Dining at home this February 14? For a romantic prelude or finale to the meal, serve dried Calimyrna figs. When cut lengthwise, they look like little hearts. They're a sweet complement to cheeses, crusty breads, and salads. An added benefit: Figs are packed with nutrients, such as iron and potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.
Here's a potion kids are sure to love. Among the ingredients are cinnamon candies that give it zing. Stir 1 quart apple cider and 1/4 cup hard cinnamon candies in a medium saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until heated through and candies have melted completely, about 8 minutes. Serve warm.
A minimalist motif gives these canapes maximum charm: Thinly sliced scallions and snipped chives make stems for salmon-caviar blooms. Spread plain or smoked-salmon cream cheese onto soft white sandwich bread. Trim to desired shape, and arrange the chives and roe into single stems or a field of flowers.
Fishing for Caviar
Salmon caviar, or roe, is a luminous bright orange and tastes of the sea. A relatively inexpensive type of caviar, it can be found at specialty-food stores or ordered from russanddaughters.com.
Here's a sweet idea: Use leftover candy to create a make-it-yourself ice cream sundae party. Simply chop the treats into bits, and set them out in small bowls so everyone can choose a favorite topping. Our assortment includes candy sticks, toffee bars, and chocolate-covered almonds, but any candies or nuts will work well.
All it takes to propagate African violets is a large healthy leaf, cut in half. To turn the leaf into a pretty gift, snip it into the shape of a heart. Using clean, sharp scissors, remove a leaf with 1 inch of stem from a plant, and shape the leaf. Fill a small pot with fresh potting soil, and poke a hole in the soil with a pencil. Insert 3/4 inch of stem, pack soil firmly around it, and water well. (While rooting, the leaf should be covered with a glass jar or a plastic bag and removed from bright light to keep it moist.) A new plantlet should emerge in 6 to 8 weeks.
You loved our cornbread hors d'oeuvres baked in mini-muffin tins, so we found a way to make them even more scrumptious. Mix in one of the sweet, savory, or spicy flavor combinations listed in the recipe below, or create your own. You'll have appetizers to feed an army, or at least a few dozen of your closest friends.
