THE VALENTINE LOVE STORY

‘Good Morning Honey, Wish you a Happy Valentine’s day’, calls up Adam and wishes his fiancée. Extremely pleased Eve says, ‘Same to you sweetheart’. In a rush to go get ready Adam says ‘Got to go for work, but I hope you remember our plans for the Evening, we’re cooking dinner together, I’ll pick you up at Eight, or maybe a bit early, cooking together will take some time,’ he adds wickedly. ‘All right see you then, and have a good-day, I got to go too’, answers Eve.

Adam has something else on his mind, he takes a half day, (he’s worked late in the evening a day before to make up for it), and guess what! Eve has done the same. So off to the market they both go (separately of course), to buy the ingredients for the dinner, they have planned. Knowing how health conscious Eve is Adam plans to surprise Eve with a smoothie and pasta for dinner (before she arrives) and Eve knows that Adam simply loves fish cakes, so she plans to make that.

Sharp at 7:45pm, Eve hears the bell ring, and she gives a last minute look at the mirror before opening the door. ‘You look gorgeous as usual’, says Adam ‘Let’s go, hungry aren't we?’ he says in good humor. ‘Sure we are, and cooking will take a while. Bye mom, I’ll be back around 11’, says Eve to her mother and they both rush off.

On reaching Eve quietly goes to the kitchen and puts her packet, but well there’s a surprise for Eve.

The table is laid, candles are lit and so is the dinner!! And Adam is equally surprised and happy with what Eve has got for him. As they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Adam seats Eve on the dining chair and says ‘I’ll be back in a jiffy’, Eve can hear him whistling and true to his words he’s back with 2 glasses of strawberry smoothies. ‘This is amazing, and how did you make it?’ questions Eve. ‘It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 if you own some KitchenAid products baby!’

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE

For a couple

INGREDIENTS

Yoghurt: 450gms; Honey: 2 tsps.; strawberries (sliced): 250gms.

Method

] Combine all ingredients in the KitchenAid cordless hand blender.

] Use the Puree until extremely smooth.

HOT FACT: Strawberries improve blood flow; and feed the capacity of sexual and carnal desire. Strawberries tipped with chocolate can get the ultimate in desire!

After the smoothie, both go to the kitchen together, Eve with the KitchenAid stand mixer makes the fish cakes while Adam rustles up the pasta for his darling. And they start with their favorite main course. ‘You would have made an excellent Chef if not a chemical Engineer, and what may I ask is the recipe for this, it’s just the way I like it,’ says a mesmerized Eve. ‘Sure sweetie, and here it goes,’ shares Adam.

PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS IN BASIL SAUCE

Makes 2

Pasta: 150gms (made using the KitchenAid pasta attachment); Basil leaves: 10 Gms; Lemon juice: 15 ml; Salt: as reqd; Olive oil: 8 ml; Mixed mushrooms (regular, oyster, shitake):130 Gms; Vegetable stock: 75ml; Rocket leaves: a large handful; Parmesan shavings: Accompaniment/garnish.

Method

] Boil pasta for 5-6 minutes. Drain and keep warm

] Chop basil finely and put into a small bowl with the lemon juice and 4 ml of the olive oil.

] Heat the remaining oil in a thick based frying pan and fry mushrooms over high heat for about 3 minutes. Pour in the vegetable stock and continue cooking until the mushrooms have softened and stock evaporated.

] Pour basil sauce over the mushrooms. Add the cooked pasta and rocket leaves to it and toss. Serve in bowls, sprinkled with parmesan shavings.

‘And darling how do you make the fish cakes, I just love them’, says Adam. ‘It’s really simple and easy when you know it.’

FISH CAKES WITH CUCUMBER RELISH

Makes about12 cakes

Fish fillet (sole): 300 Gms; Red curry paste: 25 ml; Egg: 1 no; Granulated sugar: 5 gms; Corn flour: 30 Gms; Kaffir lime leaf: 1 no; Coriander (chopped): 15 Gms; Green beans (finely sliced): 50 Gms; Oil: For frying.

Relish

Rice vinegar: 60 ml; water: 60 ml; Sugar: 50 Gms; pickled garlic: 1 head; cucumber (quartered and sliced): 1 no; spring onions (finely chopped): 100 Gms; Ginger (finely chopped): 20 Gms.

Method

] Relish: - Bring vinegar, water and sugar mixture to a boil, stir till sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool. Combine the rest of the relish mixture in a bowl and pour vinegar mixture.

] Combine the fish, curry paste and egg in the KitchenAid chopper attachment and process well. Transfer to a bowl and add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

] Mold and shape mixture into cakes.

] Heat oil in a wok or deep fat fryer, fry the cakes for 4-5 minutes or golden brown, serve hot with relish.  

‘So, honey what we do for dessert, should we make that together?’ suggests Adam naughtily. ‘Yes, sure, we’ll have fresh a wild berry sorbet, that’s simple, easy to fix with the KitchenAid ice-cream attachment and just delicious and very valentine!’ adds Eve with innocence.