Need some inspiration for treating your better half on Valentine’s Day? Lucky for you, you have come to the right place. Skip the cheesy restaurants and fine dining and man up. A Maverick takes matters in to his own hands! Time to get into the kitchen at home on Valentine’s day and cook up a wicked dish that will blow her away. Convinced? Good. Read on.
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and express your eternal love through the power of a home cooked meal. Bravo, we salute you! Now first of all you need a plan, as in a recipe. Below you will find our own secret breakfast and dinner recipes, complete with ingredients and simple instructions. You can’t go wrong ol’ chap!
BREAKFAST IN BED
Jay’s special smokin’ beans with eggs
Serves 2 (duh!)
Shopping List / Ingredients:
4 free range eggs
4 slices chilli pancetta chopped
1 red onion diced
2 cloves garlic sliced
1 large red chilli sliced
3 sprigs thyme
2 tins tomatoes
1 tin red kidney beans
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp Hot English Mustard
2 tbsp Worcestershire
3 tbsp HP sauce
To Serve:
Handful chopped parsley
Persian fetta
Crusty bread
Champagne
Strawberry
How To Cook:
Step 1. Get shallow oven proof pan or dish on the heat
Step 2. Sauté onion, pancetta, onion and garlic. Then add tinned tomatoes, mustards, HP, Worcestershire, thyme leaves, season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 mins
Step 3. Add beans, simmer for another 10 minutes. Turn on overhead grill in oven.
Step 4. Make 4 little pits in pan with a spoon and crack an egg into each one. Cook until egg whites are almost done then place pan in oven under grill until eggs are white with yolk still runny.
Step 5. Dish up 2 eggs and beans to a bowl, sprinkle with feta, parsley and cracked salt and pepper. Place bowl on tray with cutlery and napkins.
Step 6. Pour a small glass of champagne with a strawberry for garnish and add to the serving tray. Burst into the bedroom with a big beaming smile and serve breakfast in bed.
Step 7. Brag to all your mates at work about how awesome your breakfast effort was.
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CANDLELIGHT DINNER
Luke’s sensuous steak with balsamic-glazed mushrooms
Serves 2
Shopping List / Ingredients:
2 good quality steak cuts (we went for rump which is delicious when marinated)
300g swiss brown mushrooms
1 small bunch fresh thyme
1 lemon
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 knob of butter
70g rocket leaves
1 tsp hot english mustard
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
For Marinade:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
2 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp diced garlic
How To Cook :
Step 1. Combine the marinade ingredients and pour over steaks. Place in fridge and marinate over night.
Step 2. Take the steaks out of the fridge. Clean the mushrooms and trim the stalks to the cap. Get a frying pan on a medium heat and a griddle pan on a high heat.
Step 3. Add olive oil to the frying pan when hot, then add the mushrooms flat to the pan and fry gently in one layer for 5 minutes before turning. Once turned add the garlic and some salt and pepper to the pan. When mushrooms are soft and garlic is golden turn the heat off and thrown in a knob of butter and drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Mix it all around in the pan to coat the mushrooms.
Step 4. Add the steaks to the HOT griddle pan and press down lightly once for grill marks. For medium rare, cook for 2 minutes each side for an average thickness rump steak. Adjust grilling time to your preference. Once grilled, place on a plate and rest for 2 minutes.
Step 5. Add the juice of half a lemon, some olive oil, the mustard and some salt and pepper to a bowl and combine for the dressing. Once the steak is rested pour some of the juices into the bowl and use the dressing on your rocket.
Step 6. Set the table, light the candles, whack on some relaxed tunes and turn the TV off! Arrange the mushrooms and dress rocket leaves between the two serving plates, cut each steak into strips and arrange on the plate nicely. Presentation goes a long way!
Step 7. Rip your apron off, pour two big glasses of Shiraz Voigner or your favourite red and serve up dinner. Make a toast to your partner and their health.
Step 8. Discuss what movie you will watch after dinner and try to avoid The Notebook at all costs.
