Valentine's Day Recipes

Try out these Valentine's Day Recipes at home and have a grand time with your friends and family.

Sweetheart choc & hazelnut sandwiches

Ingredients
4 slices from a small sliced brioche loaf
3 tbsp chocolate hazelnut spreads
1 large egg
75ml whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp caster sugar
2 tbsp chopped toasted hazelnuts
1 tbsp butter
icing sugar, for dusting
ice cream, to serve
raspberries, to serve

How to make
Thickly spread 2 of the brioche slices with the chocolate hazelnut spread, then top with the remaining slices to make 2 sandwiches. Use a large heart-shaped cutter to cut the sandwiches into hearts.

Whisk the egg, milk, vanilla and caster sugar in a wide, shallow bowl. Tip the hazelnuts onto a plate. Dip the sandwiches into the egg mixture, leave for 1-2 mins each side to allow the brioche to soak up the liquid, then dip one side of each sandwich into the nuts. The sandwiches can be chilled like this, covered loosely with cling film, for up to 1 hour.

Heat the butter in a wide frying pan until melted and foaming. Add the sandwiches and cook for 1-2 mins each side until golden brown and puffed up. Dust with a little icing sugar and serve with ice cream and raspberries.

Honey Pecan Chicken Cutlets

Ingredients
1 lb skinless chicken piece
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons margarine, divided
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup chopped pecans

How to make
Dredge the cutlets in flour, shaking off excess.

Heat two tablespoons margarine in a heavy skillet over medium heat.

Add the cutlets and brown on both sides, about 5-6 minutes.

Stir together the remaining tablespoon margarine, honey and pecans.

Add to the skillet, stir gently.

Cover and simmer gently for 7-8 minutes.

Remove cutlets to a serving platter, pour sauce over and serve.

Banana pancakes with crispy bacon & syrup

Ingredients
8 rashers smoked streaky bacon (or pancetta strips)
140g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp light soft brown sugar
2 ripe bananas, 1 mashed, 1 thinly sliced
2 large eggs
25g butter, melted, plus a little extra
125ml milk
maple syrup

How to make
Heat the grill to high. Arrange the bacon on a baking tray lined with foil. Cook for 5-7 mins until crisp, then turn off the grill but leave the tray inside to keep warm. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and sugar with a pinch of salt. Make a well in the centre and add the mashed banana, eggs, butter and milk. Whisk to a smooth batter without any flour lumps.

Heat a little butter in a large frying pan. Once sizzling, ladle in small dollops of the pancake batter, leaving a little space between each, as they will spread out. Put 2 or 3 slices of banana onto the surface of each pancake and cook for 2 mins over a medium heat. When you see bubbles appear between the banana slices, flip the pancakes over and cook for 1 min more, until puffed up and golden.

Transfer to a plate and keep warm with the bacon while you cook the rest. Serve the pancakes with the crispy bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients
Dough:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon, divided (use the other half for the frosting)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon (1-2 tablespoons)
Other half of lemon zest from above

Fresh Fruit:
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Pineapple
Peaches
Kiwi

How to make
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 10-inch round or tart pan with nonstick cooking spray. This will give a fairly thick crust. If you want a thinner crust, try using a larger pizza pan shape or a 9X13-inch pan (you’ll have to test this out since I’ve only used a 10-inch tart pan). For the dough, in a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Mix in egg, vanilla, and 1/2 of the lemon zest. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Press the dough into the prepared pan.

Bake the dough for 10-12 minutes, or until very lightly browned. Don’t overbake as the crust will become dry. Cool the crust on a wire rack completely.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the granulated and powdered sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, and other half of the lemon zest. Spread on the cooled pizza crust to within 1/4-inch of the edges. Arrange fruit on top of the pizza. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and chill until serving time.

Heart Pancakes

What You Need:
1) Flour - 2 cups, sifted.
2) Salt - 1 tsp.
3) Sugar - 2 tbsp. (optional)
4) Baking powder - 4 tsp.
5) Eggs - 2, lightly beaten.
6) Milk (or buttermilk) - 1 3/4 cups.
7) Butter/margarine - 4 tbsp.

