Kitchen of Love 2009: The Round Up

Cucinare è una forma d'amore!

Here it is - the Kitchen of Love Round Up! Thanks to everyone who turned their kitchens into love dens. Delicious recipes were sent from all around the globe offering multiple possibilities for frisky dinners!

~ Warning:
May contain mildly sexual content/innuendos in the round up and/or the links ~

Monique in Brooklyn, NY (Being Cheap Never Tasted So Good) is first since I received her entry in my mailbox very soon after the KOL announcement! Her heart-shaped CodFish Pie is packed with aphrodisiacal ingredients from the carrots to the mustard to the cod itself. I didn’t know that cod is “a fantastic source of arginine, an essential amino acid that increases sexual enhancement, performance, and overall health.” I need to cook it more often!

Katie in France (Thyme for Cooking) always has delicious recipes to share. Her Veal and Shallots in Red Wine is sure to help set the mood for some special couple’s Valentines. Good company, good conversation, good meal is a surefire recipe for love!

Suzie in Sydney, Australia (Munch + Nibble) hits the nail on the head when it comes to aphrodiasics and creates an oyster dish. Her Oysters With Asian Mignonette Dressing looks not only delicious, but is low in calories! Gotta love that.

Ning in Manila, Philippines (Heart and Hearth) knocks her dish out of the park with Curried Mussels. Whether using mussels or clams, the flavors are sure to give your evening a kick start with the added heat of jalapeno peppers.

Ivy in Athens, Greece (Kopiaste.. to Greek Hospitality) adds a lovely Panacotta with Mastic Gum to the dessert menu, which includes both honey and mastic gum as the aphrodisiacs. Mastic gum is another first for me. So is this type of panna cotta, that is not only delicious looking, but reduced in calories. I think it will go great with her Ginger Salmon.

Soma in Texas (eCurry) offers Sliwki W Czekoladzie (Plums in Chocolate), bringing chocolate covered fruit to another level with Nutella and Cookies and Cream white chocolate. I might have to make these and keep them all to myself!

Elyse in Berkeley, CA (Elyse's Confectionery Creations) takes the cake with her “Aphrodisi-cake". This delevtable looking layered goodness not only includes whipped caramel chocolate ganache, but ginger-scented dulce de leche – among other irresistible flavors. This layered cake stacks ton of aphrodisiacal ingredients for you!

Happy Cook in Belgium / W. Flanders (My Kitchen Treasures) shows us a delectable Mousse au Chocolat. Living in the land of phenomenal chocolate, Happy adds Callebaut Chocolate to her mousse making me a bit jealous! Check out her step by step post and let the love begin.

Jenny (Foray into Food) created the sweetest mini cupcakes for a baby shower. With the combination of white and/or chocolate ganache with strawberries, more babies arrive 9 months after eating these lil’ bites of goodness.

Cinzia Bardolino in beautiful Lake of Garda, Italy (CindyStar Blog) brings Tourbillons De L'amour to the roudup. Dark chocolate, raspberries, and Amaretto are sure to knock someone’s socks off. Add a little Prosecco and watch the sparks fly!

Caitlin (The Alchemist Chef) brings me back to my college days grilling on the roof tops of our apartments off Harvard Ave. in Brookline, MA. We were not as elegant, but maybe that worked out. These Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Cream might have gotten me in a lot of blissful trouble back then. Be sure to click her January archives for her series on aphrodisiacs.

I made Minty Macarons for Kitchen of Love. After a little assistance (okay…a lot) from Helen, my repeated attempts are turning out some tasty cookies!

Thanks for all everyone's participation! Check out last year's round up as well! Enjoy your Valentine's day...and remember, don't limit your displays of love and affection to one day a year!