RECIPES & WINE Delicious dining in for a Valentine’s Day supper.

In the KITCHEN

What could be better on a winter evening than a dish inspired by the Mediterranean and with the smoky warmth of chorizo? This dish is a perfect Valentine’s Day treat with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc!

SPAGHETTI WITH PRAWNS, CHORIZO & FENNEL

Preparation Time: 10 minutes. Cooking Time: 15 minutes. Serves: 2. 1 fennel bulb, fronds trimmed, bulb halved and tough core cut out • 1 tbsp olive oil 1 echalion shallot, finely sliced lengthways • 1 clove garlic, finely sliced • 60g pack Cooks’ Ingredients chorizo crumb 180g spaghetti • ½ unwaxed lemon, zest and juice • 220g pack extra large king prawns

Finely slice the fennel bulb lengthways and put in a large frying or sauté pan along with the oil, shallot, garlic, chorizo crumb and a pinch of salt. Set over a medium-high heat, cover with a lid and cook for eight minutes, stirring regularly until tender. Uncover and cook for another 5 minutes until nicely caramelised and turning golden. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pan of boiling salted water for a minute or two less than the pack instructions. Scoop out a mug of the cooking water, then drain. Add the lemon zest and juice to the pan with the fennel and chorizo, then tip in the prawns, cooked spaghetti and a glug of cooking water. Toss over the heat until combined and glossy, and the chorizo and prawns are piping hot throughout. Divide between plates and scatter with the fennel fronds to serve. n

In the KITCHEN

Rose meringues by any other method might taste as sweet but we think this tried and tested method marries the romantic flavours of rose water and cherries beautifully... ideal for rounding off a Valentine’s Day supper!

CHERRY & ROSE MERINGUES

Preparation Time: 25 minutes + 1 hour cooling. Cooking time: 1 hour. 150g caster sugar • 3 medium free range eggs, whites only • 1 tsp cornflour• 1 tsp lemon juice 2-3 drops rose water • 2-3 drops red food colouring • 150ml whipping cream • 150g Greek yogurt 1 tbsp icing sugar • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste • 180g cherries, halved and pitted 1 tsp Rose Petals (these can be purchased from Waitrose from the company’s Cooks Ingredients range).

Preheat the oven to 150°c, gas mark 2; line a large baking tray with parchment. Put the sugar in a roasting tin and warm in the oven for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, put the egg whites in a large mixing bowl with a pinch of salt; using electric beaters, beat on medium speed to soft peaks. One spoonful at a time, sprinkle the sugar over the egg whites and whisk on medium-high speed until dissolved and incorporated. Finish adding the sugar in small amounts and beat constantly until you have a stiff-peaked, glossy meringue. Mix the cornflour, lemon juice and rose water; sprinkle over the meringue, then beat in for 30 seconds. Dip a cocktail stick into the food colouring; swipe through the meringue. Repeat 3-4 times, then use a metal spoon to mix the colour through the meringue (add more colouring if you wish). Spoon 4 piles of the meringue onto the parchment; use a spoon to round the edges and make a dip in the middle (for the topping). Put the meringues in the oven, lower the temperature to 130°c, gas mark 1, and bake for an hour. Turn off the oven, prop open the door and leave the meringues to cool inside the oven for at least 1 hour. For the topping, use a balloon whisk to whisk the cream, yogurt, icing sugar and vanilla to soft peaks. Spoon into the cooled meringues. Scatter the cherries and rose petals over the top and serve immediately. n

La Hechicera Reserva Familia Columbian Rum

If a barrel – or a bottle – of this rum doesn’t put a ‘yo’ in your ‘yo, ho, ho,’ we can’t think what will! For those seeking a bit of Columbian warmth this month, we present one of the finest rums on the market in the form of La Hechicera. A bitter chocolate-led palate gives way to warming cinnamon, espresso and cracked black pepper spice for a naturally ‘unpolished’ rum, which has not been rounded up with additives or sugar. A smooth flavour and a lot of authenticity.

£42 / 75cl / 40% ABV, www.lahechicera.co.

The Wine Cellar

Wine of the Month

Château Pichon Baron 2017 Pauillac, £150/75cl; £900/6 x 75cl, 13.5% ABV, from Bordeaux region

A new release from the 2017 vintage, this flagship Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend is refined and elegant with supple tannins. A complex nose of black fruits, combined with spice and notes of vanilla and coconut. An intense show of dark juicy fruit, chocolate and a little bit of liquorice, this is beautifully in balance. It’s the best from a vineyard dating back to 1694, creating wines from their 73 hectare estate.

Available from waitrosecellar.com

THIS MONTH WE’RE IN THE PINK WITH A TRIO OF ROSE WINES, WE’VE A RUM TO WARM YOUR HEART AND A NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRIT TO ENSURE YOUR DRY JANUARY EFFORTS ARE A SUCCESS A non-alcoholic spirit

IN THE PINK: A trio of rosé wines to toast Valentine’s Day... to end Dry January!

1. A go-to sparkling rosé for many aficionados, created by Domaine Laurent-Perrier. Created with pinot noir grapes, for raspberry and redcurrant hues across a vibrant palate, £65 / 75cl / 12% ABV.

2. Not only is Hindleap a sterling mid-range sparkling rosé, it’s one from our own shores too; Bluebell Vineyard in Sussex, specifically. Strawberries, and rose, with orange and peach to add complexity, plus a fine mousse, £27.99 / 75cl / 11.5% ABV.

3. And finally, a non-sparkling rosé option from Henri Bourgeois’ in the form of their Sancerre based wine ideal when paired with spiced Asian or Middle Eastern cuisine £23.99 / 75cl / 12% ABV. If your efforts to see Dry January through to the bitter end are holding up, nay we recommend Eceaux Vitalitem, which has all the energy of a Parisian evening full of promise, filling you with bonhomie, but with none of the guilt. Ginseng, wormwood and other stimulating herbal extracts are great for reviving your spirit, with Eceaux’s invigorating herby citrus flavour. Enjoy a good squeeze of fresh lemon, top up with Tonic water, garnish with a slice of lemon. It’s low in calories, vegan, and gluten free. n

£28 / 70cl / 0% ABV, smallspiritscompany.co.uk.

n Our featured wines are available from the best local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary from those stated.