Kitchen Diary

GO ON! EAT SOMETHING SEXY! It’s good for you!

With Valentine’s Day falling in the middle of the hottest month of the summer season I have always turned to salads and the fresh produce aisles at the local stores to plan and prepare my picnic. We always end up having a picnic, one of life’s simple pleasures, just the place differs… depending on what the weather is doing. I don’t enjoy sand or dust with my meal so if the south easter is blowing we resort to plan B and enjoy our picnic indoors or on the patio if it isn’t too bad. I love going for sunset picnics at this time of year as the sunsets are spectacular and I am such a sunset freak. I have to get my regular dose of Dopamine you know….mind you I do get that from eating as well…so combining two simple pleasures like eating and watching a sunset gives double the pleasure 

I usually plan my salads around what produce I am able to find when I do my shopping so no picnic is ever the same. But my one rule of thumb for what I do buy is that I look out for all those natural aphrodisiac ingredients…you know, those that are supposed to ummmm….increase your interest in your partner! 

The interest in aphrodisiac foods began when Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, rose from the sea on an oyster and then gave birth to Eros. The first aphrodisiac food was born. An aphrodisiac food is one that is believed to stimulate libido and enhance sexual performance. These foods have been used as far back as the Romans and the Greeks to increase sexual powers. During those periods, people were concerned about fertility and sexual performance more so than passion itself, so a great amount of time was spent on determining what aphrodisiac foods would help these two separate concerns.

You will find all of these on a good aphrodisiac food list: salmon, prawns (both so sexy to eat!) figs, asparagus, avocado, oysters, caviar, champagne, chocolate, vanilla, almond, truffles, chilli, basil, garlic, honey, rocket, ginger, mustard, seedless green and red grapes, mango, papaya, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries

Of course the Puffer Fish is also considered both a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in Japan. If the poisonous gland is not properly removed, the tiniest, teeniest, weeniest taste is DEADLY. The flirt with death is said to give a sexual thrill. Ummmmmm, I don’t think so Mildred!! Not recommended, unless you are in Japan in a speciality restaurant and the chef shows you his certification and proof that he has never killed anyone and you’re in the mood for that particular kind of thrill!!!

If you would like to know more about aphrodisiac foods you can go and read here..

So then, switch off those pesky cellphones, slip into something sexy, get the groove on in your kitchen with the food of love, set the table, scatter those rose petals baby (Cleoptra was such a clever woman, poor Mark Anthony never stood a chance!), crank up the old love songs, burn some erotic essential oils (for example bergamot, rose, geranium, sandalwood, ylang ylang, black pepper and cardamom oil  - these make a fabulous massage oil as well when 1 -2 drops of each are mixed into 50mls of a carrier oil like almond oil – you can thank me later!  ), light the candles and pour the bubbles! It is time for a little bit of romance darlings!!

“Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart.”

Robert Sexton

CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

90ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½ ClemenGold – finely grated zest (use orange if you don’t have ClemenGold)

20ml ClemenGold Juice (use the juice that dribbles out while segmenting for the salad)

15ml Lemon Juice

10ml Honey

5ml Dijon Mustard

½ Clove Garlic – crushed or finely grated

Small piece of fresh Ginger – peeled and finely grated

Few Mint Leaves – finely chopped

½ Red Chilli – deseeded and very finely chopped

½ Vanilla Bean – split and seeds scraped out

Salt Flakes and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

Method:

Whisk all together in a small glass bowl and set aside until needed

Sexy Black Fig Smoked Salmon Mozzarella and Basil Salad

SEXY BLACK FIG AND SMOKED SALMON SALAD WITH CITRUS MOZZARELLA AND BASIL

(Adapted from Jamie Oliver’s Sexy Salad in Happy Days With The Naked Chef)

6 Black Figs

1 ClemenGold (or orange) – peeled and segmented (no pith or skin (keep the juice that runs out for the vinaigrette)

3 Radishes -  finely sliced

100g Smoked Salmon – torn into ribbons

1 Mozzarella Ball – torn into pieces

Few Basil Leaves

Micro Rocket leaves

Black Pepper and Salt Flakes

Method:

Slice  a cross through the figs stopping before you cut right through. Squeeze open and place on a serving plate

Weave the ribbons of salmon around and between the figs

Randomly add the torn mozzarella ball and the basil and micro greens

Drizzle generously with the vinaigrette and serve with fresh crusty country bread

~o~o~o~o~o~

Coming up soon my sexy prawn, mango, avo & asparagus salad with goats cheese and micro greens!

Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

browniegirl xx

Originally blogged here