‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’, they say, but it’s 2020, and it’s time to tweak that a little. These days, the way to everyone’s heart is through their stomach. So, if you’re not planning to head out for a fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day, I am here to make a suggestion that I bet you’ll love.
Well, I know you will be eating together but what about cooking together too? How does it sound? Trust me, it can be the most romantic thing to do on Valentine’s Day and you don’t have to be a Michelin star chef to pull it off. Also, did I mention that you can be in your pajamas and watch Netflix straight after?
Now, that you’re all game for it, let’s move on to the ‘I can’t cook’ part. Fortunately, I’ve got you covered. I am listing recipes for some scrumptious desserts, great cocktails and delightful mocktails that are easy to make and taste pretty amazing too.
Take a look!
Mocktails
Looking for delightful mocktails for Valentine’s Day? I made a list of four mocktails that are refreshing, sophisticated and perfect for the day of love. So, ready your jars and punch bowls and try these amazing Valentine’s Day recipes.
1. Virgin Sangria
Fresh, fruity & absolutely refreshing!
Ingredients
– 1 thinly sliced lemon
– 1 thinly sliced orange
– 1 thinly sliced apple
– 500 gm thinly sliced strawberries
– 8 oz raspberries
– 2 cups orange juice
– 1/2 cup lemon juice
– 4 cups apple juice
– 1 cup pomegranate juice
– 1 cup white grape juice
– 1 cup chilled seltzer water
How to make
– Mix everything together in a large pitcher except the seltzer water and chill for 2 hours.
– Add the seltzer water before you serve.
2. Blood Orange and Rosemary
A perfect cozy drink for Valentine’s Day!
Ingredients
– 1 cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice
– 3 lightly bruised rosemary sprigs
– 1 1/3 cups cranberry juice
– 1 cup granulated sugar
– 2 cups chilled cream soda
– Ice
– 1 cup water
How to make
– Start by straining the fresh blood orange juice.
– Now, make teh rosemary syrup. Mix the water and sugar in a pot and heat it over low flame until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup starts to thicken. Now, add the rosemary sprigs.
– Remove the pan from heat and cover it. Keep it aside for 1-2 hours.
– Take four glasses and fill each one with ice. Add 2 tablespoons of rosemary syrup in each glass.
– Now, add 1/3 cup of cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of cream soda and 1/4 cup of blood orange juice to each glass, and tada.
3. Strawberry Slush
‘Coz who doesn’t love strawberries?
Ingredients
– 250 gm mixture of frozen strawberry and syrup
– 130 ml sparkling apple cider
– Red sanding sugar
– 2 cups ice
How to make
– Cover the rim of your glasses with the red sanding sugar.
– Now, mix all the ingredients in a blender until they form a thick consistency.
– Pour it in the glasses and serve.
4. Cherry Bomb
Bright, gorgeous and RED!
Ingredients
– 1 litre lemon-lime soda
– 2 Maraschino cherries
– 2 tablespoons lime juice
– 30 ml grenadine
How to make
– Mix the grenadine, soda and teh lime juice in a pitcher and stir.
– Add some ince to a glass and pour the juice mix you made.
– Top off with maraschino cherries.
Also read: Want To Make Your Boyfriend Feel Special? Here Are 80+ Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him!
Cocktails
Valentine’s Day definitely calls up for a special drink with your special someone. Raise a glass to our simple yet sexy-ass cocktails that you can try on Valentine’s Day.
Here are some of Valentine’s Day recipes that I picked out for you.
1. Valentine’s Day Special Martini
You can never go wrong with a martini!
Ingredients
– 15 ml cranberry juice
– 5 ml lime juice
– 20 gm strawberries
– 5 ml sugar syrup
– 10 gm basil
– 10 ml Cherry Brandy
– 50 ml Cointreau
– 45 ml Vodka
How to make
– Put the basil and strawberries in a cocktail shaker and mix them well.
– Now, add the rest of the ingredients along with some ice.
– Give it a firm shake.
– Double strain the drink before putting it into a chilled martini glass. Garnish it with a strawberry.
2. Rhubarb & Rose water
Lovin’ it!
Ingredients
– 1 lime
– 2 slices cucumber
– A dash of rose water
– 2 dashes rhubarb bitters
– 2 oz Hendricks gin
– Simple syrup to taste
How to make
– Muddle cucumber, simple syrup, lime and rhubarb bitters. Then add Hendricks to it and shake it well in a cocktail shaker.
– Double strain the mixture. Spray some rose water and garnish with a cucumber slice.
3. Love Potion
Looks pretty and fun to drink!
Ingredients
– 6 oz rosé champagne
– 1 oz lime juice
– 3 oz gin
– 1 oz elderflower liqueur
– Rose petal ice cubes
How to make
– Add the gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake it well.
– Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass and put some rose petal ice cubes.
– Top it up with rosé champagne and enjoy.
4. Pink Lady
For the love of pink!
Ingredients
– 0.25 oz egg white
– 0.5 oz grenadine
– 0.5 oz apple brandy
– 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
– 1.5 oz Monkey 47 gin
– Brandied cherry
How to make
– Add all the ingredients to your cocktail shaker except the brandied cherry and make sure you shake it well.
– Add ice and shake it again.
– Strain the drink into a cocktail glass.
– Garnish with brandied cherries.
Also read: Leave Him Lovestruck! 20 Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas For Every Kind Of Date
Desserts
Yes, you can have any cuisine as your main course but make sure to have the best Valentine’s Day dessert to end your evening on a high note.
Bookmark these recipes for Valentine’s Day!
1. Champagne & raspberry possets
‘Coz why not?
Ingredients
– 2 tablespoons champagne
– 200 ml double cream
– 140 gm defrosted frozen raspberries
– 2 teaspoons freeze-dried raspberry pieces
– 4 tablespoons golden caster sugar
How to make
– Blend the champagne and raspberries until it forms a smooth purée.
– Use a wooden spatula to sieve it, and discard the seeds left.
– Take the cream and sugar in a saucepan and warm gently until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and boil vigorously for 2 1/2 minutes. Stir constantly.
– Turn off the heat and stir the champagne purée.
– Let it cool for 15 minutes and divide it into two glasses.
– Let it chill for 30 minutes and sprinkle the dried raspberry pieces and then chill again for at least two hours until it is set.
2. Chocolate fondant
Chocolate is a universal expression of love!
Ingredients
– 200 gm dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
– 200 gm butter, in pieces
– 4 eggs
– 4 egg yolks
– 200 gm plain flour
– 200 gm golden caster sugar
– Cocoa powder, for dusting
– 50 gm melted butter, for brushing
How to make
– Heavily brush melted butter all over your pudding moulds
– Place them in the fridge and then brush some more butter over the chilled butter.
– Dust the moulds with cocoa powder.
– Take the dark chocolate and butter in a bowl and put it over a pan with barely simmering water. Keep it on the flame until it is smooth.
– Leave it aside to cool for 10 minutes.
– Take a separate bowl and whisk the four eggs and egg yolks with the golden caster sugar until it is thick and pale with an electric whisk.
– Now, pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture in thirds until it is combined to a loose cake batter.
– Pour the fondants into the moulds.
– Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Put the moulds into the baking tray and cook them for 10-12 minutes until the tops form a crust.
– Remove from the oven and allow them to sit for one minute.
– Loosen the fondants a bit and carefully remove them from the moulds.
3. Vanilla panna cotta
A classic Italian dessert for Valentine’s Day?
Ingredients
– 150 ml milk
– 40 ml double cream
– 2 1/2 sheets gelatine
– 1 vanilla pod
– 60 gm caster sugar
– Fresh strawberry to serve with it
– Strawberry compote to serve with it
How to make
– First things first. Add the gelatine sheets to a bowl of cold water and soak for five minutes.
– Scrape the vanilla seeds out of the pod by using the back of the knife.
– Pour the milk and cream into a saucepan along with vanilla seeds and sugar. Bring them to a simmer and remove from heat.
– take the gelatine out of the water and squeeze it. Add it to the milk mixture and stir it until it’s completely dissolved.
– Pour it into the ramekins and place them in the fridge for a couple of hours to set.
– Once set, turn the ramekins upside down on a plate and serve it with strawberry compote and some fresh strawberries on the side.
4. Red velvet cheesecake bites
A good red velvet cupcake is just perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Ingredients
– 2 large eggs
– 1 cup sugar
– 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
– 1/2 cup melted butter
– 1 large egg yolk
– 1/4 cup sweetened cocoa powder
– 3/4 teaspoon vinegar
– 3/4 cup flour
– 1 tablespoon red food colouring
– 8 ounces softened cream cheese
How to make
– Preheat the oven to 350 degrees C and line a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
– Whisk the eggs in a bowl and keep them aside.
– Take a large bowl and put cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, butter, sugar, red food colouring and vinegar and mix it thoroughly.
– Now, mix in the whisked eggs and stir in the flour until incorporated. Spoon in the batter into the prepared cupcake liners.
– Mix cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl and beat in the egg yolk with an electric whisk for 2-3 minutes until it is smooth.
– Now, spoon in the cream cheese filling on top of the brownie batter. Drop about a half teaspoon of the brownie batter on top of the cheesecake layer.
– Use a toothpick to gently create a swirl.
– Bake it for 14-16 minutes.
– Allow it to cool in the muffin tin for 20 minutes before transferring them to the fridge to chill.
Ready to WOW each other?
Featured Image: YouTube
