I have an unhealthy obsession with ready made pastry. In any shape or form. It is brilliant. You can keep it in the freezer, and create really impressive meals and snacks in minutes.

I spied some ready made croissant dough in a tin in the chilled aisle of the supermarket and bingo! The idea for heart shaped croissants was born.

This blog is basically one big love fest over the next week. People, places and food, heart shaped food.

Give it a go, they are easy as a pastry pie.

Ingredients:

• ready to roll croissant dough - chilled and left at room temp for 10 minutes
• cream cheese
• fruit puree
• blueberries
• cherries

Pre heat your oven to 350F /Gas Mark 4/ 180 degrees.

Twist your tin to open and roll out your pastry.

The pastry I used was pre perforated into triangles but I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to make 2 hearts per triangle. Keep the remainder covered to avoid drying out.

Knead the leftovers and re roll to use up the excess.

I made a few in a more traditional shape, (roll the wider end of your triangle towards the pointed end) I prefer them longer personally but just shape them into a moon before placing in the oven for a picture perfect croissant.

Take one heart and add a teaspoon of cream cheese, a teaspoon of fruit puree (spread your puree and cheese over the base) and top with some chopped fruit. 

Place the second heart on top and press the edges together gently. Add a slice of cherry (they make good heart shapes) in the centre, press lightly into the pastry.

Bake in the oven for approximately 8 minutes, until golden brown.

We served them with a sprinkle of icing sugar, glasses of cold milk and orange slices. 

A big brunch hit in our house even if Ollie's face said otherwise ;)

Do you know any good croissant dough recipes? That's my next challenge! 

Linking up with #TastyTuesdays, Savouring the Season and #recipeoftheweek

I picked up these tiny metal moulds in the sale and knew they would come in handy for a Valentines treat idea.

A simple but effective recipe that takes only a few minutes.

Sammy is going to make up some little boxes for his sweethearts at school, but substituting the nuts for jelly beans!

All you need is chocolate and your choice of extras. I chose some freeze dried raspberries and chopped pistachio nuts, and you could add fresh raspberries too.

Melt your chocolate in the microwave slowly so it doesn't burn. I melted approx 75g for 40 seconds and then an extra 10 seconds at a time until it was smooth.

Stir in your nuts and raspberries and spoon into your moulds. Set in the freezer for 20 minutes. Pop them out of the moulds and present in a little muffin loaf basket or whatever you fancy!

This batch is for the woman Sammy loves the most. Of course - Granny! 

Gifts don't have to be extravagant, I think the thoughtful ones are the best.

Will you be making a loved one a gift this Valentines?

Check out some other gorgeous dishes linked up over on Tasty Tuesdays here

Doilies. I used to think they were so passé. A ridiculous accessory to turn some very ordinary sandwiches into a "posh" tea.

But now that I live on Pinterest I have discovered a whole new world of doily wonder!

Their intricate patterns are so delicate and they make perfect girly bunting.

With it being Shrove Tuesday tomorrow it seemed only fitting to post a pancake recipe inspired by this great idea on Pinterest. I'll be making them for a Valentines breakfast too.

I realised you could make a doilyesq pattern using an old squeezy ketchup bottle.

Yes I know I cheated with the batter mix but Sammy loved singing "Hey Ya - shake it like a polaroid picture" whilst flinging the bottle around.

3 drops of red food colouring makes a perfect pink. I started my hearts at the bottom after a few disaster trial ones.

I sprinkled some edible glitter and then tried some pink chocolate curls in another. Delicious! It makes the mix go much further too.

How are you eating yours on Pancake Day?!