An OS Valentine's meal?

Nicki

I would do something that doesn't require any faffing around on the night so that you can concentrate on enjoying the atmosphere. How about something like a beef bourgignon, which sounds rich and elegant but could be made in the SC if you have one or in the oven a day in advance and then reheated if you don't. Serve with rice and some nice vegetables or a crisp salad. For desert, maybe a chocolate fondu which would be fun and a bit sexy to eat, or just some fruit dipped in chocolate and left to dry, with some really nice coffee.

For the beef bourgignon, but some very cheap beef suitable for stewing or braising, coat in flour and fry until brown, then put in SC with some onions (baby onions look nice but aren't essential), some bacon, usually mushrooms but you could leave this out as hubbie doesn't like them, and a splash of red wine, mixed herbs and salt and pepper. Cook on low for as long as you like (at least 6 hours though). If doing in the oven, it will be nicer if you make it a day or two in advance, put in fridge then reheat. Same method but cook in oven on low heat for 2-3 hours, and reheat at a moderate heat for about 30 mins.

Choc fondu - melt some good quality chocolate and some double cream over a very low heat (fondu set is ideal, but can do on cooker if you don't have one). Splash of brandy or liqueur is nice if you have it but it's fine without. Serve with pieces of fruit - eg mandarin segments, strawberries, sliced banana.

Choc fruit - melt chocolate, dip one end of piece of fruit in, leave to dry and harden in fridge.

If table (and you) look lovely, and the mood is right, he won't notice the food so don't stress about that side of things. Hope you have a lovely evening.

janeawej

What have u got in the fridge/cupboard ect to use? let me know and i will see what i can come up with or what is his favourite type of meal? jane

ljn7

Hi

I was reading about all the Valentines ideas and came across your message.

Seeing that you got to drive for so long and can't really make anything there why don't you do your shopping the day before. Get all you gooddies together in a picnic sort of way. The blueberry muffins from tesco's are yummy (my husband and my favourite - you have your choice). In this day and age we are lucky enough to have everything already made and ready to eat from the shops now. Crumpets, pancakes, muffins, etc. Make a sort of continental buffet. You can get your portion size yoghurts, tiny bottles of jam, huney etc. I'm sure you get my meaning. Maybe you could also prepare some heart / lip shaped fruit???

Ofcause don't forget the flowers, maybe oragne juice and champers and maybe arriving in a black suit as a buttler / serving look could be an interesting twist...

ljn7

Hi
If you want something different you could always do a carpet picnic with a dvd with popcorn all to yourselves. The picnic could be way out or quick and easy. If you feel like going the extra mile you could do cold meats, pate, fruit, veg cruets with dip and berries, marshmellows and plain biscuits for dipping in choc mousse, cream, melted choc, ect. If you don't have the time or don't feel like making that effort you could use your KFC vouchers. But to still lift the mood and make the atmosphere you could get some of the cheapy decor that I'm sure could be found in the 1pound shop or around before valentines is over. Obviosly push on colour, lighting and comfort eg: red serviettes, candles (even tea light candles - usually a pound for a large bag) and a big blanket with everything laid out on it). Even if you do do the KFC thing you can still add by getting the right drinks and glasses and chocs or sweets with messages on.
Good luck.

Miss_Cinnabon

I need help with my valentines pudding, not going well, initially decided on tiramisu, but found out this has coffee in which i hate! then made a choc/beetroot cake but have done it wrong, the inside tastes ok but the outside is black and tastes weird!

I have rasperries and plain choc for cooking , any ideas?

organic_wanabe

What about making a chocolate mousse, putting a bit of mixture on the bottom of the ramekins, then a layer of rasps, and then another layer of choc mousse. I posted a really simple mousse recipe (only needs one egg and one ounce of choc per mousse) on the easy/health dessert thread.

Miss_Cinnabon

Hi thanks, do u have a link to that recipe, couldnt find it?

