Love and food are as intertwined as the rose vine that grew up the side of Juliette’s balcony.
Sharing a lovingly-made meal, especially a sweet treat, to celebrate romance is a pasttime that dates back through the ages.
For award-winning TV chef, cookbook author and dessert diva Grace Stevens, cooking is an expression of love. It’s how we show care for our cherished ones, by nourishing their bodies while delighting their senses with culinary creations.
These recipes are great to make ahead of time, to share with
sweethearts of all ages. (Find recipes on Grace’s website.)
These are some of Grace’s top takes on how to express love through food during the Month of Love:
Heart-Shaped Macaroons
For Grace, the sweetest spot in cooking is when you can use
the skills you have learnt to spoil someone you love and see a smile sneak across their face, when they realise you created something special just for
them.
These heart-shaped Macarons, although not the easiest to make, are the perfect gift for your darling. To get the inside scoop on making the perfect Macaron or many other sweet delights, join Grace online.
Madeleines
Few nations can claim to do romance quite like the French, and Grace’s Madeleines are the perfect vintage dessert to add a touch of French flair to your February.
And if, like Grace, you have a tradition of hiding a small treat in your children’s lunch box, they make the perfect sweet surprise!
Botanical cocktail
Grace loves soaking up the long summer days but prefer the
cooler embrace of the evening for a sunset picnic, so this is the perfect cocktail for that moment.
Using floral and herbal notes from the garden gives the perfect
balance between sweet and strong – not to mention it is far more refreshing on a sweltering summers eve!
Crustless mini quiches
As a busy mother of four, Grace understands that many of us yearn for the chance to indulge a deux in a fancy restaurant.
The reality, of course, is that many of us won’t be be able to slip away and leave the young ones behind!
Picnics are a fabulous way to entertain the whole family. With these effortless, crustless mini
quiches, you won’t even have to worry about picking up the crumbs!
So, whatever your fancy, make this February a celebration of love, and of sharing food to celebrate our nearest and dearest.
For more delicious recipes, follow Grace on
Instagram @ grace_stevenschef or meet her in person and book your macaroon master class
on www.gracestevens.co.za.
