Impress this Valentine’s Day with These Tasty Meal Ideas

Have you agreed to cook on February 14th? Groan! But if it’s your turn, it’s your turn – and you better pull out all the stops. Chips and egg just isn’t going to cut it; so, it’s time to get creative and really impress your other half this Valentine’s Day.

We’re not telling up to get all Heston Blumenthal on us, though. Instead, you can recreate ‘old classics’ and make them a little bit fancier. Here are some of our top tips and ideas ahead of the most romantic day of the year…

Steak and Chips – Done Well

Forget about your steak being ‘well done’, here’s a steak that’s simply done well – however you like it cooked!

That’s right; you can recreate the ultimate bistro meal from your own kitchen – and unless you’re cooking for a veggie or vegan, steak is the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day. If it’s cooked well, even better!

Cook your chips the crafty way, thanks to this BBC Good Food recipe (linked above) and you’ll never do them any differently. King Edward or Maris Piper potatoes are what you need to create winning fries or chips, so make sure you don’t fall at the first hurdle and get jacket spuds. If you want to up the fancy levels even more, try cutting your potatoes into little hearts – just don’t do them too thin, or they’ll burn.

A butter that combines parsley leaves, garlic, and lemon juice will take your steak up a notch – or you could try a seasoning or sauce of your choice. Don’t forget a fresh, side salad too – and make sure there’s something nice for dessert, as well.

Chicken Tonight

Fancy chicken instead? These lemon and rosemary thighs take just 10 minutes to prepare and 24 minutes to cook – so you could have the whole meal sorted well within the hour!

Serve with roasted veg and think about making an accompaniment, too – like your own garlic bread; it’s easier than you think, you know. And everyone knows you get more points if every element of your meal is homecooked (ahem, Come Dine With Me!).

And for the Veggies…

Lorraine Pascale never disappoints when it comes to good, flavourful homecooked meals – and this veggie lasagne is no exception.

You’ll spend a lot of time chopping all the veg, but it’ll be so worth it. Featuring butternut squash and sweet potato, it tastes as indulgent as a regular lasagne – and comes packed with oodles of ricotta and parmesan. It’s a lovely veggie meal and not a cheese and mushroom tart in sight*

*Veggies tell us that’s all you find on vegetarian menus

Don’t Forget Dessert

If your partner’s got a sweet tooth, you’ll know that the way to their heart is via sugary-sweet puddings. And chocolate mousse has got to be one of the easiest desserts to whip up, which means you really have no excuse not to stay in the kitchen and fill a ramekin or two. The recipe’s been devised by James Martin, so you know it’s going to be good already, don’t you?

And Finally…

Don’t forget the little touches – gorgeous tableware and place settings, mood lighting, and after-dinner treats like cappuccinos complete with heart-shaped chocolates – go a really long way. So, don’t let the small things let you down; put some effort in and it’ll show.

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Until next time…

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