Tu b鈥橝v is the 91传媒 holiday of love. Considered 鈥�91传媒 Valentines Day,鈥� it鈥檚 celebrated this year from sundown on July 28 through July 29.
Some love is new, other is enduring. Like so many other things, it鈥檚 worth celebrating with food. This roundup has recipes from two matchmakers: one is perfect for a special date night, the other is the perfect representative of lasting love.
鈥淚’ve found that many singles assume romance is all about grand gestures,鈥� Julie Spira, the Digital Matchmaker, bestselling author and certified dating coach, told The Journal. 鈥淚n reality, lasting relationships are built through small, thoughtful moments shared together.鈥�
One of Spira鈥檚 favorite date ideas doesn’t involve an expensive restaurant or elaborate plans. 鈥淚 recommend a cozy dinner at home, where couples can cook together,鈥� she said. 鈥淧reparing a meal side by side creates opportunities to laugh, communicate and work as a team. 鈥� For Tu b鈥橝v,鈥� she added, 鈥渢he 91传媒 holiday of love, I wanted to share a dessert that’s as simple as it is meaningful.鈥�
Love Potions, stuffed strawberries with dark chocolate combine fresh strawberries, creamy mascarpone cheese and rich dark chocolate. It鈥檚 an elegant treat that’s easy to prepare together.
鈥淲hether you’re in a new relationship, celebrating years together or gathering with loved ones, food has a unique way of bringing people closer,鈥� Spira said. 鈥淏ecause when it comes to love, some of the sweetest memories are made in the kitchen.鈥�
Love Potions Stuffed Strawberries with Dark Chocolate
Contributed to 鈥淭he Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations For Lovers鈥�
12 large strawberries
4 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/2 tsp super-fine granulated sugar
2 drops vanilla extract
2 Tbsp grated dark chocolate (save a little for sprinkles)
1. Rinse and dry strawberries. With a paring knife, remove the hull and inner meat of the berry, forming a cavity in the berry. Also slit the sides of the strawberry in quarters just a little to allow for stuffing.
2. Mix stuffing ingredients until incorporated. With a small teaspoon, stuff the cheese filling into the cavity of the berry. Sprinkle additional grated chocolate on top. Serve cold.
鈥淢y Bubbe and Pop Pop had a really special relationship that had its fair share of ups and downs, as any marriage involving four children would,鈥� Jaydi Samuels Kuba, author of 鈥淵our Last First Date: Secrets from a Hollywood Matchmaker,鈥� told The Journal. 鈥淏ut no matter what stage of their relationship they were in 鈥� whether that was during their honeymoon phase 鈥� when my Pop Pop scrambled to write my Bubbe a Valentine鈥檚 Day poem on the bus after work 鈥� or following the loss of one of their children 鈥� their love of food always brought them together.鈥�
This is that Valentine鈥檚 Day poem, 鈥渨hich was burned in my memory, mostly out of awe, at 10 years of age,鈥� she said.
As you eat this crunch of butter,
Think of all the times I made your heart flutter,
And I鈥檒l think of the times you made mine,
With your ways so winning, sweet and kind.
That is why I want you for my Valentine.
As you eat this confectionary,
Think of your mate, a man extraordinary,
Who although working and going to school,
Ran his ass off like a fool,
Just to buy you this candy fine,
So you would be his Valentine.
鈥淢y Bubbe鈥檚 mushroom barley soup, which my Aunt Susan was kind enough to write down for me and include in a homemade recipe box, is [another] perfect example [of their love of food connection],鈥� Kuba said.
Many would agree that soup is love. 鈥淔or the soup, she often used whatever meat was around the house, but oxtail would honor her Jamaican heritage the most,鈥� Kuba said. 鈥淥r should I say Jew-maican.鈥�
Mushroom Barley Soup
By Bubbe Lu
1 1/4 cup barley
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
2 tsp garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp salt, plus pepper to taste
1 鈥� 2 bones (oxtail if available, but any meat bones will do)
About 8 cups water
1. Fill a large pot with about 8 cups of water.
2. Add all ingredients. Cover and simmer, stirring often.
3. Cook for about 1陆鈥�2 hours, stirring often.
4. If the soup gets too thick, add more water.
