Delia on Valentine's Day

Anti-Valentine 

I am anti-Valentine. Completely and utterly. OK you’re thinking – at her age….

But the truth is I have always been anti. Perhaps it’s because my mother taught me to ignore things like Mothers’ Day, because it was purely a commercial thing, and showing appreciation shouldn’t be confined to one day a year (when all flowers and stuff were twice the price anyway).

There are other factors too.  I was never the recipient of any Valentinealia, cards, red roses and the like – perhaps sadly there were never any secret admirers - and my husband made it quite clear from day one that Valentine’s Day and wedding anniversaries were not on his radar.  Then of course the Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the liturgical calendar, because apparently he never existed! However what my inner search engine has revealed is that my antipathy is not connected with any of the above.  It’s just that I can’t bear all the tacky commercial, fuchsia-laced everything, everywhere I look. That said, I have put the blocks on any kind of Valentine’s menu this year.  Instead, I am suggesting an anti-Valentine recipe. 

Mussels baked in sizzling butter loaded with garlic.  If you’re welcomed with open arms after that, you’ll know it’s true love!

Delia's recipe for Mussels with Garlic Stuffing

But if you are feeling romantic then see our Valentine's Menu for 2