Sex begins in the kitchen!

Did I get your attention? A number of years ago I read a relationship book with this title.  It actually wasn’t so much about how food is the way to a man’s heart, it was about how all the little things we do to help each other (like cleaning up the kitchen!) can go a long way towards increasing our desire (specially us chicks who might need a little lead time ;-)!) for intimacy.  Given this is a food blog though and not a marriage blog I’ll turn my attention to sharing a few recipes that you might like to consider for a romantic night in tomorrow night for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is not a day on our marriage calendar that is given massive attention, however we do usually buy each other a card.  I’d much rather a gift or flowers at a random time than on a ‘required’ day, but given this year the day falls on a Saturday, and we have no other social plans, we’re planning on cooking a nice dinner (probably a family dinner), putting the kids to bed, then having dessert and watching a movie together.  Then it will be a date night at home and the boys will learn a little about the importance of Mum & Dad having time for our relationship without them.

I haven’t decided exactly what to cook, but here are a few ideas I’ve got that you might be inspired to try too.

If you’re after a 3 course meal, why not try this roasted field mushroom with rocket, persian feta (omit for paleo), sun-dried tomatoes and roasted beetroot chips for an entree?

Here are a couple of main course suggestions, depending on what kind of protein your after.  I really like this eye fillet with mushroom & crispy sweet potato.

If you’d rather some lamb (or are feeding the family), why not cook a butterflied leg of lamb. 

If fish is more your thing grill some fresh salmon and serve it with a fabulous salad, like this rainbow noodley one:or this pretty peach & greens salad:or even some good old brussel sprouts!

The pinnacle of any Valentine’s Day dinner is surely the dessert! Here are a few of my favourite desserts that I think qualify as ‘romantic’ and  fit within the ‘paleo or paleo-ish treat’ category.

These lemon coconut tarts are even AIP friendly and if you have a heart shape mould are even more perfect!

Sexy Choc- caramel tart:

Raw choc-nut raspberry tarts with banana ice cream: 

 

Here is a super easy paleo-ish dessert. Chocolate coconut ganache with fresh strawberries. Bring 1 cup coconut cream to a simmer with 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste, turn off and after 5 mins stir in 100g dark choc till combined. Pour into little dishes (or tart shell) and refrigerate until set. Serve with fresh strawberries.

 

 

Or if paleo is not your thing and you want, what I think is the prettiest of desserts, have a go at this Pretty Persian Rose Ice Cream.

Well, hopefully that’s got the romance building in the air/kitchen!  I’d love you to post/comment with your Valentine’s Day meal ideas or after the fact, let me know what you cooked.  You can always tag your photos with #whatannabelcooks and I’ll see what you’ve made.

♥  Annabel x

Rainbow salad & pesto mayonnaise

I don’t use purple cabbage all that much but when I added it to this salad, it just looked so gorgeous! I don’t know about you but I get into a rut with salads. After a while they are all very similar. That’s why this one is fun as it’s added another colour and with the grated beetroot and carrot there are a few textures too. You could just as easily serve it with a balsamic/lemon/olive oil style dressing. A few nuts or seeds sprinkled on top would be nice too.

Adjust quantities according to the number you want to feed.  This one serves 3-4.

Toss all ingredients together:

• 2 handfuls mixed salad greens
• 1 large handful snow peas, chopped in half
• 1/2 beetroot, grated
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 cup shredded purple cabbage

Serve with Pesto mayonnaise.

To make pesto mayonnaise, mixed equal proportions of  pesto with mayonnaise and either serve on the side or toss the salad in the dressing for a more coleslaw style salad.

Paleo Pesto
1 large bunch basil – leaves removed from stalks
1-2 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
Juice 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup almonds (or any nut of your choice – raw or roasted)
olive oil
salt & pepper

Place all ingredients in food processor and blitz until finely chopped and a chunky paste is formed.  You will probably want to taste and adjust flavours eg more lemon/salt and adjust for consistency with oil and even a bit of water if you want it a bit thinner.

Paleo Mayonnaise

• 1-2 garlic cloves
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 egg
• salt & pepper
• 2-3 anchovies (optional)
• 3/4 cup olive oil (or macadamia or avocado)

1. In a food processor or stick blender blitz the garlic, lemon juice, mustard, egg, s&p, anchovies and about 1/4 cup of the oil.  Blitz until well combined.
2. Then with the processor/stick blender going SLOWLY pour in the rest of the oil in a constant but gentle trickle.  Keep going until the oil isn’t absorbed anymore – if it won’t ‘blend’ in anymore, just stop adding the oil.
3. Taste and season again if needed.  Refrigerate.

raw paleo snickers bar

Earlier in the year I made a different (and much more complicated) version of a paleo snickers bar merging a few recipes I found online and then I couldn’t remember what I did so never posted the recipe!

I was recently out for dinner with a couple of friends and one was telling me about a slice she and her teenage girls devour – sounded close enough to a paleo snickers bar in concept, so here is my attempt at my version!   It was easy and relatively quick.  Tasted delicious with my coffee this morning too.

raw paleo snickers bar recipe

First step is to soak the cashews for the middle layer, then make in order below…

Base:

• 8 fresh dates (pitted)
• 1 cup mixed nuts (raw or toasted… but then not a raw slice!)
• 1/2 cup pepitas
• 1 Tbsp melted cacao butter
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 tsp water

1. Line a square baking tin with baking paper.
2. Blitz together in a food processor/blender/thermomix until sticking together – can be a bit chunkier if you like the crunch, or smoother if you don’t.
3. Spread out evenly in the baking tin, freeze until next layer is ready.

Middle layer:

• 1 cup cashews (soaked for about an hour and rinsed – the longer you soak the smoother the ‘cream’ layer)
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• 1/8 cup maple syrup (or to taste)

1. Blend in a food processor/blender/thermomix until a smooth paste.
2. Spread over the base layer – doesn’t matter if it’s not completely smooth (see picture).  Return to freezer for at least 30 mins.
3. BEFORE adding the chocolate layer, smooth over this layer with a large spatula or cake knife so that when the chocolate is poured on, the finish is smooth and not lumpy.

Top/Chocolate layer:

• 1/4 cup melted cacao butter
• 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
• 1/8 cup maple syrup

1. Whisk ingredients together until smooth.
2. Pour  the chocolate over the smoothed middle layer – spreading by either rolling the tin around or using a cake spatula.
3. Return to freezer until set.

To serve:

Remove from the freezer, let it stand for 5 mins or so before cutting so you don’t crack the chocolate layer.  Cut into squares or bars.  It is rich, so small pieces is best and will make it last longer!  Store in the fridge or freezer.

Makes up to about 50 pieces.