Valentines Dinner

[_dogma_]

Right guys, needing a hand here.

We've decided we're just going to cook a meal this year, have wine and watch a movie. I think we might have the starter and dessert sorted out but not sure about the main course.

For starter we're thinking of Scallops with Herb Butter. Not sure where to buy scallops and what to look for when buying, any hints? :)

Dessert will be either really easy Sticky Toffee Pudding (takes about 5 mins :D) or Strawberry Meringue Crunch (if I can figure out how to make meringues!!).

Not sure what to have in the middle... Thinking about possibly beef-like something but not sure what to do with it or what to have with it. I'm also open to other suggestions about would fit well within the meal. I am, however, a fussy bugger and only eat pig, cow, chicken, turkey or fish and don't like too much veg.

Wine - I like fruity-ish wine and have no idea what would go well with the food. Something cheap and cheerful would do though. :)

Thanks :)

[lostkat]

I think this (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9083/steak-with-mushroom-puff-tartlets) looks fantastic, and simple too. Veg choices can be modified of course.

With scallops, buy them fresh from your local fishmonger or Morissons (always have a good fish selection). Make sure you get the kings rather than queens as they're the biggest. DON'T over cook them. They literally only need 1 minute per side.

[LeperousDust]

Scallop's definitely buy them at a fish monger if you can, i'm lucky to have one about 10 doors away and he sells lots of random fresh exotic things, but worth it.

For the main course if you want beef, its not very "romantic" but a lovely thick slab of very nice beef steak lightly cooked so its still tender with some home made thick wedges and some kind of light salad with a generic White Wine Vinegar Dressing or something. I'm feeling hungry thinking about that now.

Also maybe think about wrapping the scallops in bacon, i've not home cooked it myself but i have eated it in a resturant and they were very nice, but slightly "different"! Yum :)

//Edit: Looks good LK ;D :)

[lostkat]

Parma ham would be more suitable IMO. Bacon is a bit bulky for scallops

[LeperousDust]

Parma ham would be more suitable IMO. Bacon is a bit bulky for scallops

Yeah actually you're right it probably was that come to think of it, good call :)

[lostkat]

Prosciutto Wrapped Scallops with Lemon and Parsley (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5016/prosciuttowrapped-scallops-with-lemon-and-parsley-)

NOM!

[Glaucus]

Yeah if you can get scallops at a fish monger. however the frozen ones at asda are perfectly edible and tasty. not sure if they do the large ones though.

Hopw about something like decent butcher steak with a red wine sauce and sautéed potatoes.

Or something really slow cooked, with rich red wine and mash always good.

[Muban]

If you want crunchy meringues and not chewy ones, you can make them in the microwave and they come out surprisingly well.

Microwave meringues:

1 egg white
275g caster sugar
paper cake cases or baking parchment

Knead together the egg white and caster sugar (it ends up looking a bit like royal icing). Form into 16 balls (about the size of a walnut). Either place into cases or lay a sheet of baking parchment onto the plate in the microwave and put the meringue mixture onto that. Place the merigue ball thingies around the edge of your microwave plate leaving them planty room to expand. I normally do this in 2 batches and have a fairly large microwave so can do 8 at a time, but you may want to do smaller batches if you have a small microwave. Then just microwave on high for 1 min 20 secs (based on a 750w oven).

You can use this to make a pavlova and if you are just going to break it up maybe just as easy. Roll out the mixture until it's dinner plate sized then microwave for 2.5 - 3 mins.

[Glaucus]

I prefer pavalova bits. Ie chewy.

Don't know the qauntties. but to get the awesome chewiness. You add cornflour and vinegar.

[Muban]

Have to say with meringues I am usually one for extremes, either really crunchy (like the micro ones) or super soft and sticky like you have on lemon merigue pie.

Oh and another vote for having a ham like Parma or Prosciutto wrapped round the scallops....MMmmmmm

[_dogma_]

All suggestions sound lovely!!

Really like the look of what LostKat posted! Might try that but I've never made pastry before so not sure how well that would really go!

Not sure about the parma ham, sounds nice but I didn't like it when I had it with melon once... Could always do some with and some without?

Muban, I have a really silly question. How do you get just an egg white on it's own? :o

[Tak]

You can buy pre made pastry if you're worried about that :) (I know in tesco its usually in the chiller section with the butter and marg)

[Jonny69]

Prosciutto Wrapped Scallops with Lemon and Parsley (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5016/prosciuttowrapped-scallops-with-lemon-and-parsley-)

NOM!
I think that might be a hint Leon *cough* ;) :D

[Muban]

I was typing out an explanation of how to do this and realised it is difficult to explain but really easy to do! So instead go here, it explains it very well:

http://www.helpwithcooking.com/egg-guide/how-to-separate-egg.html

If you are worried about breaking the yolk on the edges of the shell you can break it into your hand over the bowl instead. just allow the whites to slip through your fingers into the bowl.

[Lomster]

I think this (http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9083/steak-with-mushroom-puff-tartlets) looks fantastic, and simple too. Veg choices can be modified of course.



Thanks for the link :D Liked the steak with mushroom puff tartlets but also found a few other recipes that I want to try.
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4390/thai-salmon-with-cucumber-and-dipping-sauce
Nom nom nom there is so many things I want to try and make but it will mean I will be cooking for kids and then for Faysh and I as the kiddies won't like them.

[lostkat]

BBC Good Food is a brilliant website :)All suggestions sound lovely!!

Really like the look of what LostKat posted! Might try that but I've never made pastry before so not sure how well that would really go!
Have you read the recipe? :p It uses shop bought puff pastry. Making puff pastry from scratch is extremely fiddley and not really worth it IMO :)

I think that might be a hint Leon *cough* ;) :DLeon? Cook? You're having a giraffe aren't you :p

[_dogma_]

BBC Good Food is a brilliant website :)
Have you read the recipe? :p It uses shop bought puff pastry. Making puff pastry from scratch is extremely fiddley and not really worth it IMO :)



Believe it or not, I did! I just wrote my reply afterwards and forgot what it said. :o

The only problem I have with websites is that I find it really hard to find anything I want to cook. I love flicking through cookbooks as it's easier to find something I fancy. Unless I know what I'm looking for I find it hard to just browse the websites.

[lostkat]

What did you end up making in the end then? Got pics??

I made scallops with a tomato, olive and herb salsa served with lashings of crusty bread to soak up all the juice. Leon and I both absolutely LOVE this dish, so it's what I always make when we buy scallops. I've always taken the coral (orange bit) off in the past, but you can eat it so I left it on this time. The scallops were so sweet and just absolutely beautiful. The best we've had yet. Thank you Leicester fish market :)
http://www.lostkat.co.uk/scallops.jpg

Then I did the steak and mushroom puff recipe that I suggested when you started this thread. Hassle free, which is what I want on Valentine's Day, but extremely tasty. I did it with potato wedges and salad.
http://www.lostkat.co.uk/steakandmushroompuff.jpg

I bought some bits to make a raspberry mess for pud, but we were so full that I didn't bother. We're having it tomorrow when a couple of my friends come over instead :)

[Jingo]

I knocked up the following menu - complete with romantic candlelit, petal covered dining table and of course- copious amounts of booze!: A bottle of her favourite Rose, some Dissaronno and several bottles of St.Austel Tribute ale.

To Start:

A sharing platter of mixed Italian hams inc. proscuitto crudo, parma, salami romana and smoked mountain ham, buffalo mozzarella, marinated sun-blushed tomatoes, olives stuffed with garlic and some mixed young leaves.

Main:

Fresh garlic & herb tagliatelli with an orange pepper pesto and creme sauce. Served with a sharing bowl of mozarella & cherry tomato salad leaves topped with a balsamic glaze.

Dessert:

Vanilla and black cherry icecream in a brandysnap basket, with thick hot chocolate sauce and topped with fresh cherries and a sploosh of double cream.


Afters:

Hand made chocolate selection from local delicatessen with baileys coffee.


:D It seemed to go down rather well! :D



edit- not like that!

[_dogma_]

Those dishes look really tasty LostKat. :)
I had planned to take pics but once I got into the cooking I completely forgot about it!

For starter- Scallops with Herb Butter and crusty bread.

Main- Beef Stoganoff and roast potatoes. It was a rather spur of the moment choice but it tasted really good!

Dessert - Greggs Valentine cake with pavlova ice cream.

Wine- Blossomhill Rose Zinfandel and M&S Cava Prestige.

I realise I didn't take any suggestions on board but I'll definately make them at some point. :) Sainsburys was farily empty when we went so I couldn't find pastry or parma ham which hindered my plans a little!

[Jingo]

Even if it didn't go to plan it still sounds great dogma :)

Due to you and Lostkat I now have THE YEARNING! for scallops!