With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, thoughts turn to that special someone and we all know that the quickest way to anyone’s heart through their stomach. To help the nation this Valentines Day Bertolli with Butter has created five pasta ‘Pheromeals’ Developed in partnership with Susan Duncan a Professor of Food Science and Technology, The recipes each include selected ingredients that help you communicate specific emotional responses with your date.
"Food has a fascinating ability to affect our emotions both psychologically through association with powerful memories, or physiologically. Comfort foods often take us back to happy, secure times.“The textures of food can put us in the right frame of mind. Smooth, velvety textures are very pleasurable. Aroma and flavour can also contribute to the romance. Our increased romantic response may be associated with the psychology of a memory triggering physiological response rather than the actual sensory experience of the food. A few foods, such as truffles, do contain compounds that are pheromones. “
Top six foods for love:
CHOCOLATES: The sweet, smooth textures of chocolate are psychologically suggestive of sensuality in the right context and have been shown to de-crease tiredness and increase positive moods for up to 5-30 minutes after eating
WINE: In small doses has calming attributes which relax us and reduces inhibitions
CHILLI PEPPERS: Chillies get the metabolism going and increase blood flow – and contain capsaicin which can release endorphins in the brain, perfect for a romantic situation
TRUFFLES: Contain compounds such as androstenol which are recognized as pheromones
SPICES SUCH AS SAFFRON, LAVENDAR, AND VANILLAS: The sensual aspect of spices such as saffron and lavender go a long way to putting you in a romantic frame of mind. Repeated and extended consumption of saffron has also been shown to increase male sexual function
This Valentines its important to inject passion into your cooking
“You only get one day a year to get Valentine’s Day dinner right and with these pasta Pheromeals there’s a plate for whatever you want to say to your date.” Rachel Chambers, marketing manager for Bertolli with Butter.
Valentine’s Day Pheromeals from Bertolli with Butter include:
LUSTFUL LINGUINE
Mood Changing Ingredients in Dish: Oysters, saffron
Serves 2
Ingredients List:
•3 tbsp Bertolli with Butter
•12 oysters, shucked, with their liquid
•½ pound medium shrimp, shelled
•4 salted anchovy fillets, rinsed
•4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
•3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
•Pinch of saffron, crumbled slightly
•½ teaspoon red chili flakes
•Freshly ground black pepper to taste
•2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
•250g linguine
•Salt to taste
Recipe:
1. PREP INGREDIENTS: Put the oysters, shrimp, anchovy fillets, parsley, garlic, saffron, chili flakes, black pepper, and ¼ cup olive oil together. Leave to marinate for 2 hours.
2. COOK PASTA: For every pound of pasta bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil over high heat, salt abundantly, up to ½ cup, and then cook the pasta until al dente. Drain without rinsing.
3. STIR THROUGH: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of Bertolli with Butter over high heat, then cook the seafood mixture, stirring frequently, seasoning with salt, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the pasta to the skillet and toss several times, letting the pasta cook and absorb some of the juices. Stir in some additional Bertolli with Butter for taste. Serve immediately.
SPAGHETTI OUTTA MY HOUSE
Mood Changing Ingredients in Dish: Tomatoes, full fat yogurt, red wine, Bertolli with Butter
Serves 2
Ingredients List:
•1tbsp Bertolli with Butter
•500g plain yogurt
•175ml red wine
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•2 tbsp parsley
•½ can chopped tomatoes
•150g spaghetti
Recipe:
1.PREP INGREDIENTS: Warm the yogurt slightly in a sauce pan, and stir together with the garlic and parsley. Pour in the red wine, and reduce slightly. Once reduced, add the tomatoes and bring to slight heat
2.COOK PASTA: Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and toss together with 2tbsp with Bertolli with Butter
3.STIR TOGETHER: Place the spaghetti into a large casserole dish and stir sauce through
PULL’EM PENNE
Mood Changing Ingredients in Dish: Cocoa penne pasta, roasted red chili peppers (capsaicin)
Ingredients List
•200g Cocoa penne pasta
•2 chilies chopped
•1 can diced tomatoes
•10 cherry tomatoes
•200g jumbo prawns
•2 crushed garlic cloves
•1 handful fresh marjoram
•2 tbsp Bertolli with Butter
Recipe:
1.PREP INGREDIENTS: In a pan, sauté garlic with Bertolli with Butter until fragrant then add in chillies, tomatoes and dices tomatoes. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes and put in prawns. When prawns turn red season with salt and pepper
2.COOK PASTA: Cook cocoa penne according to instructions on pack
3.STIR TOGETHER: Place pasta in large bowl and stir ingredients through, mixing in extra Bertolli with Butter for taste
TAKE A CHILL PILL CARBONARA
Mood Changing Ingredients in Dish: Cream, bacon and chicken with brown sugar
Ingredients List:
•3 tbsp Bertolli with Butter
•25g unsmoked back bacon, chopped finely
•1tsp brown sugar
•125g chicken breast, cut into strips
•200g dried spaghetti
•2 free-range eggs, beaten
•2 free-range egg yolks, beaten
•5ml Elmlea Double Light Cream
•50g Parmesan, grated, plus extra to serve
•freshly ground black pepper
Recipe:
1.PREP INGREDIENTS: Fry the bacon in Bertolli with Butter, gradually adding adding brown sugar as you go. Add the chicken into the same pan and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until cooked through
2.COOK PASTA: Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Drain, reserving a little of the cooking water.
3.STIR TOGETHER: Put the beaten eggs in a large bowl. Add the spaghetti to the eggs and a little of the reserved cooking water and mix well. Add the cream, 2 tbsp Bertolli with Butter, Parmesan, cooked chicken and caramelized bacon and stir to combine
YOU’VE TORTELLINI ME A THING OR TWO ABOUT LOVE
Mood Changing Ingredients in Dish: Scallops, truffles
Ingredients List:
•2 tbsp Bertolli with Butter
•1 pack of cheese Tortellini
•2 scallops (approx. 200g)
•2tbsp truffle oil
•Garlic to taste
Recipe:
1.PREP INGREDIENTS: In frying pan, sauté scallops in Bertolli with Butter, garlic, and truffle oil
2.COOK PASTA: Cook one pack of cheese tortellini according to directions on packet
3.STIR TOGETHER: Place pasta in large bowl and stir through with Bertolli with Butter, then scallops
I really like the sound of the dish - Spaghetti Outta My House ( See Recipe Above), So I decided to give it ago. I really like the way it came out, I omitted the Red Wine for an alcohol free version and used linguine, I was delighted with the delicate garlic taste it was very moreish, It was delightful to use Bertolli with Butter in this dish, Bertolli with butter combines the rich and creamy taste of butter with Italy’s finest olive oil. Delicious i most defiantly will be using Bertolli with Butter in all my my dishes and on my toast in the mornings.
