I woke up very tired this morning, the cold outside didn’t help to pull me out of my bed but I thought about my today’s recipe to try, it helped me to put my feet on the floor. I also thought about love and Valentine’s day. Love for people but also love for cooking, the love to share a meal, a moment, a glass of wine…Whatever our love is directed to, love is all we need, no? To give and receive.

Valentine’s day is of course commercial, pushing people to buy things they don’t need. I have to admit that a rose or a meal or a bottle of champagne is nice and for those who don’t have that during the year, at least they have Valentine’s day to get a treat, eventually. I remember my friend’s ex boyfriend was saying that we don’t need Valentine’s day to offer roses or drink champagne with our loved ones. So true, but did he do it the rest of the year? No. I guess that’s why he is an ex. So the 14th of February is at least here to remind to non-gentlemen men that they have duties and one of them is to please their wife, girlfriend.

Try to avoid restaurant on that day, I work in restaurant, I know what I’m talking about. Tables rnoved, replaced by tables of two or tables of 4 or 6 converted in canteen tables where couples sit elbow against elbow with other couples. Menus more expensive, wine and champagne more expensive. 1h30min return time instead of 2h, no possibility to have a drink before as time is running, menus only (again time is running so no possibility to waste time on reading the menu) and so on… Really, let’s stay at home, curled in a blanket with champagne or hot chocolate (why not) or half naked in front of fire place if you have one and very important,food, like pink pancakes.

I found a recipe which I twisted my way as I wanted to try savoury ones, with goat cheese.

Beetroot pancake, serves 4

Ingredients : 

• 2 medium cooked beets
• 500gr of flour
• 1 tbsp of baking powder
• 2 pinches of salt
• 375ml of milk
• 125g of plain yogurt
• 50g of unsalted butter melted
• 1 egg
• Half of a small onion finely chopped

For the filling :

• 125g of soft goat cheese
• 125g of double cream

 

Method :

Blend the beetroot till obtain a puree. Fry the onion in a pan.

Place the dry ingredients in a bowl, in another bowl mix the milk, yogurt, butter, egg, beetroot puree and onion.

Fold the wet ingredients in the dry ones and whisk until you have the consistency of a heavy cream.

Mix the goat cheese and cream for the filling and reserve.

Put a bit of olive oil in a very hot pan, drop in a ladle of your batter, the size you want, cook for 2 min on each side. Enjoy them hot with the goat cheese filling and a green salad.

Let’s paint our life in pink, happy Valentine’s day lovers !