Food to get you in the mood recipes

Whole poached pears make an elegant dinner party dessert, with a red wine sauce and fragrant cinnamon and vanilla

Sweet and salty, this decadent dessert is served in individual pots, with a caramel puddle at the base and a creamy panna cotta topping

Crisp puff pastry covers tender meat in these individual wellingtons – the ultimate main course for a romantic Valentine's Day meal for two

Try this stunning white chocolate dessert to finish off your Sunday roast - sprinkle with freeze-dried raspberry dust to make it extra special

Turn Eggs Benedict into a gourmet treat, perfect for a celebration breakfast or indulgent brunch - use shop bought muffins to save time

It only takes a few minutes to mix, microwave and top these hot chocolate puds with ice cream and liqueur for a rich, indulgent dessert

John Torode's seafood dish with a kick makes a spicy addition to a Chinese-style banquet

Make these easy homemade truffles as an edible gift or after dinner treat - balance heat from the chilli with cooling mint extract

If you want to make this more substantial, you could serve some prosciutto or Serrano ham with it

We know how you love hot treacle sponge and sticky ginger cake, so this gorgeous pud is sure to become a favourite

A gooey prepare-ahead dessert that's perfect for entertaining - it's all a matter of timing...

For an easy side dish to complement a spring roast, just cook this recipe without the salmon

Make the most of the fresh taste of British strawberries with this simple recipe. In season from the end of May

A stunning but simple dish, the classic syllabub is made special here with rosé wine and zesty lime

A luxury that has been prized by chefs for years, so make the most of it with this cheat's classic

People will think you've been cooking for hours with this rich and meaty dish, ready in under 30 minutes

With their molten, oozing centres, these puddings are guaranteed to impress.

A prepare-ahead one pot that will please all ages and is easily made for a crowd, just reheat and add some garlic bread and a salad

This full-flavoured Spanish dish is great for the family or entertaining friends midweek

Gordon takes steak and chips to a new level with a sharing slab of prime rib-eye that's just right for sharing. The perfect Valentine's treat for any steak lover

A versatile sauce great on lots of meat dishes, and perfect for steak - a comforting main for a dinner party.

Treat your guests to a decadent restaurant-style main course for a third of the price

Choose dry-cured, thinly sliced bacon for this dish – the crisp texture works well with the firm, meaty monkfish