By Hungry Rabbit
Every year as Valentine’s Day approaches, everyone seems obsessed by chocolate and red roses. I love both of them—and like to receive them—but if half the country is giving them and the other half is receiving them, how special are they, really?
I preferred to do something different and unexpected. This approach is part me and part M’s influence. We like to celebrate V-day on a date close to but not on Feb 14th. Other than New Year’s Eve, it’s the worst night to dine out, according to M, who dislikes most pre-fixe menus that restaurants offer on those nights--not to mention the predictable desserts. I have to agree with M that there have only been a few restaurants we’ve experienced on V-day that were enjoyable. Another reason that he’s not a fan of a pre-fixe celebration is that he’s a pescatarian (he only eats fish and seafood and no meat) which limits his choices on a set menu.
M’s favorite dessert is any kind of apple pastry or pie, but since we’ve been having lots of apple desserts over the holidays, I thought I’d change it up to another equally tantalizing fruit group. Citrus is a refreshing in-season antidote to all the chocolate treats. I came to imagine a billowy, elegant dessert with a complex sweetness and tartness—and a white cloud-like topping that suggests decadence. It would be a dessert ready to be a Cupid’s bow.
The solution is Petite Lemon Layer Meringue Cake — a multi layer white cake that’s delicate, with a spreadable lemony filling in between each layer. This sophisticated dessert is the opposite of a rich butter cake with lemon-scented butter cream frosting. Who wants to end a fantastic meal with a heavish dessert that would make you sluggish rather than ready to dance?
(recipe and more, after the break)
