lifestyle

cointreau-crepes.png Here is a quick, simplified, version of the classic Normandy crêpes suzette. It makes an elegant dessert for a Valentine’s day (or even Pancake day) supper. 10/25/6 Ingredients: 85g (3/8 cup) soft unsalted butter 25g (1 oz) golden caster sugar 3 tbsp Cointreau or Grand Marnier Zest of ½ orange 12 thin pancakes<link> For the sauce: 2 oranges, […]

Okro water, it help to boost your ovulation as most people know. It has other health benefits which you don’t know especially in the treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure and vagina dryness MANAGE DIABETES WITH OKRO Okra contains insulin-like properties, which are beneficial for the treatment of diabetes! Okra water helps to reduce the

Muhalebi is a classic milk pudding that’s popular across Turkey and the Middle East. Here it’s developed as a Valentine’s Dessert with a topping of tangy, red, pomegranate jelly. Prep time 25 minutes/Cook time 10 minutes/Serves 6 (plus 6 hours chilling time) Ingredients: For the muhallebi: 560ml (2 1/3 cups) whole milk 45g (1 ½

This is an easy to make dish that still looks and tastes as if you had ordered it from an expensive restaurant. Ideal if you want to show off a little for Valentine’s day. Prep time 30 minutes/Cook time 15 minutes/Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 plaice fillets (about 150g [1/3 lb] each) 150ml (3/5 cup) white

This is an easy to make dish that still looks and tastes as if you had ordered it from an expensive restaurant. Ideal if you want to show off a little for Valentine’s day. Prep time 30 minutes/Cook time 15 minutes/Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 plaice fillets (about 150g [1/3 lb] each) 150ml (3/5 cup) white

If you are serving champagne (or other sparkling wine) for Valentine’s day, why not take 150ml of it and use it to prepare this elegant and simple starter. Most of the prep time here is cleaning the mussels. You can actually clean and de-beard them the night before and store in your fridge until needed.

This is a truly classic springtime tart. It can be made with forced rhubarb from the end of January or with fresh rhubarb from mid March. As such it’s suitable for Valentine’s day, Easter and as a special Mother’s day treat. Prep time 30 minutes/Cook time 65 minutes/Serves 6 Ingredients: For the pastry: 200g (7

This is a North African flavoured slow cook lamb dish that works well for Easter or for Valentine’s day. Though the lamb needs to be slow-cooked for a long period in the oven this is all hands off time, meaning that you have more time with your loved one or your family. Prep time 10

smoked-salmon-stuffed-goat-cheese-beetroot-carpaccio.png It may be surprising, but I’ve only just recently discovered beetroot (red beets) and I’ve been on a bit of a beetroot kick, hence this recipe. It makes an excellent dish for sharing on Valentine’s day and is ideal as part of a shared meal for Christmas, New Year and Easter too. Smoked salmon

sri-lankan-love-cake.png A traditional Sri Lankan wedding cake recipe is adapted here as a Love Cake for Valentine’s cake. The recipe is based around fine semolina, cornmeal or polenta. I used South African mealie meal (white maize meal) for my gluten free version, but use what you have available/to hand. This cake will keep for up

Want a spectacular full-of-flavour pudding that’s still quick to make so you can focus on your special someone for Valentine’s Day… Well, this microwave pudding could be for you… three minutes to mix, a minute to cook and another minute to stand, ideal! The measurements are given for each mug. Prep time 3 minutes/Cook time 2

chocolate-mousse-raspberry-cream-tart.png Elegant, indulgent and extremely moreish, these tarts are guaranteed to please your special someone on Valentine’s Day. Prep time 50 minutes/Cook time 20 minutes/Makes 4 Ingredients: 300g (2/3 lb) ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry plain flour, for dusting 100g (3 ½ oz) dark chocolate (at least 65% cocoa solids), broken into pieces 40g (1 ½

These gooey no-bake bites are the perfect after-dinner snack for anyone who takes chocolate seriously. They are perfect for serving during Christmas and New Year and as a Valentine’s Day treat. This can be made dairy free and vegan if you use dairy-free chocolate (and for a vegan version don’t use honey). Prep time 50

Here classic French madeleines are given a Middle Eastern twist. These make great edible gifts and are wonderful for Christmas or as a Valentine’s Day treat or breakfast. Note that if you don’t have a madeleine tin, you can use a 12-well muffin tin. In that case, the cakes will be larger and will take

This is a rich and indulgent Middle-eastern inspired dessert that’s ideal as a slightly indulgent pudding for the Christmas period or served as an intimate meal for Valentine’s day. You can also serve in a larger dish for sharing. This dessert can be prepared the day before and stored in the refrigerator over night. Prep

sticky-spiced-duck-legs-plums.png Duck with red fruit, what could be a more Valentine’s day appropriate main course? Though this takes 3 hours to make, most of that time is hands off (margination and slow roasting) so you have plenty of time for your significant other. Prep time 20 minutes/Cook time 180 minutes/Serves 2 (plus margination time) Ingredients: