It’s Valentine’s Day in a couple of weeks time. Conveniently, it’s on a Saturday this year. You might be going out to have a romantic dinner for two to your favourite restaurant, in which case I hope you’ve booked your table (and babysitter?) already. Then again, you might just want to make dinner at home. So, whether you’re a confident cook or a novice, here are my top tips for a ‘lovely’ evening in!
Whoever is doing the cooking, make sure you keep it simple. No one wants to be spending all evening in the kitchen before or during dinner. You certainly don’t want to be tackling a mountain of washing up afterwards. There’s certainly nothing romantic about that.
I always cook my other half a rib-eye steak with Salade Saint Severin because it’s his favourite, it reminds us of a wonderful holiday we had together in France and it doesn’t take long to cook. He sorts the champagne and the wine, I make the table look nice.
You could make some of your courses ahead of time and, although I’m really a ‘make it from scratch’ kind of gal, there’s no harm in buying in some thoughtfully chosen shop-bought items. If you’re not really the cooking type, although you want to treat your partner to a special evening (especially if they usually do all the cooking), you can’t go wrong with M&S Collection or some good deli finds. Also, if you’re still not that confident about the food, make sure the table is special: crisp white tablecloth, best cutlery, crockery and glasses out. Real napkins. Candlelight. Hand write a menu card. Go for it! Mood can compensate for a lot of things. Can’t cook? Make a good cocktail. Can’t make a good cocktail? Serve well chilled Cremant, champagne or white wine. Splash out on a decent bottle of red or dessert wine. Create your own special wine flight. For this meal of all meals, the thought is really what counts.
Super starters
- Buy a ready-made meat or fish pate, serve with home toasted sourdough on the side. Or make my smoked mackerel pate or potted haddie.
- Go for a luxury fish course. Buy pre-cooked lobster or try my lobster salad with chive dressing. How about a luxury seafood terrine (my posh prawn cocktail)?
- Don’t forget the vegetarian route. Try my asparagus with lemony yoghurt dressing recipe – just scale down the portions and plate it individually. Stuffed portobello mushrooms make a fabulous vegetarian starter. I created this roasted beetroot ‘amore’ for a Valentine’s menu for the East of England Co-op years ago but it’s still a banker! Bruschetta al pomodoro is also a delicious and simple appetiser.
Magical mains
- You can’t beat a good steak, cooked how you like it and napped in plenty of hot butter. Serve with your favourite sides. Click on my tips to make a perfect pan-fried steak here!
- Beef stroganoff is quick and delicious.
- Chicken is easy to cook and a make-ahead recipe like coq au vin blanc looks fancy for not that much effort.
- Salmon or sea bass fillets baked in foil with flavoured butter in the oven is quick and looks impressive.
- Prosciutto wrapped pork loin is also easy to make and delicious.
Delicious desserts
- Shop bought luxe ice cream can make a simple but impressive dessert. Make sure you serve it in your best glass dishes, pimp it up with chopped pistachios, stem ginger, grated chocolate or a fruit compote like black cherry or passion fruit.
- These chocolate and ginger mini-cheesecakes are a great make-ahead pud.
- Nothing says indulgence like chocolate – try my chocolate creme brûlée surprise or rich chocolate-espresso sorbet .
However you choose to celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Leave a comment