Try this easy, simple and stylish starter to kick things off. A fresh, light and delicious Caprese salad,
with a sweet valentines twist!
All you need is a heart shaped cookie cutter, some good quality mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, basil leaves
and a drizzle of balsamic.
It’s quick and easy to prepare, leaving plenty of time for… other things.
In part one, we looked after the culinary needs for your perfect romantic night in.
In today’s post, we offer ideas to give your setting the look of love…
Spread the Love
Valentine’s Day might be filled with red but don’t scare your date off by overusing the colour of passion. Instead, use a crisp white table cloth and accessorise it with red. A candle centre piece will create a seductive glow whilst you stare lovingly into each other’s eyes.
The subtle inclusion of red against the crisp white will have their heart beating when they walk through the door. If you’ve given flowers as a gift then don’t include them on the table; as much as it’s a nice touch don’t go overboard on the flora and fauna!
Give it that Loving Touch
Candles are a firm favourite for Valentine’s Day celebrations; they lend a soft light to a room or table, creating a romantic atmosphere. Plain white can be a bore, so get creative with your candle displays.
Fill a small glass dish with water and set numerous tea lights floating. Add some rose petals or their favourite flower to give it that romantic and personal touch. Or if you’re feeling particularly creative, get crafty and personalise some larger candles with hearts and patterns.
If Music be the Food of Love, Play on
Don’t just pop on the radio or television for background noise. Make your dinner stand out by creating a playlist or mix tape. Have songs that trigger happy memories of that first meeting or first date playing whilst you enjoy your fantastic food.
If you’re just starting out and trying to impress them, check out the choices on offer by The Guardian. It may be a good idea to steer clear of the cheese or any songs that contain the words “I wanna sleep with you”. This could be considered a little forward!
Let us know what plans you have for Valentine’s Day and what you’ve got planned for that special someone.
We’d love to hear from you!
Happy Valentine’s Day.
The romantic season is upon us. Restaurants are hiking up their prices whilst people clamour to get tables in the overcrowded eateries.
So why not treat your beloved to a romantic, intimate night in?
Don’t pay an arm and a leg on showing that special someone how much they mean to you. Stay in and impress them with your culinary talents.
Continue reading and we’ll show you how it’s done…
Valentine’s Dinner for Two
Pre-dinner Drinks – La Vie En Rose
Why not offer up a light and bubbly champagne cocktail whilst they wait for dinner? As well as loosening inhibitions, impress them with your language skills as you pronounce this French classic, La Vie En Rose (life in pink).
The Starter – Oysters Kilpatrick
This classic dish is thought to be quite complicated to prepare. However, it’s actually really simple to create. Rather than paying the increased price in restaurants, give it a go yourself. If you’re a beginner then this recipe that offers a twist to the aphrodisiac will have them eating out of the palm of your hands…quite literally.
The Main Course – Steak with Skinny Sweet Potatoes Fries
Provide your red-blooded lover with a red-blooded meal. Nothing shows impressive cooking skills more than making that perfect steak. The combination of the sweet potato fries offers a healthy option. It means you won’t be breaking the diet you promised to keep in the New Year. Also, the surf and turf combination of starter and main will leave their taste buds tingling.
Another romantic favourite is chocolate. Why not create this light chocolate cake from Channel 4’s, The Famous Baker Brothers? A little bit of sweetness for your sweetheart will help to show ‘the One’ how much you care.
Check back tomorrow for tips on creating that romantic atmosphere for your beloved.
