Valentine's Day

Create these divine creamy chocolate pana cotta desserts for your family in no time at all. Beautiful served with fresh strawberries and cream, they are the perfect sweet treat to end a beautiful meal.

Cute as a button, these heart-shaped omelettes served with fresh smoked salmon are a perfect breakfast treat for a special occasion or a cosy weekend brunch.

Enjoy the wonderful combination of chocolate and nuts, swirled throughout these deliciously fluffy almond friands.

These sweet fluffy vanilla spiced cupcakes are perfect for a romantic Valentine's day present. Topped with a thick, chocolate frosting and a homemade double chocolate heart, they are utterly decadent and make a wonderfully indulgent treat.

Instead of your usual trifles, why not give this exotic one a try? The papaya and lemongrass are a taste sensation!

Release your inner mixologist with this summery daiquiri. White rum is the basic ingredient here, and once you've got the hang of it try mixing it with any soft fruit. Cheers!

These sweet fluffy vanilla spiced cupcakes are perfect for a romantic Valentine's day present. Topped with a thick, chocolate frosting and a homemade double chocolate heart, they are utterly decadent and make a wonderfully indulgent treat.

Infused with rich dark chocolate, crushed biscuits, cherry ripe bars and sour morello cherries, this enticing cheesecake dusted with cocoa is almost too good to share.

The beautiful combination of warm, tender grilled peaches with a sweet almond mascarpone crunch is the perfect dessert.

Served in a cocktail glass, delicious layers of stewed apples, custard and sweet roasted almonds will delight your tastebuds with every scoop.

Cut yourself a thick slice of this rich red wine and chocolate cake. Topped with a gorgeous creamy chocolate ganache, it is utterly indulgent and perfect for a weekend treat.

Chocoholics beware - you are sure to go nuts over these indulgent puddings sprinkled with wholesome pistachios and showered in a rich chocolate fudge sauce.

Deliciously nutty and chocolatey, surprise your girlfriends with these glorious Afghan biscuits - it'll be hard to stop at one!

A timeless Italian dessert - the unmistakable combination of liqueur, coffee and cool ice-cream will finish off your meal in heaven.

This dessert treat featuring strawberries in a brandy sauce with smooth white chocolate cheese allows you to put in a minimal effort for maximum results!

Indulge your naughty side with these decadent Aero self saucing puddings, a chocolatey centre begging to ooze out with the scoop of your spoon.

Show off your baking skills by serving up this fudgy chocolate cake. Everyone will want the recipe!

The aroma of a chocolate pudding just out of the oven can make your tastebuds dance with anticipation, so get baking!

Ready in just five minutes, these colourful cocktails will certainly get the party started!

Delight your senses with this timeless Italian dessert. The irresistible combination of espresso, liqueur and cool, creamy ice-cream will leave you in food-heaven.

This recipe has chocolate, raspberries, coffee cream and hazelnut and takes just 30 minutes to make. If that doesn't make your mouth water then absolutely nothing will.

Give a savoury twist to the decadent French souffle. Oozing with melted parmesan and taleggio cheese this is yet another example of good French food.

Savoury and fruity, this tantalising sauce is worth the wait and guaranteed to be a winner alongside any pork dish or when marking a special occasion.

This bite sized balls of heaven are beautiful served with a cup of hot coffee or on their own as a sweet afternoon treat. Decadent chocolate frosting is sandwiched between pink and white marbled meringue kisses to create the ultimate petite dessert.

These small almond cakes are beautiful paired with caramelised apples - a sweet, moist treat for any time of day.

These sweetie pies are delicious with a cuppa or served with thick cream for dessert. They'd also be perfect to pack for a picnic.

This melt-in-your-mouth confection originated in Istanbul in the 18th century and has been around ever since. Try this authentic homemade version and you'll never want to eat the stuff in the packets again.

It is important to combine gelatine and yoghurt mixtures at similar temperatures to avoid lumps forming. Note

If desired, dust inside of ramekins with a little extra caster sugar to aid souffle rising. Note

If desired, omit hazelnuts or use ground walnuts, pecans or almonds. Note

This is a simple, no-fuss canapé option. The prosciutto could be substituted with bresaola or mortadella.

Sponge suitable to freeze before filling. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Cool, fruity and refreshing, this beautiful pomegranate cosmopolitan is perfect for a night out with your friends or relaxing afternoon drinks on a hot Summer's evening.

You can dip other fruit, such as banana or orange segments. To prevent chocolate seizing, stir with a metal spoon while it’s melting. If chocolate overheats you must discard it. Note

Adjust rosewater quantity according to taste. When rolling balls in chocolate, work in batches so chocolate doesn’t set before you sprinkle it with sugar. Note

Instead of bacon, use chipolata sausages or chopped chorizo. Buy an unsliced loaf of white bread then cut into 2.5crn slices. You can use sliced sandwich bread, but it will flatten significantly when toasted in the press. No press? Cook toasties in a lightly oiled frying pan. Note

An elegant and decadent poached pear dessert laced with cinnamon and vanilla, drizzled with chocolate sauce. Up the level of indulgence by serving with a scoop of ice-cream.

The egg-whites can be kept in the freezer in an airtight container (labelled) for several months. One egg-white is about 2 tablespoons. Note

Remove the strawberries and ricotta mixture from the fridge 5 minutes before serving. You can use a mixture of berries in this dish. Note

To make a piping bag, spoon melted chocolate into a mini snap-lock bag. Snip off the corner and squeeze gently. For a variation, dip strawberries into sprinkles or crushed nuts after dipping into chocolate. Melt chocolate in the microwave on Medium (50%) power in a microwave-safe bowl, in 30 second bursts, stirring after each burst, […]

These puddings can be cooked a few minutes longer to make them easier to handle, but they will not be molten. Note

Make sure you don’t open the oven door to check on your souffles during cooking or they will sink before they have cooked through. Note

Use a clean dry bowl when beating egg whites to achieve maximum volume. Note

For your sweetie pie! These are fantastic tiny little tempters if you’re looking for picnic fare - or anytime fare too!

