Valentines Day Gifts

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.

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.

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.

Another thing to consider when you cook your Valentine's Day dinner is that your partner will enjoy the meal you selected. Ensure you that your partner has no allergies or dietary restrictions or, simply, that your partner is not vegetarian while you plan to cook roast beef.

If Valentine's Day happens on a working day, set the table as soon as you come back from your day job. 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.

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 Cocktail

4 cl passion fruit liquor,

4 cl pineapple juice,

16 cl champagne

Appetizers:
Eggs stuffed 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

Starter:
Valentines scampi In Amaretto cream

Ingredients :

12 cooked prawns

2 sliced onions (optional)

20 cl cream (0% fat)

10 cl Amaretto

1 table spoon of tomato puree

1 clove garlic

1 table spoon melted butter

Salt

Pepper

Directions :

In a saucepan assemble melt butter, prawns, garlic, sliced onions, salt and pepper

Take a few moments back

Pour the Amaretto and let 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 with mushroom sauce and Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients :

2 sole fillets

200 g sliced mushrooms

20 cl cream (0%)

250 g mashed potatoes

Lemon juice

1 table spoon butter

Salt, pepper to taste

Directions :

Melt 1 table spoon 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:
Heart-shaped chocolate cake

Ingredients :

100 g butter

100 g black chocolate

150 g sugar

3 eggs

50 g flour

Directions :

Pre-heat the oven (320° F)

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 320° F for 20 minutes

Serve sprinkled with icing sugar.

Bon appetit and Happy Valentine's Day!

Anyone intereseted in a personal dinner service?

I have a business idea for a service where a cook and a waiter come into your home and cook for you on a one off basis. For example Valentines Day where you don't want to go out and don't really want the hassle of cooking, and then the drag of washing up afterwards. Or a special birthday where you don't want to spend the whole evening in the kitchen.

The idea is that someone else plans the menu, brings and cooks the ingredients, serves dinner and clears away and washes up afterwards. Then slips away at an appropriate moment.

This is something no-one near me seems to offer and I'd love it cos I hate hearing all my friends enjoying themselves when I'm stuck in the kitchen.

What do you think?

Great idea so put it as an advert in your local paper.
Also get a web page done up .
Work out what you will charge for the complete service taking into account various menus.
Charge from a simple cheap meal to an expensive meal.
Give lots of choices of drinks as well.
Cater for vegetarians and non-veg alike.
Good luck
Wish you all the luck