Valentine treats galore!
On Thursday morning on the Today show, I brought a very nice assortment of Valentine treats and I demonstrated how to make rich chocolate ganache tartlets decorated with pretty meringue hearts. Those recipes can be found in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living and also on my Web site. In fact, in our Valentine's Day center there, creative ideas abound. With our handcrafted gifts and romantic menus for two, you'll find plenty of ways to celebrate. There are galleries for pretty card designs, projects for kids, and sweets galore - more than 50 of our best Valentine recipes. I hope you will all be inspired to make this Valentine's Day extra special. Enjoy!
1 Here I am with Hoda Kotb and Al Roker.
2 I brought an assortment of delicious Valentine's Day desserts from the February issue of Martha Stewart Living and www.marthastewart.com
3 Mis en place for the chocolate ganache tartletts
4 I am showing how easy it is to make an elegant chocolate ganache.
5 Al took over the stirring.
6 Hoda jumped right in.
7 This is how the chocolate heart looks before decoration.
8 I love giving lessons using a pastry bag.
9 It takes a bit of practice to master this technique.
10 Hoda was good at piping.
11 Al was having a bit of trouble.
12 Chocolate ganache tartlets decorated with meringe hearts http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chocolate-ganache-tartlets
13 Chocolate lovers adore these dark, rich tartlets.
14 These heart shaped meringues filled with passionfruit curd and topped with raspberries are so yummy! http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/heart-shaped-meringues-filled-with-passion-fruit-curd
15 The monitors in the studio show what people are watching at home
16 There I am filling a pastry bag with meringue.
17 Shortbread cookies decorated like conversation hearts
18 A special Valentine cookie for Al
19 I gave Hoda one that says 'Cloud Nine' and I thought Meredith should have the 'Cutie' cookie.
Hello Martha, I was at your taping for Monday's (President's Day) show, and Chef Yassos made an incredible-looking cara cara orange cake...I've been tweeting you asking for the recipe for a dinner party on Valentine's Day (I even emailed the White House). I know it will be on your website on Monday, but I'd LOVE to get the recipe just one day early!!
Thank you SO much!
Much love,
Cassandra
Posted by: Cassandra | February 12th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Happy Valentine's Day, Martha! As you might guess, with my name, I have a lot to live up to every Valentine's Day. But that's okay. I love to do things for others and it's a great reason and great holiday to gift others with hearts (There is usually always chocolate involved!). Thanks for all the great creative ideas you've given me over the years for Valentine's Day! I never run out of new things to try thanks to you! Those heart-shaped shortbread cookies in these photos will be my next great feat! ~I was also wondering how Meindert is doing?~ Stay warm!
Posted by: Lin Valentine | February 12th, 2010 at 2:14 am
Hi Martha,
I want your blouse please.
Want the treats too.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | February 12th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Happy Valentine to you Martha! I watched the segment live from Kuwait, I always look forward to seeing you on the Today Show and learning new thing and ideas. I love the February issue it is amazing. My daughter will be here from London for her birthday I will prepare Valentine birthday for her, checking ideas from your craft workshop and recipes from your books, Cupcakes and Cookies, I will post you pictures on my twitpic on Twitter I hope you will see them.
Regards,
Rowaida
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | February 12th, 2010 at 8:57 am
I love all of the cookies and that was a good choice for Meridith .... a "cutie" cookie!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | February 12th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Hello Martha-
Your chill containers sold at Macy's are great!My daughter takes her lunch to school everyday and these containers work so well for the cold items. BTW, if you are ever looking for a new cause to support or promote... please consider America's public school lunches. They are shameful!
Thanks for all you do!
Pam Weider
Posted by: Pam Weider | February 12th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Hi Martha,
I missed the Today show segment but watched it online. I hope this is the link http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34318224/?query=Martha#35347365 - It is always great to see a visual of a recipe from the cover of your magazine and of course your daily visuals on your TV show are always helpful. I still have a feeling my meringue hearts would turn out like Al’s did no matter how easy you made it look to pipe. I don’t bake so I’ve never even held a piping bag but I do want to give it a try.
~
Speaking of tarts, I could almost eat the blackberry tart off the pages of the March issue of Martha Stewart Living and then the whole tart is on page 121. It’s to die for! Guys and gals, you are going to love this Special Gardening issue. I really like the Tower of Herbs idea so I’ll be getting more terra-cotta planters over the weekend. (It’s on page 46.) Thanks Martha and Happy Valentine’s Day. Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 12th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
just a short note to say that when the snow storm hit i visited your website and loved looking at all your blogs it made for a pleasant and entertaining afternoon. happy valentine's day.
