Romantic Finger Foods Party for Two on Valentine's Day

How about a finger foods party for two on Valentine's Day?  With some champagne, a nice cozy nook,  candlelight, finger foods and great conversation and the romance is on - having an elegant sufficiency but not overeating.

Here is some trivia about Valentine's Day:  "Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentines didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois."

Eggplant Bruschetta  

Chicken Strips with Mexi-Cali Dip  (recipe below)

Ham or Roast Beef Asparagus Cheese Roll-Ups  

Angeled Eggs and Italian Roast Pork

Almond Butter Cheesecake Cutouts in the shape of hearts for dessert

CHICKEN STRIPS WITH MEXI-CALI DIP

Spicy chicken strips with a cool, creamy Mexican-style dip.  Very good.

1 lb chicken breast halves, (0.454 kg)

  cut into thin strips

1 tbsp olive oil (15 mL)

1 tbsp hot pepper sauce (15 mL)

2 tsp butter (10 mL)

Mexi-Cali Dip:

³/₄ cup sour cream (175 mL)

¹/₄ cup medium or mild Salsa (50 mL)

¹/₄ cup grated Cheddar cheese (50 mL)

1 green onion, chopped

In large skillet, fry chicken strips in olive oil, stirring frequently, until chicken is tender and cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes.  Add hot pepper sauce and butter right at the end and stir just until butter melts.  Remove skillet from heat.

Mexi-Cali Dip:  In medium bowl, combine sour cream, Salsa, cheese and green onion.  Serve hot chicken with dip.

Yield:  6 servings

1 serving

147.3 calories

19.1 g protein

6.6 g fat

2.0 g carbs