A Valentine's Day Picnic For Two
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
IMAGES: MARCEL AUCAR
It’s time to get creative…
No more chocolates, no more single red roses - this Valentine’s is all about giving from the heart. We don’t always need to wine and dine on Valentine’s day, sometimes it’s a little more romantic to think about what your partner really loves and go from there, and my Bruce loves his new ‘country get about so I decided that this Valentines’s Day we would picnic from the car. Intrigued?
Heading out to the countryside with a picnic never looked so inviting! Especially when your car is filled with this much deliciousness. We have fruit to snack on, cakes to indulge in and of course, a beautiful selection of Fromager d’Affinois cheeses. Don’t forget to pack a few chairs because this is one luxurious Valentine's day you will never forget!
So what did I use to create this country picnic? A lot of things from my home that’s what! And I love doing that, I love walking around my home, rifling through old cupboards to find that perfect something - repurposing items in ways that are a little off centre, in ways that are creative and bring a little spark to the occasion we are celebrating. So it was with great pleasure that I jam-packed Bruce’s car with chairs, an ottoman, plants, platters, baskets, snacks, fruit, cakes and so much more!
Cherry jam served with Fromager d’Affinois Florette and Fromager d’Affinois Le Fromager
Upon finding the perfect location I set up the car to look like a smorgasbord of love! Baskets overflowing with red apples and cherries, cosy seats laden with cushions for absolute comfort, and my favourite homemade cherry jam to match back with Fromager d’Affinois Florette, a combination that is absolutely delish! Any fruit jam in season is perfect with cheese, and this is a really beautiful twist. The tartness of the cherries goes well with the creaminess of the Fromager d’Affinois cheeses and the colour looks stunning.
TO SERVE:
1 generous wedge of Fromager d’Affinois Le Fromager (approx. 250g)
1 generous wedge of Fromager d’Affinois Florette (approx. 250g)
INGREDIENTS:
1kg fresh cherries, pitted and halved
½cup of lemon juice
1kg of jam sugar
METHOD:
Place a small saucer in the freezer to chill.
Placed the pitted and halved cherries in a large saucepan, use a potato masher to crush the cherries to help release the juices.
Add the lemon juice and cook over low heat stirring occasionally for five minutes, or until the cherries are tender.
Add the sugar and continue to cook, stirring, for 10-15 min until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat and bring to a rolling boil, then cook for another 4 min.
Take the saucer out of the freezer, spoon a little of the jam onto the saucer and return to the freezer for 2 min or until the jam is cold.
Check with your finger to see if it has set and is gel-like.
If the jam is ready, remove it from the heat and set it aside for 5 min.
Ladle hot jam into jam jars, seal and turn upside down until cool.
TO SERVE:
Place jam in a serving bowl and arrange on a platter with room temperature Fromager d’Affinois Florette and Fromager d’Affinois Le Fromager crackers.
Preparation: 15 min Cooking: 30 min Serves: 6-8
VALENTINE IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOU…
An Emergency Valentines Day Kit
A little Valentine's Day emergency kit filled with a few sweet bits n' pieces could get you out of a whole lot of trouble if this romantic day has slipped your mind. Because I mean really, not everyone can be on top of everything all of the time, can they? I know I certainly can't! However, a quick trip to the supermarket will have your back. Filling a box with your loved one’s favourite things for a night of special treats shows that you care about them.
A Romantic Valentines Table
I loved setting up this romantic table for two. Valentine's Day is the perfect day to surprise your loved one (or family, or friends - whoever you may love and care for!) and this setting is a simple example of not needing to go too over the top and crazy to create a little romance. I chose to make the hero of this table the beautiful pink and red roses. By choosing these two colours, I placed a few stems into little milk jars that have been arranged to create the shape of a heart. Sweet and simple, yet oh so effective.
Read the entire blog post here...
Creamy & Crunchy Valentines Dessert
Eton mess is a dreamy dessert for Valentine's Day. Simple to pull together and always delicious. Preparing the meringue ahead of time will allow you to build it at the table with your loved ones, making dessert time interactive and fun. My tip is to add chocolate to the traditional Eton mess, my personal favourite is flaked almond milk chocolate as it just adds another textural crunch!
Read the entire blog post here...
Create a Love Jar
Finding new, creative ways to show your love year after year can get a little ho-hum. You can follow the rules and go searching for the perfect gift containing…wood, glass, china and bronze or you can get creative and make a keepsake that is from the heart. Having celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary this year, I have had this little project on my mind and thought it would be perfect, not only for anniversaries but any occasion.
DOWNLOAD MY VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYLISTS NOW!
Music is everything when it comes to celebrating and setting the mood of the night, so make sure to DOWNLOAD my Valentines day playlist. As a total romantic, making this playlist was a breeze! Yes, there are love songs, but there are also anthems of joy, independence and some vintage classics you can’t help but sit still too! A collection to play during a romantic dinner as well as the soundtrack to a drinks night talking heartbreak.
