V-Day recipes for the budget-savvy romantic

Who says Valentine's Day has to be spent dining at a fancy restaurant? Whether your pocket has been hit by the harsh economic times and/or you are just in need of a change, treat your other half to an intimate, delectable dinner that he or she would not guess was created on a budget. Maybe your partner would even be more appreciative of the gesture of you whipping up a culinary masterpiece.

If your relationship is new, you could also use the opportunity to impress your partner with your cooking skills. Dining in for Valentine's Day also gives couples the privacy that they would not necessarily be afforded at a restaurant. Turn up the creativity by transforming your living space into a fine dining restaurant by bringing out the fine cutlery and special decorative accents.

These Valentine's Day recipes from our friends over at LASCO are sure to ensure that your honey is well fed. This Valentine's Day eat like royalty on a pauper's budget. But shhh, no one has to know about the budget.

LASCO Shot Put

Ingredients:

1 packet LASCO Milky Soy

2 cups party ice

1⁄2 cup clear syrup

1 cup rum cream

1⁄4 cup white overproof rum

1 tsp chocolate syrup to decorate

1⁄2 tsp cinnamon or nutmeg powder to decorate (optional)

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender

2. Blend until smooth

3. Pour into glasses decorated with chocolate syrup

4. Add whipped cream and sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg (options).

Makes 3-4 Shot Puts.

LASCO Food Drink Chocolate Squares

Ingredients:

3 large eggs (beaten)

1tbsp vanilla extract

2tbsp LASCO Browning

1 cup LASCO Soft Margarine (melted)

11⁄4 cups LASCO Chocolate Food Drink (powder)

3⁄4 cup icing sugar

11⁄4 cups Flour

3tsp baking powder

1tsp salt

Method:

Beat the eggs, then add vanilla, LASCO Browning and melted LASCO Soft Margarine.

Combine all dry ingredients. Whisk egg mixture and gradually add dry mixture.

Scrape on to a sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350F. Allow to cool and then cut into squares.

Top with cherries.

1/4 cup of LASCO Instant Chocolate Mix with Nutmeg flavour may be added for additional sweetness.

Makes 10-12 squares.

Ingredients

2 corn on the cob

1 cup grated coconut

2tbsp LASCO Soft Margarine

2tsp LASCO Jerk Seasoning

Method:

Boil corn until tender then drain. Spread grated coconut on a baking tray. Bake at 350F for about 5 minutes or until lightly toasted. Combine LASCO Soft Margarine and LASCO Jerk Seasoning then run thoroughly over corn. Roll corn in toasted grated coconut then wrap 'coated' corn in foil. Roast on an open grill or wood fire for about 5 minutes.

Serves 2

LASCO Shot Put Contributed

LASCO Valentine Coconut Jerk Fish

Ingredients:

1 large cho cho (peeled and boiled)

2 whole snapper (scaled and cleaned - 1 1⁄2 lb each)

4tbsp LASCO Jerk Seasoning

1⁄4 cup LASCO Red Kidney Beans

1tbsp LASCO Soft Margarine

1⁄4 cup LASCO Coconut Milk

1⁄4 cup each onion, sweet pepper and garlic (finely diced)

1tsp grated ginger

1tsp LASCO Fish Seasoning

Aluminium foil

Method:

1. Boil cho cho in saucepan until tender. Clean and gut fish, then marinate with jerk seasoning and set aside. Crush the boiled cho cho and the LASCO Red Kidney Beans together with a fork or potato masher. Add LASCO Soft Margarine and LASCO Coconut Milk to the mixture. Add only enough to cream the mixture. Add remaining ingredients and mix together.

2. Place the creamed mixture in a piping bag and pipe filling into the cavity of the fish. Place the fish on a sheet of foil. Add about 1 tbsp of LASCO Soft Margarine over the fish. Wrap the fish with the foil, twisting the ends to secure it. Roast on an open grill or wood fire for 20-30 minutes. Remove from foil and serve with 'Coconut Corn'.

LASCO coconut cream powder may be substituted (3 tbsp to 1⁄4 cup water)

The creamed mixture may also be spooned into the cavity of the fish, if a piping bag is unavailable.

Serves 2

Coconut Corn