Often the word Valentine can be associated with expensive gifts, lavish nights out and flashy restaurants... and all this so soon after getting over the January pinch $$$!
Here at Coolaz the team have put together a 'recipe book' style feature flowing with recipes and cute gift ideas that will be sure to tantalise your tastebuds and wow your loved one this Valentine's Day!
Why not start with some Lunchbox Love...
If your sweetheart is off for a normal day at work and you are unable to share a romantic midday snack together then why not offer to make their lunch for them, pack it up into a cute little box full of extra special treats! Make sure that you whip up some gorgeous sandwiches packed full of your loved one's favourite fillings and cut them into heart shapes!
Move onto to a Romantic Dinner ...
Your Valetine's meal together doesn't have to be expensive and you don’t even have to go out! There are so many home cook dinners that you could make for eachother, whether you are a beginner in the kitchen or a wanna be gourmet chef there are so many step by step recipes out there, so set your very own masterchef challenge and wow your other half with something delicious this year - and remember presentation is everything!
Make sure that you plate everything up onto eco-friendly, biodegradable plates and use equally as green disposable utensils ... this will mean no arguments about the washing up, simply dispose of your eating tools into the correct recycling can! Then all that will be left it to do is simply sit back and relax!
Maybe your ideal dinner-in would be to cook together, put on your matching aprons and work as a team in the kitchen! One half could read the recipe while the other actively chops and prepares or you could have set tasks each to make things easier and then do the cooking bit together – how romantic! If you’d rather cook alone then I always find the "I'll cook, you clean" rule works pretty well. Or there is always the take-away option for a naughty but nice treat at home!
And finish up with some personalised gifts...
Get in touch with your crafty side and DIY some gifts this year, gather together your lover's favourite goodies, chocolate bars and more, bundle them together in a box or red bucket and fasten them with a cute ribbon!
Homemade cards are always great, it can be as fancy and creative or as simple as you like, you could simply cut out a heart shape from some red material and fasten it to the front of the card, after all it is the words inside that will be the important thing.
If your other half is fond of a cold beverage then why not order them a little something online, a wine or champagne bucket, or beer coolers with a difference. Be sure to check out some of our new designs like the ones shown below - you can grab personalised stubby holders either in a 'be my valentine' fashion or something completely different!
Check out our Top 5 Aphrodisiac Recipes!
Designed especially for a romantic night in for two and perfect for your special Valentine's dinner, there does seem to be a theme of heart shape things, red ideas and strawberries ...
1. Oysters Kilpatrick
Considered a natural aphrodisiac, why not make this as a starter for your romantic night in!
2 cups rock salt
24 oysters, shucked
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
175g thin rashers rindless bacon, diced
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
lemon wedges, to serve
Preheat grill on medium-high heat. Place rock salt, in a thick layer, on a baking tray or heatproof plate. Arrange oysters (in their half-shells) on rock salt. Sprinkle Worcestershire sauce over oysters. Top with bacon. Grill, on the salt, for 5 to 8 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with lemon.
2. Strawberry and Feta Salad
This unusual combination of strawberries, feta cheese, toasted almonds and romaine lettuce in a sweet and tangy dressing is sure to be a winner - A guaranteed pleaser for your other half!
1 cup slivered almonds
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 head romaine lettuce, torn
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Nice and simple – lightly toast the almonds first and set aside to cool. Prepare the dressing by whisking together the garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. In a large bowl, toss together the toasted almonds, romaine lettuce, strawberries, and feta cheese. Cover with the dressing mixture, and serve.
3. Wine Sauce Chicken
6 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut
into 2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream
of mushroom soup
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup slivered almonds for topping
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Place the chicken in a saucepan and add water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer until the chicken pieces are no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the mushrooms; cook and stir until the mushrooms are lightly browned and have released their liquid, about 5 minutes. Place the chicken pieces in the prepared baking dish and add the sautéed mushrooms. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine and heat the soup, milk, Cheddar cheese and garlic powder. Remove from heat and add the white wine and mayonnaise. Pour mixture over the chicken and mushrooms. Top with slivered almonds and grated Parmesan cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
4. Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (love bugs)
These cute dipped treats are a simple yet affective dessert or appertiser! You could even paint little faces on with white choc or an icing pen to make them into little love-bugs.
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 pint fresh strawberries with leaves
Cook chocolate until melted. Stir occasionally until chocolate is smooth. Holding berries by the stem, dip each one in molten chocolate, about three-quarters of the way to the stem. Place, stem side down, on wire rack and chill in refrigerator until hardened.
5. Strawberry Love heart Sponge Cakes
350g double unfilled round sponge cake
250g cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup thickened cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
250g strawberries, hulled, sliced
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 tablespoon pure icing sugar
Place sponge cake layers on a chopping board. Using an 8cm heart-shaped cutter, cut 3 hearts from each cake. Using a sharp knife, gently split each heart in half. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add cream and vanilla. Beat until mixture thickens.Spread cream cheese mixture over sponge cake bases. Top with strawberry slices. Place jam in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high (100%) for 30 seconds or until warm and runny. Spoon warm jam over strawberries. Sandwich together with sponge tops. Dust with icing sugar and serve.
Top 5 - Love Potions
Assorted Champagne mixtures and yummy cocktails!
1. Sparkling Strawberry cocktail
30ml strawberry liqueur
2 large strawberries, washed, hulled, sliced
1 x 200ml btl chilled dry sparkling white wine
Divide the liqueur and strawberries evenly between 2 serving glasses.
2. Frozen mango and vodka cocktails
4 large mangoes, peeled, flesh chopped
125ml (1/2 cup) water
80g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) finely chopped palm sugar
240g (2 punnets) raspberries
500ml (2 cups) vodka Top each glass with the sparkling wine to serve.
Spread chopped mango over a tray. Place in freezer for 3 hours or until frozen. Meanwhile, combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until liquid reduces by one-third (see microwave tip). Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly. Place raspberries and sugar mixture in the jug of a blender and blend until smooth. Place half the frozen mango and vodka in the jug of a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a large jug. Repeat with remaining mango and vodka. To serve, layer the mango and raspberry purees among serving glasses and serve immediately.
3. Champagne cocktails
1 litre frozen passionfruit sorbet (we used Weiss Frutia)
750ml sparkling white wine, chilled
Place half the sorbet in a blender with half the sparkling wine. Process until well combined. Pour into 4 chilled glasses. Repeat with remaining sorbet and sparkling wine. Fill 4 more glasses. Serve.
4. Pom-pom cocktails
200g berry sorbet
300ml pomegranate juice (or juice of 3 pomegranates), chilled (see Notes)
150ml vodka, chilled
Chill 4 martini glasses in the freezer. Whiz all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into the chilled martini glasses, then serve ice-cold.
5. Cosmopolitan Champagne
250ml (1 cup) cranberry juice
2 tbs Cointreau liqueur
2 tbs fresh lime juice
6 sugar cubes
1 x 750ml btl chilled pink Champagne
Place cranberry juice in a medium saucepan and bring to the boil over high heat. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until reduced by two-thirds. Remove from heat and set aside for 30 minutes to cool. Combine the cranberry juice, Cointreau and lime juice in a small jug. Place a sugar cube in each serving glass. Pour the cranberry mixture over the sugar. Top with Champagne or sparkling wine and serve immediately.
Happy Valentines Day!
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