Rather than following the masses and heading out for dinner, give the gift of a home cooked meal this Valentine’s Day and dine in with this delicious menu.
To Lovingly Start: Poached Pesto Gnocchi
- 50g parmesan
- 50g pine nuts
- 150ml olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- Handful of basil
- Radish, thinly sliced
Step 1: Cook the pine nuts in a small frying pan over a low heat until golden, shaking occasionally. Step 2: Put into a blender with the remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Step 3: Pour into a jar and set aside. Step 4: Poach gnocchi in a pan of lightly salted water for 3 minutes or when it floats to the top. Step 5: Drain and serve immediately with a spoonful of the pre-made pesto and top with a slice of radish. 
Your Catch Of The Day: Jewelled Salmon & Asparagus
- 2 salmon fillets
- 6 asparagus spears (an aphrodisiac, thank us later)
- 1⁄2 red onion, thinly sliced Pomegranate seeds
- 1 spring onion, chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 200c. Lightly coat a baking tray with cooking spray. Step 2: Place salmon on one side of the tray and asparagus on the other. Step 3: Twist over salt and pepper, and drizzle on the oil and lemon juice. Step 4: Bake for approx 15 mins until salmon is cooked through and the asparagus is tender. Step 5: Fry red and spring onions in a pan on a low heat for 3 minutes. Step 6: Serve salmon with asparagus and sprinkle with onion mixture and pomegranate seeds. 
Adore Some More? White Chocolate Raspberry Brownies
- 250g salted butter
- 200g milk chocolate chips
- 100g white chocolate chips
- 400g soft brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 140g plain flour
- 50g cocoa powder
- 100g raspberries
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 20x30cm baking tray tin with baking paper. Step 2: Put the chocolate, butter and sugar in a pan and gently melt, stirring occasionally. Step 3: Remove from the heat. Stir the eggs one by one into the melted chocolate mixture. Then sieve over the flour and cocoa, stirring gently. Step 4: Mix in half the raspberries and scrape into the tray, then scatter over the remaining raspberries. Step 5: Bake on the middle shelf for 30 mins. Step 6: Cut into squares and serve warm with a couple of fresh raspberries on top.
