Chef Martin Anderson
Love is in the air !
So why not treat your loved one to this melt in the mouth Chocolate Mousse and win them over.
And yes I know before you start saying St. Valentine’s Day is in lent and we are off chocolate for our sins …… just eat it and enjoy it. For some reason it doesn’t stop you drinking alcohol on St Patrick’s Day and that’s always in lent too!
Here is a wee hint as well , leave the article open or print it out and perhaps your significant other will take the hint and whip it up for a special St. Valentine’s treat .
I have to admit St. Valentine’s Day was always a difficult time for me as a Chef.
Not for the fact that I was nearly always working but it was such a busy night with everyone booking for the same time and all tables of two. More than often the chances of seeing them again were slim. Nothing like watching someone devour a plate of chicken wings with their bare hands to make you decide if you have a future together!
I always thought you should express your love for someone every day of the year. It’s a leap year too folks the pressure will be on for a lot of guys. You’ll be sweating it out for 24hrs…I myself will be unavailable for requests!
If you are planning a romantic dinner make sure you are well organised and start the evening off with a little bubbly. Prosecco is always a good choice. Mix with a little orange juice or a nice red fruit liquor, pour into the glass first and then top up with Prosecco .
A fresh bowl of tossed salad to start add crunchy croutons , sliced avocado and crisp bacon bits and finally dress with a little flavoured oil -there are plenty available.
A nice bit of sour dough bread gently warmed makes a great sharing starter.
For main course choose something that’s easy to do , you don’t want to spend all night in the kitchen while your guest goes through your phone !!
Pan fry Breasts of chicken until they are well coloured , place in a roasting tray with a little butter and a cup of water add a dash of the Prosecco and some fresh rosemary & thyme .
Cover in tinfoil and cook for 25 minutes at 170c .
A great side dish for this is a simple vegetable stir fry , you can make your own or there are many fresh options available in shops , it’s quick to cook and tasty , spice thing up with a little sweet Thai chilli sauce through the vegetables just before serving .
As the chicken is cooking you can cook 2 portions of Basmati rice and allow to drain , if you are bad a cooking rice then you can even get varieties that are microwaveable , what ever you do don’t over cook it or it will get sticky .
When the chicken is cooked serve it on top of the rice with the juice from the roasting tray over it and your vegetables on the side .
You had better check that your guest eats meat beforehand , if they are vegetarian , well ask them what the like and fulfil their wishes .
Finally the dessert , the one that everyone looks forward too.
I will admit unashamedly getting inspiration for this recipe from the queen of chocolate herself – Nigella Lawson. I’m a big fan of Nigellas and her cooking too !!
She makes cooking great food simple , she uses fantastic ingredients and she’s appreciates that some people just don’t have the time to cook long recipes and because of this she has many followers , this is such a simple recipe to make and is best made the day before.
Have a Happy St. Valentine’s Day folks and my address is on my website if you are sending me a card .
Chocolate Mousse
Chef Anderson admits he would love to gets his hands on Nigella Lawson’s mousse!
150 grams mini marshmallows
50 grams soft butter
250 grams good dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids) chopped into small pieces
60 ml hot water (from a recently boiled kettle)
280 ml double cream
1 teaspoon vanilla essence or extract (optional )
Method
Put the marshmallows, butter, chocolate and water in a saucepan.
Put the saucepan on a medium heat and stir until it is all melted be careful it doesn’t burn
When melted take off the heat and allow to cool slightly .
Meanwhile, whip the cream with the vanilla extract until thick, and then fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth mixture.
Pour or scrape into a bowl and allow to set in the fridge.
Serve with fresh red berries of sliced strawberries sprinkled on top , you can dip the fruit into the mousse if you wish .
