Romantic Valentines Evening For Under £50!

While I do think that Valentines day is very commercialised, I also think it is a good excuse to really make time for each other and do something a bit special.  It's expensive to go out for a meal (even more so on Valentines!) and everywhere is packed. I'm going to show you how to have a romantic 3 course meal, candles, flowers, cocktails and even chocolate dipped strawberries for under £50.  Not only that, but the meal is also Slimming World friendly and is under 15 syns with both your healthy extras. Am I good to you or what?  So read this blog post and tell your loved one you are putting in the special effort this year!

Firstly let me explain the £50.  An advert came up on my time feed for a local restaurant for a special Valentines meal that was "only £45 per person". £90 for a meal? For me there's something extra special about someone making the effort to prepare something just for you, especially if you don't normally do the cooking! The meal is nice and simple to prepare, no matter how good or bad your kitchen skills are!

£50 is what it costs for EVERYTHING on my shopping list.  Hopefully there are some things that you already have in your cupboard, such as herbs, spices etc, so you may even end up spending even less.  I shopped at Tescos and based prices on theirs, and all prices correct at time of posting!


Here is your menu for the evening:-
You will need:- 


Method:-

Put the biscuits in a bowl, pour over the melted spread and mix well. Spoon into a 20cm diameter springform cake tin, and press down with the back of a spoon. Cover with cling film and chill the base for 30 minutes.

Mix up the gelatine as per the pack instructions. Add to the quark, vanilla yoghurt and sweetener and mix until smooth.  Pour over the biscuit base, cover and chill overnight.

When ready to serve, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn't touch the water (or melt in the microwave on a low heat for 30 seconds). Stir until smooth.

Cut the cheeseake into 8 slices, put 2 on your plate and dizzle with the melted dark chocolate, then dust with the cocoa powder. Serve with a chocolate dipped strawberry (1 syn)

Recipe adapted from here

You will need:- 
Method:- 

Pour a cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the heat to a boil without reducing the heat on the stove.

At this point, turn down the heat so that boil reduces to a simmer. Stir occasionally and allow to simmer until the vinegar has reduced by at least half (for a thinner reduction) or more (for a more syrupy consistency). However impatient you may be, don't try to increase the heat, unless you want to be left with a stiff, hardened mess! Dot this on the plate or over your risotto.


Place all the stock in a small saucepan with a sprinkling of fresh thyme and keep on a low heat.
Melt the butter in a frying pan and add the onion, garlic and mushrooms and cook until softened and golden.

Add a little of the stock if needed to prevent from sticking. Season with some black pepper.
Add the Arborio rice and mix thoroughly with the onion, garlic and mushrooms.

Add 1 ladle of stock and  continuously stir making sure you scrape all the flavouring from the bottom of the pan as you do so, as the stock reduces add another ladle of stock, and repeat the process. until stock is  gone and rice is cooked.

Serve in a heart shape

Recipe adapted from here
You will need:-


Method:- 

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions in a pan of salted boiling water, then drain.

Heat a frying pan and add the chicken strips panchetta bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is golden-brown and cooked through.

Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper, add the fromage frias and stir through, but be carefull not to let it boil.

Add the Italian herbs to the sauce mixture, then the cooked pasta and stiry through.   Serve with a mixed salad.