Recipe Of The Day

The food of love

 

By Lizzie Cernik
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but we reckon the same is true for women.  A shared appreciation of food unites many couples and cooking can be a great way to spend an evening in.  But whatrecipes should you have on the menu? We bring you some of the most popular dishes for a romantic meal.
Seafood
From lobster to king prawns, there’s definitely something romantic about sharing a platter of luxury seafood. Ideal for a treat on special occasions, make sure you always choose fresh high quality products. Crab linguine is divine but a night of food poising is less so.
Cheese fondue
Gooey, tasty and utterly decadent, cheese fondue is the perfect dish for two. Use different types of cheese to spice it up and serve with croutons and red onion chutney.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Remember that moment in Lady and the Tramp where they share a romantic moment with the pasta? Well we can’t promise a cartoon waiter will be there to serenade you and your partner, but if you serve your man this creamy dish we can guarantee he’ll be impressed.
Steak
Served with chunky chip or creamy mash, steak is any easy dish to cook together. With a cooking time of just 5-10 minutes (depending on the steak cut and your preferences) you’ll still have time to head out for a romantic drink later in the evening. We recommend a good quality fillet steak for a special treat.
But our number one romantic treat is Chocolate covered strawberries. Ideal for Valentine’s Day, Christmas or just an indulgent Friday night, chocolate covered strawberries are delicious and easy to prepare. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients
Fresh strawberries
Cooking chocolate (light or dark depending on your preference.)
A spoonful of vegetable oil
A saucepan filled with water
A glass bowl that fits inside the saucepan
A flat baking tray covered in baking paper or foil
White or pink writing icing
Preparation
1. Firstly you’ll need to heat a pan of water. Inside the pan place a small glass bowl to melt the chocolate.
2. When it reaches a certain temperature chocolate starts to solidify and form lumps, so you need to be very careful not to ‘over melt it.’ If you’ve invested in really good quality cooking chocolate, it should be easier to work with. Alternatively you can always add a splash of vegetable oil to make it more pliable.
3. Wash your strawberries, smear them with a small amount of jam (it helps the chocolate stick) and skewer them.
4. When the chocolate starts to melt take it off the heat to stir. You need to watch it like a hawk to avoid overcooking. Just before the last small chunks melt, it should be ready to use.
5. Dip your skewers in the chocolate and lay them down on the baking sheet to set.
6. When they’ve dried, take your icing pie and decorate as you please. Why not add some hearts if you’re feeling romantic?