Recipes For The Perfect Valentine's Day Meal (PICTURES)

This wondrous, luxurious, chocolate torte recipe from Shaun Hill tastes as good as it looks.

Ingredients:225g 70% Amedei chocolate, or dark cooking chocolate225g unsalted butter340g caster sugar6 medium free-range eggs1 drop Bart vanilla essence140g Bart white breadcrumbs
For the chocolate ganache:110g 70% Amedei chocolate, or dark cooking chocolate125g icing sugar225ml double cream
To plate:1 250g punnet fresh raspberries8 tbsp cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 160˚C/gas mark 3 and line a 22cm spring-form cake tin.
2. Start by melting the chocolate over a bain-marie. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, beat in the eggs one at a time and whisk.
3. Mix together the ground almonds, breadcrumbs and melted chocolate, add to the egg mixture and combine well. Pour the mix into the tin and bake in the oven for 55 minutes. Remove and allow to cool.
4. For the ganache, break the chocolate and place into a large bowl. In a separate pan, bring the cream and icing sugar to the boil and then pour over the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool.
5. Spread over the cooled chocolate torte using a hot palette knife to ensure it is distributed evenly. Slice up the torte and serve with some raspberries and cream.

Recipe courtesy of www.greatbritishchefs.com

Marcello Tully, head chef at Scotland’s esteemed Kinloch Lodge, creates a luxurious scallop recipe that’s sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients:4 Gressingham duck breastsSaltPepper
For the passion fruit sauce:4 passion fruits2 star anise70ml whisky100ml maple syrup10g black treacle
For the crushed new potatoes:500g new potatoesButter1 bunch chives, finely choppedSalt

Instructions:

1. Start the sauce by cutting the fruit in half, removing the pulp and seeds and flesh from inside and placing in a small saucepan.
2. Next, add the whisky and star anis and bring to the boil. Allow the alcohol to burn off and remove the pan from the heat until the flame burns out.
3. Add the maple syrup and black treacle and bring back to the boil. Remove from the heat to allow the ingredients to infuse. Reheat the sauce when ready to serve.
4. Wash and place the new potatoes into a suitable sized pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Cook for about 10-15, strain and leave to cool slightly.
5. Put the duck breast on a chopping board skin side up and, using a sharp knife, score in a diagonal direction. Then turn the duck breast around and score in the opposite direction.
6. Season the duck breast. Heat an ovenproof frying pan on a high heat. Once the pan is very hot place the duck breast, skin side down, into the dry pan. Reduce the heat so that it gently fries and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown.

Recipe courtesy of www.greatbritishchefs.com

Marcello Tully, head chef at Scotland’s esteemed Kinloch Lodge, creates a luxurious scallop recipe that’s sure to impress your guests.

Ingredients:
For the scallop mousse:150g scallops150ml double cream1 egg white3g salt
For the white wine sauce:250ml fish stock330ml double cream50ml white wineSalt
For the garnish:6 king scallopsOlive oil1 handful dill

Instructions:

1. To make the mousse, put the scallops in a blender and pulse until smooth. Add the egg white and salt and mix briefly, then add the cream and blend for around 20 seconds until smooth and silky. Make sure not to overwhip or the mix will split.
2. Preheat the oven to 150°C/Gas mark 2. Line the base of six stainless steel rings with cling film. Transfer the mousse to a piping bag and pipe into the rings, dividing it evenly between them. Smooth over the surface using the spoon.
3. Place the rings in a roasting tin and half-fill it with hot water from the kettle. Bake for 15 minutes then remove from the oven.
4. While the mousses are cooking make the sauce. Place the stock and wine in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the liquid by a third until it resembles a glaze. Add the cream, season to taste then return to the boil and simmer until the mixture coats back of spoon.
5. Cut each king scallop into three discs. Heat a frying pan over a high heat, add a little oil and fry the scallop discs on each side for 30 seconds only.
6. Remove the cling film from the mousses. Run a sharp knife around the inside of the rings and gently lift them off. Put the mousses on serving plates, cover with sauce and arrange three scallop discs on top of each. Add some dill and serve.

Recipe courtesy of www.greatbritishchefs.com