Valentine's Day menu

Our easy romantic menu, plus prepare-ahead time plan is perfect for February 14.

Want to create a gorgeous night in for two, without resorting to a takeaway or ending up completely frazzled in the kitchen? Click below for our gorgeous yet simple Valentine's recipes and use the time-plan to make sure the night goes without a hitch...

 

Pears with pecorino and pancetta

Lamb with olives and capers

Potatoes with anchovies

Wilted spinach with lemon.

Chocolate and cherry pots

The prepare-ahead time plan

Do the cooking and assembly a little in advance. That way, when the meal is ready to serve, your romantic evening will see you sitting at
the table rather than
red-faced over the stove.

The day before

* Cook the pear for the starter. Prepare pecorino and pancetta cubes

* Marinate lamb

On the day (to serve dinner at 7.30pm)

* 6.15pm Prepare and cook potatoes. Take lamb out of the fridge
to allow to come up to room temperature

* 6.45pm Prepare chocolate pots and set aside

* 7.05pm Fry off the lamb, then put into oven

* 7.15pm Cook pecorino and pancetta cubes and assemble the starter

* 7.25-7.30pm Remove lamb and potatoes from oven. Set meat aside to rest; keep potatoes warm

* Sit down and enjoy the starter with a glass of white wine or champagne

* 7.45pm There are just five minutes of activity here... Put the spinach on to wilt while you cut the lamb into cutlets, then put the finishing touches to the spinach and serve the main course, popping the chocolate pots into the oven just before you sit down to eat. 

* 8.15pm Whip the chocolate pots out of the oven, dust with icing sugar, serve immediately.

 

By Good Housekeeping cookery editor, Emma Marsden

 

Read more great Valentines' ideas in our Love over 40 special, see all features here

 

 

 

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Our quick history of Valentine's Day

 

Our collection of other Good Housekeeping recipes (they're all triple tested

 

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