Want to spice things up this Valentine’s Day? Get your loved one in the mood with sexy spices; thyme, coriander flakes, ginger and cayenne pepper are each known for their aphrodisiac qualities.

It’s all about the moment, so make the cooking process as fun as the end result. Gregg’s Freestyle Cooking spokesperson, Alison Robert, says Freestyle Cooking is all about learning to trust your own taste buds, cooking with your senses and experimenting - there are no rules. Taste your food as you cook, throw in some Gregg’s Herbs & Spices, taste it then try it again and again until delicious!

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and desert, Alison has got you covered this Valentine’s Day so make something lad-di-da for some oh-la-la. Trust your senses and get inspired, because if you cook up a treat, you might just get one back…

Thyme

Prepare an aromatic omelette for a romantic brunch using goat’s cheese and a generous sprinkling of Gregg’s Thyme & Gregg’s Chives. The combination of fragrant herbs, eggs and cheese will send your senses in the right direction from the beginning of the day.  Get into the Freestyle Cooking spirit by throwing in your omelette favourites (or your partners – you could give sliced mushrooms, chopped ham, grated courgettes or chopped de-seeded tomatoes a go), for some something a little more personal.

Coriander Flakes

Planning a romantic picnic? Try something a little different and make some easy-to-pack Vietnamese rice paper spring rolls. Throw together some fresh prawns or cooked chicken, Gregg’s Coriander Flakes, mint, mung bean sprouts, grated carrot, batons of cucumber and fish sauce and roll in some cooked rice vermicelli. Get a little bit saucy and dip them in Gregg’s Sweet Chilli Sauce.

Ginger

What about a decadent dessert to warm your body and get the taste buds tingling? Add a teaspoon of Gregg’s Ginger to your Pannacotta recipe. Simply warm some milk and cream sweetened with a wee bit of sugar in a pan, add a teaspoon of Gregg’s Crushed Ginger and a Gregg’s Vanilla Beans (split). Heat until it’s steaming but not boiling, then stir a couple of teaspoons of gelatin granules. Remove from the heat once the granules have dissolved, pour into moulds and set in the fridge overnight. You could also try cooking some dates in a sugar syrup infused with ginger for a finger-licking sweet treat. Now that’s trusting your taste buds.

What about also adding a little bit of ginger love to your picnic or starter? Try pan frying some chicken tenderloins in a little sesame oil. Before they are cooked through, chuck in some water, sugar, Gregg’s Ginger, Gregg’s Crushed Garlic and lime juice to the pan and let them finish cooking in the reducing sauce. Serve with a wedge of lime and eat with your fingers, delicious!

Cayenne Pepper

Be a little daring and really heat up your dinner with Gregg’s Cayenne Pepper. Add a wee sprinkle into your ready-made hollandaise (pick up a packet from the supermarket, or if you’re feeling particularly creative – try make your own) and pour over cooked artichokes. Artichokes are traditionally the aphrodisiac food of the Goddess of love, Venus, but if you can’t find them, don’t worry, asparagus will do the trick too.