Treat your valentine to a home-cooked meal

Love is in the air. Valentine’s Day is just one week away and many people are exchanging cards, candy, gifts and flowers with their special “valentine.” Instead of taking your valentine out for dinner, avoid the restaurant crowds and treat your special someone to a home-cooked meal. Here are a few recipes guaranteed to steal their heart.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY COMPOTE

By Hawaiian Electric Co.

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering pan
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (not chips), chopped
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 6 large eggs, separated
• >> Raspberry Compote:
• 1 pint (2 cups) raspberries
• 1/2 pint (1 cup) blackberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• Juice of 1 lime

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter inside of springform pan.

Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Stir in sugar, cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Remove from heat; let cool for a few minutes.

In large bowl, beat egg whites on medium-high speed until they form stiff peaks, 2-3 minutes.

Stir egg yolks into cooled chocolate mixture, then stir in about a quarter of the whipped egg whites. Scrape mixture into the remaining whipped egg whites and gently fold until only some streaks of white remain.

Pour into prepared pan and bake until center of cake no longer jiggles when you move pan, 40-45 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack (cake will deflate slightly).

Unlock pan and dust top of cake with cocoa powder.

To make compote: Combine ingredients in saucepan over medium heat. Cook until berries are soft enough to crush with back of a spoon, 5-10 minutes. Cook another 5 minutes to thicken. Serve with slices of cake. Serves 10.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 330 calories, 17 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 125 mg cholesterol, 100 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 24 g sugar, 6 g protein.

MACADAMIA-CRUSTED MAHIMAHI

By Hawaiian Electric Co.

• 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 3/4 cup macadamia nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 (4-ounce) mahimahi fillets
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons low- sodium shoyu
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger

>> Note: Don’t buy mahimahi that has dark brown spots, especially near the edges, as this may indicate it is beginning to spoil.

Place panko, nuts, salt and pepper in a food processor; cover and pulse until nuts are finely chopped.

In a shallow bowl, whisk egg and water. Place flour and nut mixture in separate shallow bowls. Coat fillets with flour, then dip in egg mixture and coat with nut mixture.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium; cook fillets 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine brown sugar, shoyu and ginger. Microwave, uncovered, on high 30-60 seconds, or until sugar is dissolved. Drizzle over fish. Serves 4.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 550 calories, 35 g total fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 130 mg cholesterol, 600 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 28 g protein.

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

By Hawaiian Electric Co.

• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 quarter of red onion, sliced thinly
• 10 ounces fresh spinach, rinsed and dried
• 1 quart strawberries, cleaned, hulled and sliced
• 1/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

In a medium bowl, whisk together poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Cover and chill for one hour.

In a large bowl, combine spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad, and toss. Refrigerate 10-15 minutes before serving. Serves 4.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 480 calories, 34 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 34 g sugar, 6 g protein.

More Hawaiian Electric Co. recipes are available at hawaiianelectric.com.