Menu for a Valentines Day Meal
I am delighted when my husband takes me to a hotel for a Valentines Day Meal. Actually, I love it even more when he books a room for us; it is SO romantic, and I feel like a 'Lady'. I love being "waited on" and spoiled. However, sometimes it can be just as nice and romantic to prepare a special Valentines Day Meal at home for him. I enjoy making a 'special' meal, and especially Dinner parties that I can plan and prepare in advance; setting the table beautifully, with candles and flowers. But the hardest thing is often choosing the menu. I try to choose something where much of it can be prepared before hand. The last thing I want for my Valentine Dinner is to be all red and hot from 'slaving over the stove'. Valentine's Day on 14th February can be cold in Scotland, so it some people might want to start with a nice warming soup, such as Cullen Skink; and there are plenty of delicious choices for the main course such as venison or Scottish lamb or beef, followed by crannachan, the delicious dessert made with Whisky, oats, raspberries and cream, or Tipsy Laird - all made with wonderful Scottish Ingredients.
But here is a menu for a Valentines Day Menu that I think you might enjoy. I've chosen some Scottish ingredients and favourites - Salmon Mousse to start with, followed by good Scottish beef, and finishing with a delicious chocolate cream. I hate to admit it but we Scots have a very sweet tooth, and as chocolate is often seen as a 'food of love' then it was appropriate to choose this dessert.
Smoked Salmon Mousse
Ingredients 200g (7oz) cream cheese
150g (5oz) smoked salmon
1tbsp horseradish sauce
Juice of a quarter of a lemon
freshly ground black pepper
1 small bunch chives chopped
Salad garnish including quarter of a lemon
Fresh wholemeal bread and unsalted butter Method - Blend the cream cheese, salmon, horseradish, lemon and seasoning in a processor or blender until smooth.
- Chill until ready to serve.
- Garnish with salad & lemon.
- Serve with freshly buttered brown bread cut into small pieces
Steak in Pepper & Whisky Sauce
Ingredients 2 fillet Steaks
1 oz/ 25gm Butter
Half small finely chopped onion
1 teaspoons of worcester sauce
half oz / 15 gm finely chopped mushrooms
3 tbs of whisky
2 tsps green or black peppercorns
1 tbs cream
Method - Season the steaks with a little salt and pepper.
- Melt the butter in a pan and fry the steaks on both sides until cooked (according to your own personal taste).
- Remove from frying pan and keep warm.
- Gently fry the mushrooms & onion in the steak juice for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the whisky, peppercorns and worcester sauce.
Return the steaks to the heat and bring the sauce to the boil.
- Add the cream.
- Add further seasoning if required.
- Serve with fresh vegetables and new potatoes.
Chocolate Cream
Ingredients4 ounces chopped up dark chocolate
3 eggs - separated
2 oz / 50 gms castor sugar
4 fl. oz /120 ml double cream
1/2 tsp vanilla essence. Method Melt the butter and chocolate in a pan over a low heat.
Cook gently for 5 minutes until the butter and chocolate are melted, mixing well all the time.
When melted, take the pan off the heat but continue to whisk the mixture thoroughly for a moment or two.
Spoon the chocolate mixture to a bowl.
Add the egg yolks and beat in thoroughly.
Place the bowl in a refrigerator.
Whisk the egg whites with half the sugar until they become stiff peaks.
Whisk the cream with the remaining sugar and vanilla until it becomes soft peaks.
Add a couple of spoonfuls of the whites into chocolate mixture, then gently fold in remaining whites.
Add in the cream, and refrigerate until chilled.
It can be served in individual glasses or in one larger serving dish.Decorate with fresh raspberries and mint (or cream and grated chocolate if you prefer.Serves 4- 6 - so there will be some left for the next day!
If you've enjoyed reading the Valentines Day Meal page, do have a look at some of these pages too:
Valentines Day In Scotland - Have a look at how we celebrate Valentines Day.
Cullen Skink - the famous fish soup made with smoked haddock.
Scottish Recipes - Check out some of the famous, authentic and traditional Scottish recipes.
Roast Venison - A special main course you might prefer.
Tipsy Laird - This is an alternative dessert you might want to try
Crannachan - Another famous Scottish Dessert recipes.
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