Valentines day will be upon us in less than a week. Don't wait until the last minute to plan a sweet Valentine's party for two. Now is the time decide on a party theme (say strawberries and champagne) and make preparations for the ultimate party. You will find that a strawberry and champagne party is easy, as well as romantic.
What You Need For A Strawberries And Champagne Party
As far as party supplies go, high quality rather than quantity is the key. You will need champagne, strawberries, champagne flutes or wine glasses, a bouquet (or bouquets) of flowers and candles. I, also, suggest a crystal bowl filled with sweet chocolate dipping sauce for the strawberries.
What You Need To Know About Champagne
Before purchasing champagne, you will need to know a few important facts.
What is Champagne? Champagne is the name given to carbonated white wines grown in the Champagne region of France. Many other countries grow similar grapes and expose them to a second fermentation to create carbonation. However, these wines are called sparkling wines. Through a law/treaty or quality-control regulations, only wines from the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne. Most countries abide by this rule as a courtesy to France. (The French are very persnickety when it comes to their sparkling white wines and the region of Champagne.)
Do I Need A Special Glass For Champagne? The proper glass for serving Champagne is a fluted one. Why? Because fluted glasses are tall and thin and have a very narrow rim. This glass design allows for a concentration of bubbles in an effort to keep the Champagne from going flat. The design also helps the tiny bubbles give your nose a bit of a tickle as you drink. If you do not wish to purchase special champagne flutes, you can go with a good quality crystal white wine glass.
What Will Champagne Cost Me? I have purchased a few quality sparkling wines for around $25. Some Champagnes cost hundreds of dollars per bottle. Whether you're budget conscience or not, your local wine and spirit store can help you decided which champagne will suit your needs.
Making The Strawberries Chocolaty Good
Remember the suggestion of a crystal bowl filled with chocolate? Here is a recipe for a wonderful chocolate dipping sauce.
Sweet Chocolate dipping sauce:
- 5oz semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2/3c sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4c milk
In a sauce pan, melt the semi sweet chocolate chips. As the chips melt stir in the sweetened condescend milk. Slowly mix the chips and milk. When they are just about blended add in the 1/4 cup of milk. Stir the mixture until till creamy. Pour in to a bowl and serve.
During the party, you can dip the strawberries in the chocolate sauce. You can dip other fruit as well. Cherries, pineapple and bananas are all great. You can even cut up pound cake into bite size squares and dip them in the chocolate sauce. Tip: Place toothpicks in pound cake for easy dipping.
Most couples have a romantic Valentine's day dinner. The strawberries and champagne party is the perfect way to extend the evening. After all, what better way to end the night than with your love, bubbly champagne and sweet strawberries dipped in chocolate.
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