Valentines Day: Our guide to the perfect Menu

Valentines Day rolls around so quickly each year, and every time there seems to be that feeling of pressure. Pressure for the perfect gift, pressure for the perfect meal, pressure for the perfect evening.

But fear not! With our Valentines day range including an edible flower selection wheel and mix selection wheel, we certainly have you covered.

Our Valentines Edible Flower Selection Wheel will stand anyone in good stead for making a meal that will impress – whether you’re a novice or a professional! This wheel is made up of a beautiful range of edible flowers in pinks, reds and purples. The wheel consists of dianthus, carnations, apple blossom, violas, amaranth flowers, red roses and bellis daisies. Although, it must be noted that produce can vary, but they will always be within keeping of the beautiful valentines colour scheme.

Our Valentines Mix Selection Wheel is equally as special and makes the perfect accompaniment for any cook that’s wanting a little savoury garnish this valentines. Our wheel typically consists of chard bulls blood micro cress, red amaranth micro cress, red butterfly sorrel micro cress, bellis daisies, red roses, apple blossom and amaranth pom pom edible flowers. Again, it must be noted that the wheels are intended for their valentines colour scheme, so produce may vary depending on availability.

But that’s enough of the wheels’ contents! Let’s get stuck in to a few recipe ideas to take the hassle away this valentines. We’ve found a brilliant starter, main and dessert to have you set up for the big day. We’ve even thrown in a couple of cocktail recipes too!

Start the night … with Gin and Tonic-Cured Salmon from Paul Welburn

Great British Chefs showcases some of the most beautiful dishes from some of the most talented chefs and we have truly been inspired this valentines.

Taking inspiration from Paul Welburn, salmon garnished with fresh micro dill makes for a light and flavourful starter to any valentines menu. We suggest following Paul’s recipe here, or going a little off-piste and letting the salmon itself do the talking. With your freshly cured smoked salmon, whip up a dill mayonnaise and serve with lemon slices and crispy thin breads and garnish with dill micro cress and white amaranth Pom Pom flowers from the Valentines Mix Selection Wheel.

Take a pause before your main course to enjoy Doctor Gin’s Valentines cocktail, The Passion 

Make valentines day extra special by taking a breather before your main course to enjoy a cocktail specially created by the brilliant craft cocktail creator, Doctor Gin. Garnished with an edible rose, this cocktail makes for a beautifully romantic valentines day drink. Follow his recipe in only a few easy steps below.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Black Shuck Passion Gin
• 25ml Passionfruit Gin Liqueur
• 15ml Sugar Syrup
• 15ml Galliano
• 25ml Sloe Gin
• Prosecco
• Edible Rose

Method:

1. Shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker over ice
2. Pour into your favourite glass and top up with Prosecco
3. Garnish with an edible rose.

Main… Pressed Sumac Chicken from Daniel Freear

Over on The Nurtured Way, the brilliantly talented Daniel Freear gives a tasty chicken recipe we couldn’t resist putting on the menu! Served with fresh heritage tomatoes, his Pressed Sumac Chicken is perfectly light and flavourful, making it a must this valentines. The way he prepares the tomatoes results in sweet and smokey flavours. It is served with a black garlic aioli – which you may want to tone down the black garlic on the night! Nonetheless, if you’re brave enough for a little garlic flavour, this dish is fantastic. Pickling the shallots with the juniper berries also ties in Doctor Gin’s valentines cocktails so well as juniper berries are a primary ingredient in making gin! If you fancy giving it a go, you can find his recipe here. Daniel garnishes his chicken with nasturtium leaves, but why not go the extra step this valentines and add chard bulls blood from the valentines mix wheel to your plate.

Finish the night with Cocoa and Silk’s Cakesicles

These cake popsicles are a great valentines dessert as they can be done in advance, look absolutely beautiful, and if you’re full from the main, they can be saved for the next day! Cocoa and Silk originally showcased her beautiful cakesicles as a little festive bake, but with the rich red colours and interchangeable edible flowers, we think it works equally as well for valentines. The recipe is quick and easy but will certainly impress your valentine. Check it out bellow, or head to our instagram profile to see Cocoa and Silk’s takeover with the step by step.

Method:

1. Paint popsicle moulds with melted white chocolate, coloured red (or pink!). Put these in the freezer and once set, paint another layer and put back in the freezer.
2. About 15 minutes after the second layer is set, remover from the freezer and fill each mould with about 2tbsp of cake crumb and buttercream filling. To make the filling, you can use leftover cake pieces and crumble them with buttercream to form a strong consistency. Cocoa and Silk recommends 100g of buttercream to every 500g of cake. Be sure to leave enough room in your moulds for the chocolate layer.
3. Place 1tsp of melted chocolate on top of the moulds and spread with a spatula until the cake is completely, evenly covered.
4. Set the cakesicles in the freezer for around 30 minutes and then de-mould.
5. Decorate your cakesicles using the Valentines edible flower wheel and go as crazy as you want!

Top off the night with Doctor Gin’s Slippery when Wet 

Whether you’re in the mood for another cocktail to accompany your dessert, or whether you can only squeeze in another drink, this one is perfect. Made with Greek yoghurt, this boozy valentines cocktail is the perfect mix between dessert and drink. If you missed this on our instagram last week, then follow the recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 2 small ripe strawberries
• 20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 60ml Gin
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 1 Heaped tbsp of plain unsweetened Greek yoghurt

Method:

1. Mix the strawberries, lemon juice and honey in a cocktail shaker and muddle well
2. Add the gin and greek yoghurt to the shaker
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake until well chilled
4. Pour over crushed ice and garnish with ground black pepper, a slice of strawberry and a valentines edible flower.