Well, the good news is it needn't mean lots of work for you in preparing the food. A few simple tips to remember and the evening should go swimmingly:

>> Choose your menu carefully. The food should be not too heavy.

>> The food should look light and colourful . . . this might not be the night for a big stew and mash.

>> If there are children in the house, get them to bed first so you can turn on a bit of Barry White, light the candles and set the scene.

>> Have nearly everything done in advance. For this meal, below, all can be done ahead except to stir-fry the prawns and make the Flirtini cocktail. Tossing the prawns in the pan will make you look like a domestic god or goddess, so that's good; and shaking up a divine cocktail will have your intended weak at the knees. He or she will not stand a chance.

Now if I practice what I preach this Valentine's, I'll be doing very well.

Hot wok chilli prawns Serves 2 This will be very easy to prepare and lovely and light to eat on Valentine's night. You can make the salsa and the prawn mixture ahead of time, then all you have to do is toss the prawns in the pan, and serve.

Half a red chilli 250g peeled, uncooked tiger prawns Finely grated zest and juice of half a lime One small clove of garlic, finely grated Two tbsp sunflower oil Cucumber and coriander salsa:

Quarter of a cucumber, peeled One generous tbsp chopped coriander Juice of half a lime One level tsp sugar Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper To prepare the chilli, cut it in half lengthways, then scrape out and discard the seeds. Chop the chilli finely.

Put the prawns in a bowl and add the chilli, lime zest and juice, garlic and one tbsp of the oil and mix well.

Next make the cucumber salsa: cut the cucumber into slices lengthways, then stack the slices and cut them into strips. Cut the strips crossways into dice.

Put the cucumber and coriander in a second bowl, add the lime juice and sugar, then mix, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Heat the remaining sunflower oil in a wok, or frying pan over high heat and add the prawn mixture.

Stir-fry for one-two minutes until it is pink and cooked.

When cooked, divide the prawns between two plates and serve immediately with the cucumber and coriander salsa.

Chocolate mousse Fills two little bowls, or about four small glasses You have got to include a bit of chocolate at the end of this meal, so have these made up in advance.

60g good quality dark chocolate 60ml cream One tbsp rum, brandy, or Grand Marnier, or half tsp grated orange rind One egg, separated Chop the chocolate finely.

Bring the cream up to the boil, turn off the heat, add the chocolate to the cream and stir it around until the chocolate melts in the cream, then add in the booze or rind, and whisk in the egg yolk.

Whisk the egg white until just stiff, then stir in a half of the egg white, fold in the rest, gently, being careful not to knock all the air out.

Put into little bowls, glasses or cups, and leave for an hour or two in the fridge to set. Serve, if you wish with coconut or almond macaroons, or amaretti biscuits.

Coconut or almond macaroons Makes about 12 Excellent with the chocolate mousse. These are so simple to make, and can keep for four or five days in an airtight box 110g desiccated coconut, or ground almonds 75g caster sugar One egg white, slightly beaten To make the macaroons, preheat the oven to 1800C/gas mark 4. Put the dessicated coconut, or ground almonds, caster sugar, and the egg white into a bowl, and stir to combine . . . it should be firm yet slightly sticky.

Roll small desertspoonfuls of the mixture into balls, and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Flatten slightly with a wet fork. Cook for about 10 minutes or until pale golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Handy hint: These are also good with the grated zest of one lemon or orange.

Flirtini Serves 2 Valentine's Day would not be Valentine's Day without a little Flirtini. This recipe is from my latest cookbook, Rachel's Favourite Food for Friends, and I have had more people asking about this than any other recipe.

You will defiantly be flirting after one of these!

Six strawberries or 12 raspberries 25ml Cointreau 50ml vodka Juice of 1/2 a lime 50ml pineapple juice . . . chilled 125ml sparkling wine or champagne . . . chilled Strawberry or raspberry for garnish Mash the strawberries or raspberries and put into two gorgeous wine or champagne glasses. Mix the Cointreau, vodka and lime juice, add to the glass and top up with the sparkling wine.

Erotic foods Asparagus . . . impossible not to look slightly Kim Bassinger in Nine and a Half Weeks when eating this with your fingers Avocados . . . the Aztecs named the avocado tree the 'tree with the testicles', but the fruit is really more of an aphrodisiac because of its sensual smooth and creamy texture Chocolate . . . the quintessential aphrodisiac, due to the chemicals that occur naturally in cocoa, such as caffeine, theobromine and phenylethylalanine, which are the same as those emitted by the brain when stimulated by the thrills if a love affair.

And because chocolate is the only edible substance that melts just below body temperature, it literally melts in the mouthf sensual heaven!

Figs . . . have long been known to symbolise male and female sexuality;

apparently the ancient Greeks used to celebrate fig harvests with an orgy!

Oysters . . . raw, creamy, quiveringf need I say more?

Pomegranates . . . Another ancient symbol of fertility and sexuality with their scarlet seedy interior.

Strawberries . . . fed to your partner, and vice versa:

think Nine and a Half Weeks again!