Weekly Menu 2/14 - 2/19/11 plus a Sweetheart of a Drink

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Our Red Velvet Creme Brulees are out of the oven cooking & onions are caramelizing for French Onion Soup. Now all we need is a special drink. I made a cranberry vanilla infused simple syrup that is perfect for making a sweet pink Valentine's soda or cocktail.

The prominent flavor here is really the vanilla with just a touch of sweetened cranberry.

Cranberry Vanilla Infused Simple Syrup

2 c water
2 c white sugar
2 c cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 vanilla bean, sliced in half

Put everything in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Bring to a simmer while stirring to melt the sugar. Use your spoon to help pop the cranberries as they soften. Stir while simmer for 1 minute then let simmer for another 10 minutes. Turn heat off & let cool. Strain through a fine sieve into an airtight container. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

It will get jelly like in the fridge so you may want to bring it to room temperature before using to make drinks.

Makes 3 cups

To make soda: Mix 6 - 8 tablespoons of syrup into club soda or carbonated water

To make a champagne or vodka cocktail: Mix about 1 - 2 tablespoons of syrup into cold vodka or champagne

On to Menu Planning Monday...

French Onion Soup followed by Red Velvet Creme Brulee

West African Peanut Stew

Orzo with Keftedes from Kalofagas

Smoked Salmon Chowder

Molé Inspired Chili - basically just chili with a little cocoa in it.

Dinner & a Movie out

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