Carrot Timbales

I found this recipe in an old Kitchen Gardener magazine I was looking through for a crafts project. They make fun individual portions. Next time I might make it into a single soufflé just to be quicker.

I forgot to save a carrot for the decorative top (see below), and when I turned mine out they stuck, so the flower might be both decorative and functional.

• 1 1/4 lbs. carrots, peeled
• 3 Tbs. oil or butter
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• parsley or scallion for garnish

Thinly slice all but one carrot. Cook the sliced carrots, with the oil or butter, in a heavy, covered saucepan over a low flame for 30-40 minutes. Allow the carrots to cool slightly, then purée.

Preheat the oven to 325. Stir the eggs, salt, and paprika into the puréed carrots. Add the yogurt and purée together for 1 minute.

Prepare six 1/2-cup timbales (I used 1/2 pint wide mouth mason jars) by greasing them lightly with butter. Using a sharp knife, cut five or six lengthwise grooves in the remaining carrot, then slice it horizontally so the pieces resemble flowers. Place a carrot "flower" in the bottom of each cup and add small pieces of parsley or scallions as "stems". The bottom of the cups will be the top of the finished timbale.

Carefully spoon the carrot purée into the cups until they are full. Place the cups in a pan just large enough to hold them all. Bring a kettle of water to a boil, then remove it from the head. Fill the pan with enough of the hot water to come 2/3 to 3/4 of the way up the sides of the timbales. Bake in the hot water bath for 30-35 minutes. Unmold gently by running a knife around the sides of the timbales. Serve warn or slightly chilled.

Valentine’s Raw Cacao Aphrodisiac Elixir

This sounds too good to be true! Have not tried it, but hope to soon. Much love!

Valentine’s Raw Cacao Aphrodisiac Elixir – You have to try it to believe it!
Courtesy of Jennifer Murray and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw

Every ingredient in this beverage is an aphrodisiac designed by nature to enhance your senses. This elixir is a marriage of flavor with none overpowering the others. Don’t omit the salt; it is the spark that lights the fuse.

Makes 4 cups

1 cup almonds
2 (3- in.) cinnamon sticks
1/4 tsp. whole cloves
6 green cardamom pods
1 tablespoon ginger, chopped small
4 cups water
4 dried figs, soaked in 1 cup filtered water
2 tablespoon raw cacao powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon rosewater
Pinch of salt

1. Place almonds, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, ginger, and 2 cups water in a blender, and blend, for 20 seconds gradually going from low speed to high speed, for 20 seconds. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Rinse the blender well, and return spiced water to the blender.

2. Add figs, and fig soak water, cacao powder, vanilla extract, rosewater, salt, and remaining 2 cups water. Blend on low speed for 20 to 30 more seconds more or until figs are well blended.

(Amy's note ~ I'm guessing that soaking the almonds overnight would be a good idea :)