
• Add the white wine and simmer
• Season with salt and pepper to taste
• Toss the spaghetti into the sauce
• Serve using medium size pan. Place pasta on the side and the fillets on the side or on top. Drizzle with garlic cream sauce and balsamic sauce.

Desserts: Chunky Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:
Dona Elena Pure Olive Oil, Granulated Sugar, Large Eggs (beaten), Jolly Cow Pure Fresh Milk, Pure Vanilla Extract, Unsweetened Dark Cocoa, Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Chocolate Chunks.

Procedure:

• Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly coat large cookie sheets with olive oil cooking spray.  Or coat cookie pan with olive oil.
• In mixer bow add olive oil, sugar, eggs, and milk. Mix until well blended.
• Add vanilla and cocoa. Blend until smooth.
• Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well blended.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls or by small size cookie scoop into powdered sugar and roll until coated.  Place 3 per row.
• Bake for 7-10 minutes. Remove from oven and press a chunk of chocolate into the center of each cookie.
• Cool on wire racks.