COOK UP AN ITALIAN PASSION THIS VALENTINES DAY

If you’re looking to impress your Valentine this year, then put your culinary skills to the love test with Merchant Gourmet’s Porcini Mushroom pasta dish.

COOK UP AN ITALIAN PASSION THIS VALENTINES DAY Romance your loved one with this perfect pasta dish on Valentine’s Day If you’re looking to impress your Valentine this year, then put your culinary skills to the love test with Merchant Gourmet’s Porcini Mushroom pasta dish. This Italian dish looks and tastes amazing, and can be made in around 20 minutes – leaving you plenty of quality time to spend with your partner. As Saint Valentine’s Day was originally established in Italy and their nation’s cuisine is the ‘food of love’, this recipe should be perfect for culinary cupids. Clive Moxham, Sales & Marketing Director for Merchant Gourmet, said: “Cooking for your partner is a great way to show how much you care on this special occasion. This recipe is easy to make and tastes great. Our products are designed to deliver maximum flavour with minimal effort and what’s more, they do say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!” Cooking time: 15 minutes Preparation time: 5 minutes Vegetarian: Yes Ingredients: • 455g of pasta (We recommend using Linguine) • Juice of half a lemon • 60g parmesan cheese, grated • 2 garlic cloves • 25g Merchant Gourmet Dried Porcini Mushrooms • 1 small glass white wine • 300g fresh chestnut mushrooms, sliced • 75g butter • Handful parsley, chopped How to cook it: 1. Place the Porcini Mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to rehydrate for 15 minutes. 2. Melt the butter in a frying pan, and fry the chestnut mushrooms on a moderate heat for 3 minutes. 3. Lift the rehydrated Porcini Mushrooms from the bowl and fry with the chestnut mushrooms for 2 minutes. 4. Peel, and finely slice the garlic and add to the pan with a few grinds of salt and pepper. Stir the mushroom from time to time allowing them to go nicely golden. 5. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to pack instructions. 6. Place the wine and half of the mushroomy water into the frying pan, and allow to simmer on a gentle heat. 7. When the pasta is ready, drain and add to the mushrooms. 8. Throw in the parsley, parmesan and fresh lemon juice, and toss so that all the pasta is nicely covered. Serve. Merchant Gourmet’s Porcini Mushrooms are available in all major supermarkets from around £2.49. For more cooking ideas and inspiration please visit www.merchant-gourmet.com. Ends. 25th January 2011 Issued on behalf of Merchant Gourmet by Public. For further information or product images, please contact Katie Owen and Liam Grady on 01302 730303. Notes to Editors: About Merchant Gourmet Merchant Gourmet was started by Mark Leatham in 1985, sparked by his passion for quality ingredients that are capable of transforming any meal. Today, the company supplies over 40 products to supermarkets up and down the country, from Porcini Mushrooms to Puy Lentils, all of which meet the company’s criteria for ease of use and outstanding taste. Details for all of these products, exclusive recipes and further information about Merchant Gourmet can be found at www.merchant-gourmet.com

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