FOOD

The Most Mesmerizing Valentine’s Day Recipes

  

Want to wow your partner, family or friends with a super delicious Valentine’s Day dinner? I’ve got a few quick and easy recipes that you can try to make, even if you have terrible cooking skills. It’s easier to go to a romantic restaurant on Valentine’s Day, but do you really want to spend a fortune (or wreck your partner’s wallet!) on meals you may not eat at all? When you have a Valentine’s dinner at home, you can enjoy your meals on February 15, of course, if you’ll make more portions. This year, I suggest that you create a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home with these simple recipes.

Moroccan Sweet Potato Stew

It’s one of my favorite meals that I love to make all year round. It’s quick and easy to make and you don’t need to have good cooking skills. It takes about 35 minutes to prepare so you will have enough time to try some other recipes.

  • Cuisine: American;
  • Category: Main Dish;
  • Serves: 4 to 6;
  • Prep Time:10 min;
  • Cook time:40 min;
  • Nutrition Per Serving: 252;

Ingredients:

  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 3 carrots
  • 1 acorn squash
  • a large onion
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1⁄2 cup raisins or dried apricots, optional
  • 1⁄2 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 can whole tomatoes
  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
  • 3⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin, optional

Directions:

Sauté diced onion and minced garlic in a pot until soft. Add your favorite spices from the ingredient list (or your own) to it and cook a few minutes.

Cut sweet potatoes, carrots and acorn squash into small cubes. Add your vegetable broth and diced vegetables to your pot and bring to a boil. Simmer covered for 4-7 minutes, add tomatoes, chick peas, and raisins or dried apricots, and simmer covered for about 30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse

Valentine’s Day is not complete without chocolate desserts. Bittersweet chocolate mousse is one of the best last-minute desserts you can make on Valentine’s Day.

  • Cuisine: American;
  • Category: Dessert;
  • Serves: 4;
  • Prep Time:25 min;
  • Cook time:2 hr;
  • Nutrition Per Serving: 347;

Ingredients:

  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 pinch salt, optional

Directions:

In a double boiler, whisk 4 yolks, sugar, and, if you like, a pinch of salt for about 3 minutes, or until sugar has dissolved. Then, quickly whisk in cocoa powder and chopped chocolate until the mixture is thick and smooth. Let it cool down to room temperature.

Whip your heavy cream and whisk half of it into your chocolate mixture. Use your rubber spatula to fold in the remaining whipped cream. Place your chocolate mousse in the fridge for 2 hours or more. Before serving, you can garnish it with shaved white or/and dark chocolate.

More: 10 Best Summer Chocolate Desserts

Baked Macaroni with Cheese

I know what you think. How this simple dish can wow your partner or family? Easy! When cooked properly, baked macaroni with cheese are amazingly delicious and hearty. Plus, you can add your favorite ingredients to it and use different types of cheese to make it tastier.

  • Cuisine: American;
  • Category: Side Dish;
  • Serves: 4 to 6;
  • Prep Time:15 min;
  • Cook time:45 min;
  • Nutrition Per Serving: 395;

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups macaroni
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese, optional
  • 2 cups shredded cheese
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 package fresh or frozen spinach, optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 3/4 cups low-fat milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs, optional

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 450°F.

In a small bowl whisk 1/4 cup milk and 3 tablespoons of flour until smooth. Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a saucepan until steaming, add your milk-and-flour mixture to it and cook, whisking it, about 3 minutes or until it simmers and thickens. Turn off the heat, stir in cheese and cottage cheese until melted. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg to your sauce.

Place a pot of water on to boil and cook macaroni for 4 minutes. Drain well, add to your sauce and mix well.

Coat an 8-inch-square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread half the macaroni mixture, place the spinach on top, and then spread the remaining macaroni. Mix paprika, olive oil, and breadcrumbs in a small bowl, and sprinkle your macaroni with this mixture.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.

Strawberry Balsamic Salad with Spinach

If you are looking for a quick and easy salad for your Valentine’s Day dinner, give this recipe a try. You can skip spinach, if you or/and your partner don’t like. Strawberries will add a special touch to your dinner.

  • Cuisine: American;
  • Category: Salad;
  • Serves: 2;
  • Prep Time:10 min;
  • Cook time:5 min;
  • Nutrition Per Serving: 525;

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 1 bunch fresh spinach
  • 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup raw pecans, optional
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 pinch salt, optional

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine strawberries, spinach, pecans and cheese.

In a small bowl, stir honey and balsamic vinegar together. Whisking continuously, stream olive oil into it. Add salt, if needed. Drizzle the mixture over your salad and serve!

Pineapple and Soy-Glazed Salmon

Properly cooked salmon is something your man will want to eat piece by piece, enjoying its amazing taste. Pineapple and soy-glazed salmon will surprise both of you. Whether you cook it together or you want to make it yourself, it’s definitely worth a try.

  • Cuisine: American;
  • Category: Main Dish;
  • Serves: 2;
  • Prep Time:15 min;
  • Cook time:55 min;
  • Nutrition Per Serving: 329;

Ingredients:

  • 4 skinless salmon fillets
  • 1 1/4 cups pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup dry sherry
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoons fresh-ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons miso

Directions:

Start with marinating salmon fillets.

Place saucepan over high heat, add pineapple juice, sherry and soy sauce to it and cook for about 20 minutes. Add sugar and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in miso with a whisk. Turn off the heat and let it cool.

Place salmon fillets seasoned with pepper in a baking dish, and pour your pineapple-soy glaze over the fillets. Let them sit for 20-30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 425°F.

Place salmon fillets on the top shelf of your oven and cook for about 7-8 minutes. Set to broil and cook for about 3 minutes or until the fillets begin to brown. Serve immediately with a salad.

Chocolate Meringue Cookies

Chocolate meringue cookies are good for you, your partner, your kids and your friends. They are simple yet beautiful and delicious. They are so very easy to make and inexpensive as well. Plus, these cookies are great for any occasion, so keep this recipe at hand.

  • Cuisine: American;
  • Category: Desserts;
  • Serves: 4-6;
  • Prep Time:15 min;
  • Cook time:30 min;
  • Nutrition Per Serving: 29;

Ingredients:

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
  • 1 pinch salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 300°F.

Start whipping egg whites, gradually adding sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla and vinegar. Whip to stiff peaks. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Enjoy!

More: 10 Quick and Easy Fruit Desserts

Valentine’s Day is almost here and you can find many more recipes, which are more difficult and unique than mine. But I just wanted to share some cheap and simple recipes with you. I know that many of us can’t buy expensive ingredients to make scrumptious meals. If you are short on cash or time, try out some of these Valentine’s Day recipes and let me know what you think.

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