These tiny little tempters are just made to be shared! There's nothing quite like the combo of strawberries and chocolate, and this recipe brings in a dash of cream to make it even more irresistible.

Amaretto, originally from Italy, is an almond-flavoured liqueur and can be purchased from liquor stores. If small panettone are unavailable, cut 7cm rounds from large panettone, brioche or fruit bread.

Surprise your loved ones this weekend with this delicious French toast and berry compote. Sprinkle with a dusting of icing sugar for that finishing touch. A perfect brunch.

Spiced with ginger, these dark chocolate truffles make a delectable after dinner treat with a cup of coffee or a digestif.

Warm chocolate pudding cakes with a molten chocolate core served with mascarpone coffee ice-cream make an elegant yet indulgent dessert.

This pretty marbled chocolate thins are easier to make than you'd expect, marbling the chocolate can be almost therapeutic once you get the hang of it. Avoid rapid cooling and don't put the sheets in the fridge to set, you want the chocolate to be set firm but not brittle when you're ready to use the cutters.

For crisp-skinned salmon, salt the skin before pan-frying or barbecuing, and cook skin-side down first. The salt helps draw any moisture out of the skin to make it crisp. Turn only once to complete cooking.

Just a few extra ingredients and about half an hour in the kitchen and you can turn regular chocolate ice-cream into a delicious and very sophisticated dessert.

The rich redness of the rhubarb manages to make this dish look both striking and sophisticated. Few will be able to resist the charms of the deliciously tart topping hiding a rich creamy custard filling.

If you're not a fan of coriander, try thai basil; it has a strong basil flavour and is an almost indispensible ingredient in Thai cooking. It is also said to bring good fortune.

Ok, there is a slight art to making thin and perfect crêpes, but there should be enough batter here for you to make a couple of mistakes. Resting the mixture before using it will make them nice and smooth, as will using a well oiled crêpe pan. Plus, the melted cheese will hide any rough edges!

You will have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over. Note

Bring a little bit of Belgium to your kitchen with this classic dish. Serve with some crusty bread to soak up that delicious broth, and be generous with the finger bowls!

Cut this rich chocolate velvet cake with chocolate glaze into little finger sized sliced for an elegant afternoon tea plate.

Do not be intimidated by the soufflé! Think of it as a flavoured base into which beaten egg whites are folded. The heat of the oven expands the air in the egg white and contracts when cooled. So serve it immediately, hot from the oven.

If you don’t have a candy thermometer, boil the syrup until it’s thick with heavy bubbles. Remove from heat, let bubbles subside, then reassess the thickness of the syrup. Note

Affogato is a popular Italian dessert that often combines coffee with ice-cream and often, a splash of booze. We've used Irish cream here, but you could substitute your favourite liqueur.

You need a loaf of the larger-sized bread (slices measure 12cm across). Ham slices can be used instead of the shaved ham, if you like. The little cut-out hearts can be used to make fairy bread or sandwiched with a cut-out heart of sliced cheese, held together with a toothpick and grilled until browned. Sandwiches […]

It's so light, so lovely - with a coffee-cream filling - this delicious dessert cake will just melt in the mouth. Best of all, it's gluten free so everyone can enjoy it.

Paper hearts can be bought at newsagents, or you can place a smaller heartshaped cutter, covered with plastic wrap, on each cake before dusting. Dust hearts with icing sugar. Pour mixture evenly into prepared pan. Use a cutter to cut hearts. Note

For variations on the filling, use a combination of smoked salmon (or crab meat or prawns) with cucumber, avocado and pickled vegetables. Sushi seasoning is a mixture of rice vinegar, sugar and salt; it is available in bottles from Asian food stores and the Asian food section of supermarkets.

The tart cases we used were bought frozen and unbaked; they come ready-to-bake in foil cases and measure 6.5cm in diameter. They are available from supermarkets. Tartlets can be made a day ahead, keep refrigerated.

These romantic cupcakes are ideal for an engagement party or baby shower.

The lobster meat in the tail is the sweetest and most delicately flavoured. Enjoy this decadent salad.

What better way to treat the kids or your nearest and dearest for this weekend's brunch with this decadent stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes with bacon. Enjoy!

Cakes are best made on the day of serving. Note

This yummy mango and lime mousse makes a fruity and tangy alternative to the usual chocolate kind. With the slightly boozy and most delicious element of creme de menthe, you have a dessert just for the adults.

Cointreau would work well for the liqueur in this recipe, although if you want to keep it booze free, orange juice would also do. Either way, for the amount of time involved the result is deceptively fancy.

This is, quite possibly, the best omelette ever. It's like a breakfast burrito, gift wrapped in fluffy, eggy goodness. Serve with a tomato basil salad.

Rich, chocolatey tiramisu cake with mascarpone cream and plump, fresh raspberries makes a fine end to a special dinner.

Serve with ice-cream instead of yogurt for a quick dessert. If possible, choose freestone peaches (or nectarines) rather than the clingstone variety. You can use any seasonal fruit for this recipe.

Not only do these white chocolate and raspberry mille-feuilles look amazing, they taste just as good. They are surprisingly quick and easy to make so you don't need an excuse to whip up a batch and surprise your loved ones.

The key to making a success of the meal on a big day is all about planning and preparation. If you’re not already a list-maker, become one; having a list will make everything seem so much easier. The special meals, like this wonderful lobster dish, will come together nicely.