There are many ways to impress the love of your life on Valentines, but a good way of going about this could be to cook for them. They will appreciate the effort that you have gone to to make it special for them, and you need not be hindered by cooking ability, or budget.
How about a delicious Leek, goat's cheese, walnut & lemon tart? This is easy to make, it isn't time consuming and is sure to impress that special person in you life. See recipe below.
How about a delicious Leek, goat's cheese, walnut & lemon tart? This is easy to make, it isn't time consuming and is sure to impress that special person in you life. See recipe below.
Serves 4
Preparation and cooking times Prep 25 mins
Cook 30 mins
Preparation and cooking times Prep 25 mins
Cook 30 mins
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil , plus extra for drizzling
- 25g butter
- 2 medium leeks , sliced
- 2 tbsp chopped thyme leaves
- zest 2 lemons and juice 1 lemon
- 375g pack ready-rolled puff pastry
- 200g soft spreadable goat's cheese
- 50g walnut pieces
- little chopped parsley , to serve
The method
- Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, then add the butter. Once sizzling, add the leeks and cook over a medium heat until softened but not coloured. Stir in the thyme and half the lemon zest, then increase the heat. Add the lemon juice and cook for about 30 secs until the lemon juice reduces, then season well. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
- Unroll the pastry and lay on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Lightly mark a 1cm border around the edges with the tip of a sharp knife, then prick the base all over with a fork.
- Spread the lemony leeks on top of the pastry, within the border. Crumble over the cheese, scatter with the walnuts, then season with pepper. Drizzle with some olive oil, brushing the edges with a little oil as well. Put tart in the oven for 15-20 mins until the pastry puffs up around the edges and is golden brown. Scatter with parsley and the remaining lemon zest. Serve hot, warm or cool.
The dessert
The dessert can be just as important as the main meal. This is your chance to go all out, and completely wow your partner. Whether it's brownies drenched in sticky chocolate sauce, or something a bit healthier, there are many options. How about a tempting raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake? This is easy to make and you don't need to possess amazing proficiency in the culinary arts to make it.
Serves 4
Ready in 30 mins
plus 2 hours chilling
Ready in 30 mins
plus 2 hours chilling
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 180g digestive biscuits
- 75g melted butter
- 100g milk chocolate
- 300g cream cheese
- 200ml double cream
- 75g sugar
- 150g raspberries
- icing sugar
- chocolate melted, to serve (optional)
The method
Crumble the digestives in a food processor, add the melted butter and mix well. Place in a 20cm flan ring with a push-up base and pat down with the back of a spoon. Melt the chocolate in a microwave or a glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Mix the cream cheese, cream and sugar together until smooth. Add the raspberries and stir in, then add the melted chocolate and quickly swirl through. Spoon into the flan ring and smooth the top with a palette knife, then place in the fridge and chill for 2 hours. Serve dusted with icing sugar and a little melted chocolate if you like.
More recipe ideas
Do you want to perhaps be a bit more daring? Maybe you want to show off your culinary flare. There are a lot of websites where you can find inspiration for the perfect valentines meal, visit the BBC's good food website for a lot of different, sumptuos idea's.
RSS Feed