Top Valentines diner
 

Hi all

Have been half pushed / pulled into offer the g/f dinner for Valentines dinner.


Any suggestions ( plS inc recipe)

thanks

I proposed last valentines with Alaskan Crab legs, Asparagus spears and some cous cous. Crab legs, you boil in water to heat up, Asparagus, I grilled with a little italian dressing, and the Cous Cous was out of a box.

nice idea for the asparacus and cous cous - wil struggle to get the crab but the other two sound cool.

This is what I am going to cook although in the spirit of equality g/f is doing pudding



Table and room set with candles- for mood
For starter

Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 strips of bacon, fried and crumbled; reserve fat
1 small onion, finely chopped
8 large mushrooms, stems removed
8 mushroom stems, finely chopped


Saute onion and mushroom stems in bacon fat until tender. Drain off excess fat. Mix crumbled bacon, onion and stems with softened cream cheese until the mixture is workable.

Stuff each mushroom and bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Finish under the broiler just until tops are golden.


For main course
Aromatic Valentines Day Lamb
1 Leg of lamb (about 4 lbs)
3 lb Potatoes (about 5 oz each)
1 Lemon
Honey
Olive oil
Butter
Rosemary, thyme & oregano

Put the leg of lamb into a large roasting pan.

Bruise the leaves of 2 or 3 sprigs of rosemary and sprinkle them over the meat. Add plenty of pepper and 1 tablespoon honey. Rub the mixture into the meat with your hands, then rub half a lemon over the joint, squeezing the juice onto the meat as you do so. Do not add any salt. Leave to marinate for 4 to 24 hours.

Peel and quarter the potatoes, then arrange them in a single layer around the lamb.

Squeeze lemon juice over the potatoes -- use at least half a lemon, or up to one and a half lemons for a strong citrus flavour. Carefully pour 1/4 pint water into a corner of the roasting pan, then sprinkle about 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, at least 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme and at least 1 teaspoon oregano, and some salt and pepper over the potatoes and lamb. Drizzle on 1 1/2 teaspoons honey and 1 tablespoon olive oil, then dot with 1 oz of butter.

Bake at 425 F. for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

The ingredients will become gilded and will burnish to a rich brown in places. Lift the meat and turn the potatoes occasionally, and if necessary, add a little boiling water to the pan to prevent drying out.

After all that a little healthy in house exercise should be in order

;)