How to Make:
1) Preheat griddle over moderate heat. In the meantime, mix the batter. Sift flour, salt, sugar and baking powder in a large-sized bowl (use a real sifter, if you can). Combine egg, milk, and butter in a separate bowl and slowly stir dry. Mix well so lumps won't stick together while you cook.

2) Begin cooking when the griddle gets quite hot. Pour some of the batter into the griddle and get it cooked. Get some help from your parents and bake a regular round pancake from your batter. Using the remaining batter, continue baking small round pancakes in this way.

3) Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out a perfectly shaped heart from each round pancake piece.

4) Top each cake piece with fresh berries and maple syrup.

Valentine Heart Sandwiches

What You Need:
1) Cream cheese (softened)
2) Red food coloring
3) Bread
4) Heart cookie cutter
5) Jam (strawberry or raspberry)

How to Make:

1) Add a few drops of red food coloring to the softened cream cheese. Mix until the color is a light pink throughout.

2) Using cookie cutter, cut the bread into heart shapes. Spread cream cheese over the bread. Top with the jam.

Heart Shaped Cake

What You Need:
1) Cake mix - 1 package, of any flavor (except angel food).
2) Milk - 1 cup.
3) Vanilla Instant Pudding - 1 package (4-serving size).
4) Sugar - 1/4 cup, powdered.
5) Cool Whip - 8 ounces, thawed.
6) Red food coloring - 1/4 teaspoon.
7) Small candies/colored sprinkles

How to Make:

1) Heat oven to 350F.

2) Prepare cake mix as directed on package.

3) Get an 8 inch round baking pan and another 8 inch square baking pan. Grease and flour the two pans. Divide batter evenly between the two baking pans.

4) Bake the batter as per directions given on package. Cool it for 10 minutes and then remove from pans to cool completely on wire racks.

3) In a medium-sized bowl, pour the milk; add pudding mix and sugar. Beat with wire whisk for 2 mins. Add in whipped topping and food coloring. Stir well.

4) Leave square cake whole; cut round cake in half. Assemble pieces by turning square cake to diamond shape and using small amount of pudding mixture holding each half of round cake to the top sides of diamond sides, making a heart shape.

5) Frost cake with rest of the pudding mixture. Garnish with candies or sprinkles.

Chocolate French Toast

What You Need:
1) Challah or Italian bread - 8 slices (slightly stale, about a day old)
2) Eggs - 3.
3) Milk - 1 cup.
4) Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp., unsweetened.
5) Powdered sugar - 3 tbsp.
6) Vanilla extract - 1 tsp.
7) Butter - 1 tbsp.

How to Make:

1) Place the bread in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Check that the pieces do not overlap.

2) In a medium-sized bowl, pour the eggs, milk, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla. Whip well together and pour the batter over bread slices. Turn bread over and over to coat well.

3) Preheat a griddle or a large nonstick skillet to medium-high temperature. Add butter.

4) Place bread slices on griddle. Cook per side for 3 to 4 minutes or until throughly cooked and light brown in colour. Your French toast is ready. Garnish with sliced strawberries or raspberries and powdered sugar, if desired. Serve.

Cheese Cookies

What You Need:
1) Butter - 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick)
2) Cheddar cheese - 1/2 cup, shredded.
3) Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup, shredded and freshly-grated.
4) Tomatoes - 2 tbsp., chopped and sun-dried.
5) Garlic - 1 tbsp., minced.
6) Flour - 3/4 cup.
7) Kosher salt - 1/4 tsp.

How to Make:

1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2) Get a food processor fitted with metal blade. Place all ingredients in its work bowl. Turn on the food processor and pulsate until the mixture forms a neat dough.

3) Pour out the dough on a lightly-floured surface and roll to about 1/4 inch thickness.

4) With a sharp knife, cut triangular shapes out of the circular dough and place on a baking sheet. Some adult supervision is required.

5) Bake the dough for 6 to 8 minutes (or until it turns light brown around the edges).