Valentine's day is approaching! Restaurants are very crowded on that evening and it's so difficult to talk and have privacy. I think it's more romantic to stay home, spend time with your partner and cook a Valentine's dinner for two with your own hands!

Here is my suggestion for a romantic menu:

Starter: Courgette Mini Quiches

Main Course 1: Romantic Cous Cous

Main Course 2: Chicken Roulades with Orange Sauce

Dessert: Chocolare cream with Raspberries

Enjoy and happy Valentine's Day!

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

- 320gr/11.5 oz cous cous

- 350ml/12 fl oz water

- 4 tablespoons of olive oil

- 2 teaspoons of butter

- 2 teaspoons of salt

- 2 medium courgettes

- 200gr/7oz pesto sauce

- 20gr/1 oz pine nuts + 10gr/0.5oz to decorate

- 1 clove of garlic

Preparation method:

1. Let's start by preparing the cous cous: in a large sauce pan pour the water and add the salt. Bring it to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cous cous. Pour 2 tablespoons of oil and stir.

2. Cover with a lid and set aside for 5 minutes. After that add the butter, place the pan over low heat and stir for a couple of minutes.

3. Wash the courgettes and remove the ends. Dice the courgettes and place them in a frying pan together with 2 tablespoons of oil and the garlic. Place the pan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes. After that add the pine nuts and cook for additional 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and stir.

4. Now we have to combine our cous cous with the pesto sauce: in a bowl, place the cous cous. Then add the pesto. Stir very well until they are perfectly combined. Divide the cous cous into 4 portions. Grease 4 biscuits moulds or food rings and place one of them over each plate. Using a spoon, put the cous cous in each mould and press a little to level off the cous cous. Gently remove the moulds.

5. Place two tablespoons of courgettes and pine nuts upon each cous cous shape to decorate and serve.

For this recipe I used the Pesto Sauce included in the Mediterranean Table food set.

Suggested wine: Cinque Terre