Our Valentine’s Day menu has been curated to include fruits and vegetables that are in season during February. This dinner is a power-house of nutrition and will leave you feeling light, satisfied, and guilt-free. Prepare this meal with your partner, while sipping on a blood orange cocktail, and enjoy the pleasure of creating your own romantic dinner.
Appetizer
Our Fennel, Blood Orange, and Kale Salad is a bright and refreshing way to start your meal. The bites of blood orange add a burst of flavor while the fennel creates depth.
Remember to:
- massage the kale with olive oil and lemon juice and let it sit for 30 minutes
- remove the pith from the blood oranges for a better texture
- whisk your dressing ingredients vigorously to achieve emulsification
Entrée
Option 1:
Make pesto pasta! Use your favorite pasta brand or try Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi with our Kale Pesto recipe. This is an easy way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of kale!
Option #2
Try this comforting coconut carrot soup from The Spruce Eats! This is a simple recipe packed with warming flavors and beta-carotene! Cook the ingredients in a pot and then use an immersion blender, or traditional blender but wait for the soup to cool slightly, to create a smooth consistency. Top with fresh cilantro, basil, or dill. I always try to include fresh herbs because they can elevate a dish.
Creamy Vegan Carrot Soup with Coconut
Side Dishes
If you choose the soup:
I like a little crunch with my soup. Instead of traditional crackers, try our “Cheesy” Kale Chips!
This recipe calls for nutritional yeast or parmesan; I highly recommend using the nutritional yeast.
- It contains a full spectrum of B vitamins (most brands are fortified with B-12!) and is a complete protein.
- Nutritional yeast has a savory, slightly nutty flavor making it a great replacement for parmesan.
- Your jar of nutritional yeast will come in handy: sprinkle it on popcorn or pasta, add it to scrambled eggs or soup, or make a vegan cheese sauce with it.
Option 2:
This broccoli side dish from Food and Wine Magazine is quick and requires minimal ingredients. The hazelnuts are worth the splurge, but you can substitute extra virgin olive oil for hazelnut oil if you prefer.
Twice-Cooked Broccoli with Hazelnuts
Drinks
Blood oranges are not as sweet as regular oranges, which make them a perfect ingredient for cocktails.
Blood Orange Mimosa:
- Juice a few blood oranges. I use the handheld wooden reamer and a mesh strainer.
- Fill 1/3 of each glass with the juice and top with sparkling wine.
- Top with fresh rosemary sprigs for an extra boost of aromatics and a delightful woodsy flavor.
Want something stronger?
Blood Orange Moscow Mule:
- Juice a few blood oranges and a couple of limes.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add 2 oz. of blood orange juice, 1 ½ oz. of vodka, ¾ oz. of lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer and stir lightly.
Time for Dessert!
Make chocolate dipped oranges.
Prep this before you start cooking dinner.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
- Peel and segment the oranges.
- In a glass bowl, microwave dark chocolate for one minute – stirring halfway through.
- Dip half of the slices in the chocolate and place on the lined pan.
- Sprinkle crushed pistachios or sea salt on top before the chocolate hardens.
- Place the sheet pan in the refrigerator for about two hours to set.