Valentine's Day Picnic

Valentine's Day was wonderful. There was no way I was going to top my beau's escapades from last year, so a surprise picnic would have to suffice. I labored in my kitchen the night before, and packed an actual picnic basket -- checkers, flaps, and all. He had no idea. We drove to Griffith Park, all the while, his stomach grumbling, he is thinking we are going hiking. Finally, we park, pop the trunk, and, lo and behold, a picnic basket full of lovely picnic-like things! I'm glad he was starving, otherwise, he may not have been as excited.

The Picnic Basket:

• Strawberry Spinach Salad with candied walnuts, goat cheese rolled in various herbs, with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette 
• Quinoa-Pasta Salad with arugula, halved grape tomatoes, chopped carrots, green onions, cukes, and radishes, dried cranberries, with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette
• Heirloom Tomato Tarts in Parmesan Crust 
• Dark Chocolate Truffles, some rolled in dark cocoa, others rolled in ground coconut (RECIPE BELOW!) 

There is something wonderfully delicious about eating salads and tiny tarts and drinking water outdoors on a beautifully sunny day.  Hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day -- not that I'm promoting a Hallmark holiday... Rephrase: Hope everyone had a lovely day!

Chocolate Truffles 

adapted from The Vegan Table*

Ingredients

1 8 ounce container nondairy (or dairy) cream cheese

3 cups powdered sugar

3 cups dark chocolate chips, melted

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

coconut or cocoa powder

In a blender: mix cream cheese until fluffy. Then add the powdered sugar thoroughly, adding a little at a time. Now add the melted chocolate and vanilla until blended well. Transfer the mix to a bowl, cover, and let sit in the fridge for about an hour or longer. When ready, start rolling them into truffle size balls with your hands. And, if you want, roll them in the coconut or cocoa powder or whatever your heart desires! I ground up the coconut flakes in my coffee grinder.

* Chocolate Truffles adapted from The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. Published by Fair Winds Press, 2009.