Posted by: adele borromeo | February 12th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Love the pictures, and wonderful treat ideas! It is so fun to have the NBC crew in my home city of Vancouver for the Olympics! Wish you were here too
Posted by: Wendy (Give Love Create Happiness) | February 12th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I made the Valentine heart bags which are transparent with red edging from your website (with a twist). I used some light pink transparent material and hand stitched the sides in red or pink thread with a matching ribbon tie and bow. I stuffed them with heart candies of all colors or small toys. Instead of heart shaped bags I made long rectangles. I hope that my ten neices and nephews love them. For my god daughter, I sewed together granny squares into a heart-shaped pillow. It took me too long to make her the poncho so i converted into a pillow. Thanks for all the ideas that were so much fun making and preparing. Such a good holiday to do it yourself!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | February 12th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
.
Hello Everybody's Valentine!
.
Here's another sentiment sentence for you to print on your Necco Wafers, pillows and M&Ms.
.
--- I have the hearts for you ---
.
I suppose I'm not the first Valentiner to spit that one out, but it just popped into my head, so it's yours for the candy!
.
Andy
.
Posted by: Andrea and the Weimaraners | February 12th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Hi Martha, First of all, Happy Valentines Day to you and everyone around you, including your animals. I love seeing you on the 'Today Show' and yesterday was really fun watching you, Al and Hoda make those fantastic treats for anyones lovely Valentines Day. Everything looked really delicious and easy to make. Absolutely loved your TV show today about more fun things to eat or make. It was so great seeing Josh Turner again. He is fantastic! Enjoy your weekend and hug all of your animals for me. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 13th, 2010 at 12:11 am
How about this saying to write on your home made cookies:
<3 2 <3
Posted by: Nan | February 13th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Wanted to give you a long overdue thanks for your homekeeping book. I read it from cover to cover when I first received it and refer to it all the time. It is the reason I became interested in using natural cleaning products and with further research also found they are usually made by companies that practice cruelty free and no animal testing.
I also love that most of my homekeeping tips that I've been practicing for the last 30 or more years had been passed down from my grandmother and I'm sure her mother also were
the "correct" way to be keeping house and were
the most economical and environmentally friendly.
Thank you again for all your help and great ideas. I used your tulip bulb wedding favors at my wedding 9 years ago.
Posted by: candygirl53 | February 13th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
-- On 02/14/10 I'm loving new ACER ASPIRE 5517 laptop computer. About 4 wks. ago I inadvertently damaged desktop. Always I look forward to reading this blog & LIVING. --
Posted by: Mina I. | February 14th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Hello Martha,
We wish you a very Happy Valentines Day with lots of delicious food and wine. We enjoyed watching your Show and as always you inspire us and you keep traditions and Family values a LIVE.
Hope that you get to enjoy your day with your darling companions!
Judit & Corina
Posted by: Judit & COrina | February 14th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Martha, did you have a special Valentine to share the day with?
Posted by: Nan | February 14th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Happy belated Valentine's Day, Martha...you know I love you!...I tell you all the time! [giggle]
~
This looked like another fun get-together with The Today Show folks. The conversation heart shortbread cookies were absolutely adorable - cookie replicas just like the little candies!
~
You were in nearby (well, kind of) Baltimore on Sunday! I'll look forward to seeing that blog on Wednesday AND a later show this week when little GK, and Frannie-n-Sharkey drop in for a little visit!
~
I love you, my Martha! ♥
~
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 15th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
For your tall show, it would be great if you had Jeanne Swanner Robertson. She's a former Miss NC, is 6'2", and a public speaker with the most hysterical stories--all PG. Go to YouTube and search for her. She has several clips--bungee jumping, sending husbands to the grocery store, etc.
Posted by: Frances Hindman | February 17th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Happy belated valentines wishes and these look great and i totally messed up.Thanks for sharing..
Posted by: cookeaze | February 17th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Dearest Martha!
I give You here a recepie that my mother used to cook sometimes in the evenings when I was a little boy in the 60ies.
Ingredients for two persons:
1-2 package bacon
2-4 eggs;
4-8 slices white bread,
salt and black pepper;
butter for frying the bread.
Fry 2-4 slices bread lightly golden brown both sides in butter, and arrange on two plates.
Cut bacon in half and fry them crispy.
Add bacon at the household paper and allow to drain the error, and then allocate half of the bacon on the bread!
Fry the eggs on one side in the fat from the bacon, salt and pepper to taste, but keep in mind that is bacon is salty,
Then add the fried eggs over the bacon,
and garnish the eggs with remaining bacon.
Fry quickly and easily remaining bread slices golden brown on both sides and place on top of bacon.
If You don't want to have loose yellow on the eggs, you can of course fry them on both sides,but it tastes the best on the yolk is loose!
If you eat just one sandwich was so halve the ingredients!
And remember one thing,
children love this simple meal.
Enjoy your meal!
PS! Don't come ketchup over this dish though it taste better without. But if You absolutely must have ketchup, use Heinz for the taste.
Have a Great WeekEnd.
Hugs from
Stevie
in
Malmoe/Sweden
Posted by: Stevie | April 17th, 2010 at 11:26 am