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Community Corner

The Merrick Cook Takes on...Valentine's Day

A Valentine's Day dessert recipe sure to make the ending of your day sweet.

Crème brulee is a glorious mix of smooth custard and hard, caramelized sugar and is sure to make your sweetheart putty in your hands.

However, crème brulee is a nightmare to make because if the eggs do not incorporate correctly and at the exact right temperature, you end up with a scrambled-egg pudding. And who wants that, especially on Valentine’s Day.

There are mixes available at the store (right at Merrick Stop & Shop for $1.99) that can save the day. In fairness, the mix really isn’t cheating because it just has powdered egg yolks in it and the necessary measurements of ingredients that you would just do on your own. So basically, it’s full-proof.

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I like to embellish the mix with vanilla extract, fresh berries and mint. You could also add whipped cream or raspberry syrup. If you really want to be an overachiever, buy some vanilla beans and incorporate their tiny, fresh vanilla seeds into the mixture. Plain is perfectly fine too.

To turn this dessert up a notch for Valentine’s Day, I enlisted the help of Lynne Mione, owner of to give some suggestions of wines to pair with the dessert to help create a romantic evening. If you haven’t been, the wine bar is a cool, low key lounge that offers pages of wines and spirits, desserts and appetizers.

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For this Valentine’s Day, they will be open at 9 p.m. So stop in for some of their sexy selections, like their “Seduction” red blend.

“Seduction is a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It’s a perfect juicy wine. It has black cherry fruit, wild berry and cedar notes,” said Mione.

For a sure bet, Mione offers that customers, “can never go wrong with chocolate and champagne.”

Champagne is a big seller on Valentine’s Day. Mione suggests Codorniu, a sparkling Pinot Noir from Spain that is very unique. She describes it as a “bouquet of raspberry and black currants with a fresh and vibrant citrus finish. Basically, it’s really, really good.”

For those who want their chocolate and liquor in the same bottle, try Choco Vine, a blend of Dutch chocolate and French cabernet wine that is served chilled. This is a great dessert wine that should be served solo after your meal is complete.

Mione’s last suggestion for a classic drink is Dom Perignon. This French champagne is known as one of the priciest champagnes, but also as one of the best tasting.

“It is the answer to all your Valentine’s day questions. It speaks for itself, it’s tried and true and can really end an evening well,” Mione advises.

So after your homemade dessert, head to the wine bar where their variety of wines will create a romantic night or a fun experience among friends.

“The customers at The Vine Wine Bar are not experts; they just want to have a great time. We have a good variety of wines for Valentine’s Day — stuff you can’t find anywhere. It’s a special day and it deserves special wines.”

 

Crème Brulee

1 package Crème Brulee mix

1 cup cold whipping cream/heavy cream

1 cup cold milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 2 vanilla beans (scraped and seeded)

A pint of berries (optional)

Whipped cream (optional)

Sprigs of mint to garnish (optional)

  1. In a deep sauce pan, heat milk and heavy cream.
  2. Add contents of mix, whisking until incorporated.
  3. Continue whisking until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened.
  4. Add vanilla or vanilla bean seeds.
  5. Pour into oven-safe ramekins or bowls.
  6. Let cool at least one hour.
  7. Cover top of crème brulee with white sugar. Place under broiler in oven about two to three minutes or until sugar is golden brown. Serve warm.
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