02/13/12
Valentine’s Day came early at the Ashley house with both of us obviously working tomorrow. The obvious accessories were the necessary flowers and nice bottle of champagne.
For Dinner: Grass Fed organic filet mignon with grilled lemon-thyme lobster tail. Sour cream and chive whipped butter potatoes, streamed broccoli rabe. Lemon-grass-tarragon white wine butter sauce.
For dessert: homemade mini cheesecakes with fresh strawberries.
*For a less expensive alternative substitute filet and lobster tail for sirloin and shrimp*
Surf & Turf: serves 2
2, 4 oz filets dusted with Montreal steak seasoning
1 lobster tail. Back side of shell removed. Season with salt and pepper, olive oil, fresh thyme sprigs. Lemon slices. Wrap in aluminum foil.
1/2 cup white wine
3 garlic cloves
2 cups vegetable stock
2 sticks lemon grass
Tsp olive oil
2 shallots julienne (cut thin)
2 tbsp “can’t believe its not butter”
4 butter potatoes boiled
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
2 tbsp “can’t believe its not butter”
7 chives diced
Filet: Grill to your liking. Approximately 5 minutes on each side for medium
Lobster: Grill in tin foil for 11 min
Mashed: Boil potatoes and mix with sour cream and butter, salt and pepper
Sauce: Saute garlic, shallots and lemon grass in olive oil, deglaze pan with wine. Reduce by half. Add veg stock reduce by half. You have to strain the lemon grass and shallots and then return sauce to pan, add butter and whisk until smoothe.
Cheesecake:
3/4 cup low-fat graham crackers
2 tbsp “can’t believe its not butter”
2/3 cup low-fat cream cheese
6 tbsp fat free cream cheese
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 lg egg whites
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
Place 12 cup cake liners in a cupcake pan. Preheat oven to 375. In a small bowl combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Mix well. Spoon 1 tbsp of crumb mix into bottom of each liner. Refrigerate until ready to use.
In a medium bowl using an electric mixer beat both types of cream cheese together until fluffy. Add rest of ingredients and beat until smooth.
Spoon cream cheese mix over cracker crumb and bake for 15 min. Remove from oven and cool. Top with fresh strawberries
Don’t wait until next Valentine’s to make this delicious dinner for two! This recipe is great for any romantic dinner spent in.
Enjoy!
~ Chef Michael
