February - March 2002 Edition

Creating A Perfect Day   By Jeanne Baratta (Fair Lawn's Kitchen Elf)   I would like to address some of this to the married (with children) gentlemen on the topic of gift giving. I am sure you are all familiar with the Victoria Secret stores. A lovely new negligee or piece of lingerie can be a nice gift for your wife, but please beware. As I recently passed by this store, I was struck by their new line of sequined and rhinestone undergarments. As appealing as this item my seem to you, please do not buy this. Unless of course your wife has requested this little number, I repeat do not buy this! No one wants undergarments encrusted in rhinestones and sequins, unless of course their workspace involves a pole. Other than that scenario, most wives do not want this.   Here are some alternatives for you to ponder. How about a lovely night out? My fantasy night would involve flying to Venice for a candle lit dinner and maybe a gondola ride. In reality though, leaving the 3 kids for a tryst across the ocean is just not practical. May I suggest staying close to home? Fair Lawn has some fabulous eateries, many perfect for that special evening out. If you have small ones at home, wouldn’t you feel more comfortable staying nearby, just in case?   Hire a sitter and have a night on the town   Here are just a few of my favorite Fair Lawn establishments, that would make a perfect romantic night for two.   Campania Restaurant, located on Broadway offers fine Italian cuisine. If you are in a hurry, wanting to catch a movie afterward, I don’t suggest Campania, but if you want a nice leisurely dinner this is the place for you. Campania can never be accused of rushing their patrons. Chef/Owner Carlo Orrico, presents dishes that look as good as they taste and the employees are always pleasant.   Volares on River Road is another nice choice for your dinner plans, be sure to make reservations though and like Campania above, bring your own bottle of wine if you are so inclined. The cuisine is varied, including some more exotic specials, so there will be something for everyone here. Tables are a bit tight but perfect for whispering sweet nothings to your bride!   Piccola Italia located in the Plaza building, is a nice intimate restaurant also perfect for a special day. I enjoy the veal dishes served here, always quite tender. Bring your own also applies here. The service is above par, waiters are quite attentive to your needs.   If leaving the kids alone is not a problem for you, may I suggest Riveras Taste of Broadway on Maple Avenue? Why not make an entire evening out of it, dinner and a Broadway show, and leave the driving and city parking to someone else. Give them a call to find out what shows are available.   Kids too small to leave alone?   I remember those days! After my first child, Valentine's Day was "a romantic dinner for 3". I would cook a lovely dinner, use the good china, light some candles, and slide the highchair into the dinning room. Pretty soon it was "a romantic dinner for 4", when it became a romantic dinner for 5, I finally realized that it was MY holiday too and stopped this tradition! Instead I fed the kids early and sent them to bed. Then, I would send my husband out for some nice take-out food. While he was gone I would set up a small table by the fire for OUR "romantic dinner for 2"!!   Biagios on Fair Lawn Avenue is a nice choice for take out, besides serving pizza, they have an extensive dinner menu., The Track Side Grill (always a favorite of ours) also offers take out -- you can still use the good china if you like.   Of course I would still make the dessert (guilt would probably set in if I didn’t cook something). Tiramisu is a new favorite of mine. There are many recipes for this once quite trendy dessert and I experimented with many of them, but my adaptation of this classic is quite decedent and simple to prepare.   See Recipe Below.   Some suggestions to end your evening. Do something totally out of character, offer to clean up after dinner. Take it a step further and fix your honey a warm bubble bath complete with glowing candles (don’t forget to scrub the tub before hand). Be sure to warm a towel in the dryer for her and a chocolate or a rose on her pillow would be a lovely touch. If you’re thinking "Hey, what’s in it for me?”, Well then, I think you better read this again... Enjoy!    Tiramisu 2 cups freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee 1 Tablespoon Sugar 4 tablespoons coffee liquor 1 large package of ladyfinger cookies 4 egg yolks ½ cup sugar 1 cup heavy or whipping cream 16 ounces mascarpone cheese 1/4 cup cocoa   In a medium bowl, combine the hot espresso and 1 tablespoon sugar, stir until the sugar has dissolved and set aside to cool.   Meanwhile, combine egg yolks and ½ cup sugar in a medium sized bowl and whisk until smooth. Whisk in heavy cream until combined. Add mascarpone cheese. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, mix until all ingredients are combined and slightly thickened.   Add the coffee liquor to the espresso mixture and stir to combine. Dip the lady fingers, one at a time, into the coffee mixture and line the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with the soaked lady fingers. Next, cover the lady fingers with half of the cream mixture. Repeat another layer of the coffee soaked lady fingers, and top with the remaining cream mixture. Chill.   Just before serving, sift the cocoa over the tiramisu covering evenly. Enjoy!     Kitchen Elf in Fair Lawn News Archives   Kitchen Elf on Staying Fit  (December 2001)   New Market and Gourmet Apples  (October 2001)     What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.