When it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day with your loved one, gone are the three-course meals at the newest restaurants, or the delivery of chocolates and flowers that would make everyone at the office jealous.
“Lately, a home-cooked meal with your favourite series on the telly is the romantic evening many are opting for – and truth be told, there is nothing wrong with that,” comments Matthew Dees, Senior Brand Manager for Jacobs coffee. “But since it is Valentine’s Day, why not take this idea and spruce it up – make it different to every other night.”
There are many inexpensive ideas to make Valentine’s Day a special occasion that can be done at home without any additional spend involved:
- A picnic is one way to make any meal romantic – either on the living room floor or in your back garden. Put down a blanket, light some candles (even if there isn’t load-shedding), lay out the meal that was prepared at home and enjoy each other’s company. Make sure that the meal is easy to eat picnic style.
- Use music to create a romantic ambience. Create a playlist of songs that remind both of you of your time together, which is a sure way to get the conversation started. And, where there is music, there is dancing. A slow melody is always an excuse to come together.
- You may not be out, but special drinks are something that shouldn’t only be enjoyed at a restaurant. Make your own cocktails (alcoholic or virgin) at home using the ingredients you already have in your cupboard. No shaker, not a problem… an empty Jacobs coffee jar makes the perfect shaker.
- When making your cocktails, don’t sidestep coffee as the hero ingredient. Coffee is known to get your heartbeat up (literally) which is a step in the right direction when getting in the romantic mood.
- Flowers always brighten up a room, and if your summer garden is blooming, why not create your own bunch? No garden? Perhaps your favourite neighbour will be willing to part with some.
“There is no need to skip Valentine’s Day this year. In fact, sometimes simple is best when thinking of what to do. But to make the night something extra special, you can’t go wrong with coffee and creativity,” says Dees.
For some creative ideas this Valentine’s, why not try out some of these delicious coffee cocktail recipes?
Coffee Colada
Ingredients
2 teaspoons of your favourite Jacobs Freeze Dried Coffee
150ml of pineapple juice
40ml light rum
40ml of sweetened condensed milk
Ice
Method
- Half fill a shaker with ice, add two teaspoons of your favourite Jacobs freeze dried coffee, add pineapple juice, light rum and sweetened condensed milk. (Why not use an empty 200g Jacobs instant coffee jar as a shaker?)
- Shake thoroughly.
- Pour into a glass with ice and garnish with a piece of fresh pineapple.
Coffee Spritz
Ingredients
2 teaspoons of your favourite Jacobs Freeze Dried Coffee
150ml tonic
40ml vodka or gin
Ice
Method
- Fill a glass with ice and add the tonic water.
- Add a few ice cubes into a shaker, add two teaspoons your favourite Jacobs freeze dried coffee, add you vodka/gin and shake thoroughly. (Why not use an empty 200g Jacobs instant coffee jar as a shaker?)
- Pour through a strainer into a glass.
- Garnish with a lime edge and serve.
Orange Instatonic
Ingredients
2 teaspoons of your favourite Jacobs Freeze Dried Coffee
100ml of tonic water
100ml orange lemonade
1/8 lime
ice
Method
- Fill a glass with ice, add the tonic water and then orange lemonade.
- Add a few ices into a shaker, add tonic, add your favourite Jacobs freeze dried coffee.
- Shake everything thoroughly and pour into a glass. (Why not use an empty 200g Jacobs instant coffee jar as a shaker?)
Coffee Libre
Ingredients
2 teaspoons of your favourite Jacobs Freeze Dried Coffee
150ml cola
40ml light rum
1/8 lime
Ice
Method
- Half fill a shaker with ice, add two teaspoons of your favourite Jacobs freeze dried coffee, add the rum and shake thoroughly. (Why not use an empty 200g Jacobs instant coffee jar as a shaker?)
- Pour into a glass with ice and add lime juice and top up with cola.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Irish Coffee
Ingredients
1 ¼ cups (300ml) of water
3 teaspoons of Jacobs Freeze Dried Coffee
2 tablespoons (30ml) whiskey
2 teaspoon (brown) sugar
100-150ml whipping cream
Method
- Lightly whip the cream (very soft peaks)
- Rinse 2 cups with hot water. Put 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of whiskey into each cup and stir until sugar dissolves.
- Boil 300ml water and stir in the coffee. Then pour it into each cup.
- Let it stand for a few minutes and add very lightly cream on top of each cup
