Valentine's menu - tart

Valentine's Day is a lot of pressure, if you let it be. If you are alone you can feel like a failure, if you are with a partner the range of anxiety you can feel is vast. Food is a good sidestep. As my expanded waistline can tell you. I like straightforward food, and I shall be making a heart-shaped version of my apple tart.

You don't have to use apples, tinned apricots are also terrific. Or plums - see other pic.

It is a labour of love, and that is why it is good for Valentine's Day. Serve hot or cold, and enjoy yourself.

PS
there's no need to roll this pastry - you can just press it into the tin, and use whatever alcohol you like, or none!

labneh - strained yoghurt

Labneh is a kind of cream cheese made from yoghurt. The yoghurt is strained through muslin for a day or so, and then seasoned and eaten. I use low fat yoghurt.

Put a strainer over a bowl and line with a muslin cloth.
Empty a pot of plain low fat yoghurt into the muslin and twist it closed.
Leave yoghurt to drip for at least 12 hours.

How to use it:

Roll into small balls, about the size of a small walnut, then roll in herbs or paprika with a pinch of salt and some ground black pepper. Cover in good quality virgin olive oil.

Chop or grind some garlic and stir into strained yoghurt with a pinch of salt.- eat with hot pitta bread.

Chop some ready to eat apricots up very small,  add some finely choped fresh mint and a pinch of salt - eat with hot pitta bread.

Drizzle some virgin olive oil over the strained yoghurt and  sprinkle with paprika - eat with hot pitta.