Good in bed

Seville orange muffins, strawberries and coffee.....in bed

I always feel that Valentines day falls victim to exploitation.The price of roses spirals out of all proportion while restaurants hike up their prices just for one night serving gauche and very average food. Do I really want to sit opposite my partner while their expression says more about the coeur la creme looking like a drowned lampshade than celebrating the heart of the matter, a night out with my beloved. Money can´t buy you love,the way to your lover's heart is through the stomach.How´s about giving your partner a little gift of food? Breakfast in bed.... A pot of Earl Grey tea or a rack of hot toast, an oeuf en cocotte and a cup of frothy coffee would not go amiss.Oh, and a glass of champagne.I can think of few things that would give me more pleasure than this ( well actually there are a couple of things, but this is a food blog). You could creep silently downstairs and bake a tray Seville orange muffins.It only takes half an hour before you are rushing back up the stairs with your warm batch wrapped in a linen napkin. The aroma of your gorgeous hot buns ascending the stairs is enough to rekindle any dormant flame.
"Morning love,did you sleep well?" A great novelty for an occasion like this is the `Full English´ in a cup.This holds up well and you wont have to rush up the stairs as if your souffle was wobbling and about to collapse.Avoid banana or you wont be able to keep a straight face on your delivery,and watch out for anything crumb inducing;dont forget at the end of the day it is your bed.Soft white meringue peaks on your duvet are a the devil to vanish.All you need is love....  and chocolate

Seville Orange Breakfast Muffins

Makes 12

75g unsalted butter

250g self-raising flour

25g almonds

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

75g caster sugar

zest of 2 Seville oranges

100 ml freshly squeezed  navel orange juice

100 ml full fat milk

1 egg

12-bun muffin tray lined with 12 paper cases

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6.
Melt the butter and set aside.Combine the flour,ground almonds,bicarb,baking powder, sugar and orange zest in a large bowl.Measure the orange juice and milk into a jug and whisk in the egg and then the cooled,melted butter.Now pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing with a fork as you go. the batter will be lumpy but that´s as it should be; you want everything to be no more than barely combined.The whole point of muffin mixture is that it should never be overworked.
Spoon the mixture equally into the muffin cases and cook for 20 minutes.remove,in their paper cases,to a wire rack and let cool slightly( but not completely) before devouring.

The Full English in a breakfast cup

 Happy Valentines Day