The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach

Award-winning TV chef, cookbook author and dessert diva, Grace Stevens shares her best recipes to celebrate Valentine’s Day. For her, cooking is more than an activity, it is as an expression of love. It provides us with a way to physically show our care for loved ones by nourishing their bodies and delighting their souls with our culinary creations.

Here are Grace’s top takes on how to express your love through food this Valentine’s Day:

Madeleines

Few nations can claim to do romance quite like the French, and Grace’s madeleines are the perfect vintage dessert to add a touch of French flair to your Valentine’s Day. And if you are like Grace and have a tradition of hiding a small treat in your children’s lunchbox on Valentine’s Day, they make the perfect stowaways.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs (100g)
• 100g caster sugar
• 100g flour (extra for dusting tin)
• 40ml lemon juice
• zest of one lemon
• 3ml baking powder
• 100g melted butter (cooled slightly)

Method

1. Grease a madeleine tray and dust with flour. Tap off excess flour and set aside. You may freeze the tray for a larger “pearl”.
2. Whisk eggs and sugar until light and airy.
3. Fold in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 60 minutes or overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Fill each shell three quarters of the way with cooled batter.
5. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. There should be a small rise in the centre. This is called the “pearl”.
6. Allow to cool slightly before removing from the tray and dusting with icing sugar.
7. Best enjoyed fresh out the oven within the hour.

Berry Fruity Rum Cocktail

If you love soaking up the long summer days, but prefer the cooler embrace of the evening for your picnic, this is the perfect cocktail for you. Using the floral and herbal notes from the garden gives the perfect balance between sweet and strong.

Ingredients

• 45ml rum
• 250ml berry juice
• 15ml Chambord (or any raspberry liqueur)
• 100ml sparkling lemonade
• 120g frozen strawberries
• Handful of ice cubes
• 90g fresh raspberries
• A few sprigs of thyme

Method

1. Mix the rum, berry juice, Chambord and sparkling lemonade in a chilled jug and set aside.
2. In a blender, place the ice and the frozen strawberries and blend for a short few bursts. Do not allow the fruit to get too small.
3. Half fill two glasses with the frozen berries.
4. Fill the glass with the cocktail, top off with raspberries and a sprig of thyme.
5. Serve immediately.

Leek and Butternut Crustless Quiche

Picnics are a fabulous way to entertain the whole family and with these crustless mini quiches, you will not even have to worry about picking up the crumbs.

Ingredients

• 1 small butternut, peeled and cubed
• 4 leeks, cleaned and sliced thinly
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 20ml butter
• 30ml olive oil
• 5ml mustard powder
• Salt and pepper to season
• 500ml grated cheese
• 2 eggs • 250ml milk
• 50ml flour
• 5ml baking powder

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Toss butternut in half of the olive oil, season and roast for 25 minutes or until soft and slightly charred around the edges.
2. In a medium frying pan, place the oil, butter, mustard powder, leeks and onions. Cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes, cover and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. Place butternut and leeks in the base of a 26cm quiche tin and distribute evenly.
4. In a medium bowl, mix milk, eggs, flour and baking powder well.
5. Pour milk mixture over butternut and leeks and tap tin to even out the liquid.
6. Cover the quiche with cheese and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown and set in the middle.
7. Serve warm from the oven with crusty bread and a salad or chilled. Keeps for up to three days in the fridge.

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Valentine’s Day is about unlocking the wonderful memories we have connected to food and creating new ones with our families over twilight picnics on a hot summer evening as we pick away at a mound of finger foods and special nibbles. To this day, Grace enjoys avocado toast because it reminds her of the evenings she had shared with her husband when they started dating.

ALSO READ: Make your micro wedding memorable without breaking the bank

For more delicious recipes, follow Grace on Instagram @grace_stevenschef or book your macaroon master class on www.gracestevens.co.za.

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Source: Get Published