Love on a plate (From Bournemouth Echo)

Love on a plate

12:00pm Thursday 11th February 2010 in

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FOR many couples, dinner in a smart restaurant is an essential ingredient for Valentine’s Day.

But if you love the challenge of cooking a special meal, a romantic evening at home can be just as appealing.

Indeed Janine Ratcliffe, food editor of Olive magazine, admits that she’s more likely to be found hiding in her kitchen than in a fancy restaurant on the big day.

“I won't be going out, I'll be cooking and sharing a bottle,” says the writer.

But if you’re not supremely confident in the kitchen, having to actually cook the food can get in the way of that perfect night.

“Know your limits,” suggests Janine. “Don’t get all Gordon Ramsay and decide you’re going to cook a three Michelin-star dinner for your loved one, if you’ve never cooked before. When it fails, the evening will be a disaster.”

And even if you have wonderful culinary skills, spending the whole night in the kitchen is not ideal on a romantic evening, she adds with a smile.

Make things easy on yourself by doing some preparation in advance, she suggests.

“If you want to serve three courses, that’s great.

But why not make two of them ahead of time. Then you’ve got the |security of knowing how you’re going to start and end the meal – even if you have a disaster in the middle. It will also give you a bit of cooking confidence.”

To give you some inspiration, here’s a make-ahead sweet treat to seduce your Valentine… and come back tomorrow for a sweet and seductive Valentine's cocktail.