Valentines Day Dinner Menu

I prepared an early Valentines Day dinner last night for Mr. Wonderful because a) it was Saturday and I have more time to cook and b) the kids were gone. He lit a fire in the fireplace and I arranged pillows and blankets around the fireplace and served dinner there accompanied by a good bottle of red wine. It was relaxing, romantic and lots of fun. Course #1 Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Recipe from Ixchel's Kitchen (I cut the recipe in half and still had extra) 2 pounds cooked Shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 Tbsp crushed Garlic 1/2 C finely chopped yellow Onion (I used Green Onions because I had 'em on hand) 1/4 C chopped fresh Cilantro 1 1/2 C Clamato Juice 1/2 C Ketchup 1/2 C fresh Lime Juice 1 tsp hot Pepper Sauce (or to taste) 1/4 c prepared Horseradish sauce Salt - to taste 1 Avocado - peeled, pitted and chopped Lime I also added a little diced yellow and orange bell peppers because I had them on hand and they added some nice color. Combine all ingredients, adding avocado last. Season with salt to taste. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Serve in margarita or martini glasses. Garnish with Lime wedge. Course #2 Shaved Asparagus Salad Wash a bunch of asparagus and snap off the tough ends. Lay each piece down on a cutting board and shave into thin strips, using a vegetable peeler. This is the hardest part. Toss with a little Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Sea Salt and Pepper. Garnish with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (no, not that crap in the green can, REAL cheese) and a handful of Pine Nuts. Course #3 Bacon wrapped Filet and Baked Potato Grilled on the 'Foreman', yeah....Baby. ;) Course #4 Flourless Chocolate Cake and White Chocolate dipped Strawberries Flourless Chocolate Cake This is amazing, rich and dense and oh,so chocolatey good! 4 (1 ounce) squares Semisweet Chocolate, chopped roughly 1/2 C Butter 3/4 C White Sugar 1/2 C Cocoa Powder 3 Eggs, beaten 1 t Vanilla extract Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease an 8" round cake pan with butter and then dust with Cocoa powder. In the top of a double boiler, melt Chocolate and Butter. Remove from heat and stir in Sugar, Cocoa, Eggs and Vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Easy peasy and you don't even have to dirty up the mixer. Serve with Whipped Cream (no Cool Whip, REAL Whipped Cream, it's not that difficult) Happy Valentines Day!!!