There are few days left for what is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year, although it is also detested by those who dismiss Valentine’s Day as a commercial invention that drips with corniness. Here we prefer not to judge anyone and take advantage of the Valentine’s Daylike any other party, to celebrate it at home with whoever we really want, a lot better if there are homemade recipes lovingly prepared.
The tradition of Valentine’s Day, like Carnival and Christmas itself, dates back to ancient times with the Lupercal festivities, although it is true that today the more commercial aspect of the matter has been exploited. Since we love to eat well in good company, it is another excuse to take a little care with the menu at home, perhaps buying a good wine, or sweetening the day with chocolates and bonbons.
If Monday, which is when the holiday falls this year, does not seem very attractive to indulge in the pleasure of food, it is ahead of Sunday, a day to cook much more relaxed at home. Us we are adding new ideas to prepare thanks to this complete menu that we have compiled in our diving through the nets.
Appetizers, starters and snacks
The option of setting up a menu exclusively based on snacks is always attractive, but in any case, there is no celebration without its appetizers or starters. At this party his thing would be to surprise a little, for example with a curious fake sliced bread sushi Kitchen with Miri who also lends himself to getting playful at the table.
Also very attractive are the healthy nachos of Being Biotiful, that with that color and play of textures, as Chloé says, we can conquer the heart of anyone, and also by eating healthy. Also very healthy Artichokes Cream that Iñaki de Jaleo teaches us in the kitchen, silky and seductive, crowned with luxurious crisps of good ham.
They are very elegant puff pastry cones with salmon mousse from Trapped in my kitchen, which we can also tune at home if we don’t have adequate molds making simple tartlets or vol-au-vents. If we have leftover puff pastry we can combine it with the delicious red pesto de I have an oven and I know how to use it, because leaving it thick it becomes a dip or exquisite pate. And to finish the selection of appetizers, we will never fail with some Shrimp croquetteswhich Sònia de L’Exquisit teaches us how to make with and without gluten.
Dishes to conquer
We continue with direct recipes to catch the heart -or the stomach- with a sumptuous quail stew in red winean ode to chup chup and the leisurely cooking that Pepe Ribagorda teaches us in On Things to Eat. We sense that it will be worth having good bread on the table.
Perhaps fish is more appropriate for a romantic menu, especially if it is combined with shellfish. In that case we bet on a succulent dish like the Hake and prawn cannelloni of A pinch of cinnamon, although we will also succeed with the monkfish and prawn tart of Fried Webos, very easy to make by pulling with refrigerated shortcrust pastry.
Following in the wake of the salty doughs, we liked the vosgienne quiche from Con las zarpas en la masa, which suggests us to accompany it with a salad, although the appetizing potato and pear gratin with raclette cheese of chup chup chup. If it is that gratins with good cheese it is difficult to resist.
In the event that we put all the meat on the grill for dessert, we suggest investing in good fish to set ourselves a roast like the one in sea bass with artichokes and vegetables from Frabisa’s kitchen, healthy, complete and a luxury when the ingredients are first class.
Desserts to seduce
Any dessert is worth seducing the palate on Valentine’s Day, although elaborate ones lend themselves more with chocolate, red fruits and floral aromas. We leave the heart-shaped molds and decorations to the taste of each house, although a touch of red or pink always adds points to the romanticodromo.
Whoever dares to conquer with the elegance and finesse of the French tradition, without falling into excessive nonsense, can be encouraged by the frangipane cake from Cocina tu imagación, simply beautiful with its natural raspberry topping. This fruit of the forest also adds a touch of color to the simple blondies fudge from Chocolatisimo, with the texture of the brownie but using white chocolate, tinted with pink streaks.
We do not leave the red fruits, because we love the ombré effect charlotte from the always impeccable Sylvain Vernay in Gourmétier, a luxurious yet delicate, original and colorful dessert. As eye-catching as red velvet cake of Flavors and Moments, a real cake lady who looks beautiful with her simple but romantic decoration. Sure we see the cake yogurt and strawberry mousse of Yerbabuena in the kitchen and we would not know what dessert to choose.
If we are not very skilled in confectionery we can play it safe with the matcha cheese cake or cheesecake with matcha tea from Gourmet like me, which we could certainly also decorate with berries. Finally, to share together lying on the sofa watching a movie, for a walk or to send as a gift, we like chocolate and raspberry bars of Chocolate cupcakes, so pretty with that play of colors.
Cover photos | Jaleo in the kitchen – Flavors and moments
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