A Romantic Eco-Valentine's Dinner For Two!

Valentine's day this year falls on Meatless Monday! So in keeping with the spirit, we've combined both occasions to really Green-Up this day of love...A simple italian-inspired  menu that won't have our eco- lovebirds trapped in the kitchen all night.

Entree - Stuffed Field Mushrooms
2-4 field mushrooms   2x garlic cloves    1x T olive oil    1-2 x ripe roma tomatoes   
1 slice old bread, crusts removed, cubed    1/2 t ground pepper   5 basil leaves, torn   
1 x T flat leaf parsely   2 T finely grated parmesan cheese    125ml cup milk  

Remove stems from mushrooms and add into a hot pan with garlic and olive oil. Fry until soft. Add chopped tomatoes and stir until warm. Set aside into a bowl. 

Then add cubed bread, pepper, basil, parsely, cheese and milk.  Scoop this mixture into mushrooms and top each one with a slice of tomato, some basil and some grated parmesan.

Place in greased baking tray and bake in moderate oven for around 15-20 mins. Drizzle with a little olive oil on serving.


Main - Oven Baked Asparagus Risotto
1 T olive oil  1 x onion, finely chopped    1 x crushed garlic clove  
1/2 t finely grated lemon zest   150g arborio rice  350ml vegetable stock   
100g asparagus, sliced diagonally  23g grated parmesan cheese    sea salt    ground pepper

Preheat oven to 180. Heat the olive oil in a large casserole pot on med heat.  Cook onion until soft. Add garlic and lemon zest and cook for 20 seconds. Add rice and stir to coat. Then add stock, bring to the boil, stir occasionally.

Cover casserole dish and place in oven for 10-15 mins. Add asparagus and bake for a further 3 mins, or until asparagus is bright green and tender. Stir in parmesan, season with salt and pepper. Garnish with a little more parmesan to serve.

Dessert -  Chocolate Mousse Pronto!!
80g marshmallows, torn     300ml just boiled water    25g soft butter   
125 g 70% dark chocolate, chopped     140ml double cream    1/2 t vanila extract

Put butter, marshmallows, chocolate and water in a heavy based saucepan. Melt contents gently on stovetop. Stir occasionally. Remove form heat once melted. 

Whip cream with vanilla until really thick.  Fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until smooth.
Scrape into glasses or ramekins and refridgerate until you are ready to serve.  

(Pics courtesy of Foodnetwork, Straight from the Farm and Nigella)