Kyle

janine22

OH is coming to see me for the weekend on Friday, so I wanted to cook a really special Valentine's Day Meal.

I found printable menu cards online at:-

http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=33108

but I wondered if anyone had seen anything nicer (free of course!)

Also, I wondered if someone a bit more experienced (in the kitchen ), could advise whether I'm better with 3 courses or 5.

I was thinking maybe soup which I can freeze until Friday morning, or maybe a prawn cocktail. Could anyone tell me if pc will be ok to do the night before and refrigerate?

Any ideas for a good main course? Don't want to spend all eve in the kitchen as he's not here for long!

For dessert I'm going to just get ice cream with sprinkles/choccie bits/wafers/sauces etc I think. Again, any ideas?

Sorry about the essay, I've had lots of good advice on here and wanted to make this meal really special.

saxy1

Janine,

Not sure about doing prawn cocktail the night before, might go a bit watery!

How about a casserole for mains, chicken or beef in red wine with shallots and mushrooms is nice.

Profiteroles for pud?:rolleyes:

FTB83

Prawn cocktail is so quick if you use the cheat's way, and you wouldn't need to do it the night before. I can't remember quantities, but I just mix mayonnaise (say five tablespoons) with tomato ketchup (say, two tablespoons) and add a small pinch of paprika and mix together really well. You can just mix this with your prawns and serve with a small salad (crispy iceberg lettuce goes very well, plus cucumber) and some crustr bread et voila. If you're feeling poncy, you could finely dice some pickled gherkin and mix it in with the prawns and sauce.

For the main - something that's really light and very easy and quick to cook could be fish parcels. Just get a couple of fillets of fish (enough for two people) - could be cod, haddock, sea bass, salmon. Cut two rectangles of foil (big enough so you can but the fish in the middle and make all the edges of the foil meet to cover the fish). Put the fish fillets on each piece of foil, on top add some salt and pepper, a small knob of butter, a slice of lemon, some finely sliced onion, a couple of thing slices of garlic, some freshly chopped herbs (e.g. parsley) then wrap the fish up (if you put the fish in the middle of one side of the foil, you can bring the other side over and seal up the edges that way).

You could serve this with crushed new potatoes (just cook new potatoes and, still in the pan, press down on top of each potato with a fork so they split and look rustic, then season and add a couple of knobs of butter so it melts all over). And perhaps some steamed baby carrots.

The fish parcels you could easily make before your boyfriend gets there and just pop in the fridge all ready to go in the oven, the potatoes will only take 15 minutes ish, and the carrots slightly less. Also - if you fancied something different - you can add anything to the parcels...lemongrass, chilli, lime, dash of soy sauce etc for a thai feel... Ooh, just had a thought for the parcels too...as it's valentines, when you take the parcels out of the oven, leave wrapped up on the plate when you serve, and before you take the plates out, you could attach a small parcel tag with your own valentine message (you can make one yourself with card and a small piece of string) and then attach to the parcel...very nice!

Alternatively, I always think moules marinere is really romantic when served in one pot so you share, and with crusty white bread to mop up the juices. I think most supermarkets sell mussells already with the garlic and herb sauce - all you need to do is put it in a pan and cook through.

Something I saw on TV the other day was a heart-shaped pizza - thought that was a really food meal idea. There'll be plenty of recipes on the internet for pizza bases and then add yor own toppings, but I suspect this will take longer to prepare.

Sorry for the essay, just got my creative juices flowing today - not always the most concise writer!

Aside, I'm cooking a meal for my boyfriend and I tomorrow - I've decided to do a fish pie - I can make the bechamel sauce in the morning and chop the fish and lay it in the bottom of the dish then, as I'm working late, I'll just cook up some potatoes and mash when I get home from work, re-heat the bechamel sauce, pour over the fish and top with the mash, then throw in the oven. It's such a substantial rich dish that I just serve with peas...delish, and easy :T