Friday Night Dates :: 7

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 #7

To drink :Persephone
{from Epicurious}

For the lavender crystals:
1/3 cup dried culinary lavender*
2/3 cup superfine sugar

For the mango elixir:
8 ounces pure mango juice
8 ounces distilled or tap water

For the Persephone:
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup lavender crystals
2 ounces mango elixir
2 ounces pomegranate juice
2 ounces simple syrup
Ice
9 ounces soda water

Make the lavender sugar crystals:
In a food processor, process the lavender and sugar until fully combined, about 1 minute—the mixture will look like a fine powder. DO AHEAD: Lavender crystals can be prepared in advance and stored, in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 2 weeks.

Make the mango elixir:
In a small saucepan, bring the mango juice and distilled or tap water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer, uncovered, until reduced by half, 12 to 15 minutes. DO AHEAD: Mango elixir can be prepared in advance and refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

Make the Persephone:
Pour the lime juice onto a small plate and spread the lavender crystals on a second small plate. Dip the rim of a 12-ounce glass into the lime juice, then dip it into the lavender crystals to lightly coat. Repeat with a second 12-ounce glass.

Pour 1 ounce each of the mango elixir, pomegranate juice, and simple syrup into each prepared glass. Add ice and enough soda water to fill each glass.

To eat: Grilled Scallops with Lavender and Basil Essence
{From the cookbook Intercources}

15 to 20 fresh basil leaves
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 drops essential oil of lavender
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 large sea scallops

Combine the basil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor,
process until smooth. Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Add to precessed mixture. Let stand for 30 minutes, Cut a deep horizontal slit through the scallops but not whole way through. Fill with basil mixture. Close with wooden pick. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil, Grill for 2 or 3 minutes on each side.

A young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

This entire date was delightful and the film just added to the romance. The smell of lavender and garlic filled the house and lingered well into the weekend. Have you ever had one of those meals that was so good that it made you sweat? Well, between the heavenly scallops and the steamy love scenes in the movie, we were both wiping our brow and taking sips of our lovely drinks. The lavender crystals on the rim of the glass were so sweet and we were just so happy to be experiencing it all together. Shakespeare would have been proud.