Valentine’s Day isn’t reserved for just grown-ups. Have your little ones make these cherry heart pies as a special treat to celebrate.

MAKES 8 // COOKING TIME 25 min

INGREDIENTS
1 roll puff pastry
2 cups cherry jam
1 egg, whisked
Icing sugar, to dust

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Unroll the pastry and roll out until 1 cm thick. Press out 16 × 5 cm circles with a cookie cutter.
3. Arrange 8 of the circles on the prepared tray.
4. Cut a heart from the middle of the remaining circles using a smaller heart-shaped cookie cutter.
5. Add a teaspoon of cherry jam to each circle on the tray. Cover with the heart pastry circles, pressing down the edges with a fork. Brush with egg wash.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

Top Tip
If you don’t have a heart-shaped cookie cutter, help your little ones and cut out heart shapes for them.

Recipe & styling: Leila-Ann Mokotedi
Photography: Andreas Eiselen // HMimages.co.za

You can never have too many treats during the month of love, so why not add these rose cupcakes with hidden centres to your Valentine spread?

The post Cooking with kids: V-Day cherry heart pies appeared first on MyKitchen.

Whether you’re staying in or heading out for a special treat, these sweet roasted meringue strawberries will certainly up the romance.

SERVES 2 // COOKING TIME 40 min

INGREDIENTS
2 egg whites
¼ tsp cream of tartar
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup water
500 g strawberries

METHOD
1. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together until soft peaks form. Set aside in a cool spot.
2. Dissolve the sugar and water together over low heat. Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer until it turns a dark-golden-brown caramel colour, or until it reaches 110°C.
3. Beating continuously, slowly trickle the syrup into the meringue, until thick and glossy and stiff peaks have formed.
4. Dip each strawberry into the meringue and roast over a hot braai or pop under the grill until golden brown.

Recipe & styling: Chiara Turilli
Photography: Jotham van Tonder // HMimages.co.za

A sweet and fruity dessert deserves an equally sweet and fruity (and flirty!) cocktail. See our litchi, pomegranate and rose cocktail.

The post Valentine’s Day themed roasted meringue strawberries appeared first on MyKitchen.