The Midweek Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know not everybody celebrates and some see it as commercial but, personally I love it.  I enjoy days where you can celebrate with different foods and also show people you love and care for them.  I know that traditionally it is for lovers but why can't you show anybody you love how much they mean to you.  It is a bit of fun and I love it.  Who doesn't love a cute heart on things?  Or the sweet cherubs?

How were cherubs associated with Valentine's Day anyway?  Well cherubs enjoy making people fall in love and get that warm fuzzy feeling.  In Roman mythology Cupid is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection, not the god of love we might have imagined.  He carries a bow and arrow, his arrow having the power to make people fall in love.  Just as in Greek mythology there is Eros. 

I love baking for my two (and Noah) these sweet little Valentine's Day cupcakes, gorgeous chocolate fondant cupcakes adorned with hearts.

With Valentine's Day falling on a Tuesday, any special meal will need to be quick and easy and if you have not yet decided what to cook. Then my perfect little menu for this is:

Feta and caramelised onion tarts with a simple salad

Steak and peppercorn sauce with hasselback potatoes

The easiest chocolate mousse

Now if you are vegan you might be rolling your eyes but I would urge you to try the new vegan fillet style steak by Juicy Marbles and carry on with the rest of the menu (replace any dairy products if you are vegan).

The chocolate mousse takes 10 minutes, you then chill for ideally 4 hours (as it needs to chill completely) and whip up for a further 5 minutes or so.  The tarts take 5 minutes to assemble and 25 minutes to cook. The hasselback potatoes roughly an hour.

For a 7:30pm start my timeline would be:

Lunchtime or early afternoon heat the chocolate and cream and get into the fridge to chill.

6:00pm chill your sparkling wine, make the peppercorn sauce

6:30pm cut the potatoes and put the baking dish and oil into the oven

6:50pm assemble the tarts

7pm potatoes and the tarts in the oven, enjoy a glass of bubbly together

7:20pm turn the potatoes

7:30pm serve the starter

7:40pm turn the potatoes and cook your steak.

7:50pm turn the potatoes, oven off.  Heat your sauce.

8pm eat your main

8:45pm whip up your mousse and enjoy your dessert. 

It is not a difficult or time consuming menu and gives you lots of time in the middle to sit and enjoy each other's company.

Enjoy your evening x