by : D. Halet

Majority of people will celebrate Valentine’s Day by going to eat a Valentine's menu at the restaurant.? But so many couples do this on Valentine’s Day that we have to make reservation a long time before February 14th and in restaurants that do not take reservations we have to wait a long time before being seated.

Celebrate Valentines Day At Home
There is an alternative to the Valentine's Day restaurant: cooking dinner at home. Firstly, ask your partner to help you cook the meal: it is a great way to spend more time together.

Do not plan an elaborate meal if your partner is not a great cooker. On the other hand, if you cook an elaborate meal, working together will ensure that your meal will turn out great. 

Deco ideas

• A bloomed centerpiece surrounded by two candles;
• put the wine bottle in an ice bucket.
• Light the candles when the meal is almost ready, this way, they will not be entirely consumed when you will be seated at the table.

Valentine Gift
Plan to give your present at the end of the dinner; this will prolong the festive atmosphere of the evening.

Valentine's Day Menu Idea:

Valentine's Cocktail

• 4 cl passion fruit liquor,
• 4 cl pineapple juice,
• 16 cl champagne

Appetizer 1 - Eggs filled with tuna and salmon cream
Ingredients:

• Canned tuna
• Canned salmon
• 3 boiled eggs
• Mayonnaise

Directions:

• Cut each egg in two parts
• Mix yolks, tuna, salmon and mayonnaise
• Fill the egg whites with the mixture
• Serve cold

Appetizer 2 - Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients:

• 6 mushrooms
• Lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic
• 20 g melted butter
• 1 tbs tablespoons cognac
• 2 tbs bread crumbs
• 2 tbs chopped parsley
• Salt & Pepper

Directions :

• Preheat oven to 392F
• Clean the mushrooms
• Chop the mushrooms & Sprinkle with lemon juice
• In a saucepa,  brown the melted butter and garlic
• Add chopped mushrooms and cook 5 min
• Add cognac, bread crumbs and parsley
• Mix Salt and pepper to taste
• Put the mushrooms in a baking dish and stuff with the mixture
• Bake in the oven for 12 min

Starter - Scampi In Pink Cream
Ingredients

• 12 cooked prawns
• 2 sliced onions (optional) 20 cl cream (0% fat)
• 10 cl wine or 5 cl brandy
• 1 tbs of tomato puree & 1 clove garlic
• 1 tbs melted butter
• Salt & Pepper

Directions :

• In a saucepan, melt butter, prawns, garlic, sliced onions, salt and pepper
• Pour the wine or brandy and let it evaporate
• Add the tomato puree and fresh cream
• Put the mixture in two baking dishes
• Sprinkle grated Emmenthal or Gruyer
• Pass under the grill
• Serve with French bread.

Main Dish - Sole and Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients :

• 2 filets de sole
• 200 g sliced mushrooms
• 20 cl crème fraîche à 0% de matière grasse
• 250 g mashed potatoes
• Jus de citron & 1 tbs
• Butter, Salt & pepper to taste

Directions :

• Melt 1 tbs butter in large skillet
• Brown sole fillets for a few minutes
• When cooked, remove filets to a serving plate; keep warm
• Pour lemon juice and the mushrooms in the skillet on medium heat until cooked
• Add cream, salt and pepper
• Serve immediately

Dessert - Chocolate Cake
Ingredients :

• 100 g butter
• 100 g black chocolate
• 150 g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 50 g flour

Directions :

• Pre-heat the oven (320F)
• In a saucepan (low fire), melt chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth
• In a bowl, assemble eggs and flour
• Add the mixture butter/chocolate and mix until smooth
• Pour the mixture in a baking plate
• Bake at 320F for 20 minutes
• Serve sprinkled with icing sugar.

When you plan to cook your Valentine's Day dinner, ensure you to purchase the ingredients in advance in order to not scramble at the last minute to find the missing ingredients. This will also avoid an unnecessary stress.

Before you start cooking, ensure you that your partner has no allergies or dietary restrictions i.e vegetarian, dont take wine etc. If Valentine's Day happens on a working day, set the table as soon as you come back from your day job.

Bon appetit and Happy Valentine's Day!