Friday Night Dates : Week 33

I'm inviting romance into my life

one Friday Night Date at a time
and documenting each one here on my little ol' blog.

I want to remember every detail
of these splendid home spun dates.

Date #33

We had a great time making these crab cakes together
but in the end, they were really heavy
and the sauce was super rich.

We ended up with tummy aches
and instead of sharing smooches,
we shared a bottle Pepto
while we held our tummies and whimpered.

Somehow, it sill felt romantic.

Here are the recipes...

Mini Crab Cakes

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
• 4 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• Large pinch of cayenne pepper
• 6 ounces fresh lump crabmeat, picked over, patted dry, coarsely shredded
• 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pans
• Fresh chives, cut into pieces

• special equipment:

  2 mini muffin pans

Preparation

• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan and egg; beat to blend. Beat in sour cream, citrus peels, 4 teaspoons chopped chives, coarse salt, and cayenne pepper. Fold in crabmeat. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 2 mini muffin pans. Toss panko, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and 2 tablespoons chopped chives in small bowl. Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over, tossing with fork until evenly moistened. Press 1 rounded tablespoon panko mixture into bottom of each muffin cup, forming crust. Spoon 1 generous tablespoon crab mixture into each cup. Sprinkle rounded teaspoon of panko mixture over each (some may be left over).
• Bake crab cakes until golden on top and set, about 30 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Run knife around each cake and gently lift out of pan. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Arrange on baking sheet; let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 350°F oven 6 to 8 minutes.
• Arrange crab cakes on serving platter; sprinkle with chives.

Sea Breeze Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 oz vodka
• 3 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• grapefruit slice for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the vodka and cranberry juice into a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Stir well.
3. Top off with the grapefruit juice.
4. Garnish with the grapefruit slice.

Did you find romance over the weekend?