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Hi y’all! It’s the day before Valentine’s Day and I’m cracking out 3 Valentinesy blog posts/recipes because I’m tired of not blogging. I purposely took a break over Christmas but it’s time to come back, and there’s nothing like a celebration of love 3 days before my first anniversary to inspire me to actually POST SOMETHING.
Last night I puttered flew around the kitchen while my husband was on call at the hospital, concocting some quick and easy recipes that have been on my mind. They actually worked, and they taste amazing, so for all of you day-late-and-dollar-short Valentine’s Day celebrators, today I posted recipes for Ganache-Covered Strawberries as well as Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse – both of which only take 5 simple ingredients!
This post is all about reminding you of some delicious dinner options if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or just a date night at home.
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I married my love on February 17th, 2018, so our first anniversary is coming up Sunday! It’s hard to believe a year has passed already! Wouldn’t ya know, my husband is on call at the hospital every 1 in 5 days…and he’s on call this Sunday. Figures. 😉 Oh well, my first practice with a community choir I just joined is this Sunday afternoon as well, so I won’t be too bored. We’ll probably do something to celebrate next month when Ryan has weekends off (it’s an elective month). If you want to read our love story you can read PART 1 and PART 2 here on my website. Wedding pictures will be coming soon! I have them all edited…just need to sort through them and decide which ones to include in a blog post (and get the hubby’s approval).
My (Last Minute) Menu Plan
I knew I wanted to make Valentine’s Day a little bit special but I also wanted to keep it simple, so I’m doing a charcuterie plate! Of sorts. Mine is going to be very simple:
- deli-sliced roast beef and pastrami
- 2 kinds of cheese: a sharp white cheddar and pepper jack (Ryan’s fave)
- crackers (for him)
- Kalamata and green olives
- little dill pickles
- sliced cucumbers (sliced colorful peppers would be great too, but I forgot)
- Ganache-Covered Strawberries (conveniently left from blog experimentation last night)
- Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse (ditto – hopefully it holds up OK)
This makes a special, simple THM S & low carb meal! Minus the crackers. 😛 Serve it up with candlelight and soft music and it becomes even more special.
Entrees
If you don’t want to go the route I’m going, here are some suggestions!
Bri’s Baked Barbecue Ribs
Italian Meatball Casserole
Chicken Alfredo
1. Sweet Pepper Shrimp Curry (Convenient Food, pg. 101)
2. Cilantro & Lime Marinated Chicken / Burrito Bowls (Convenient Food, pg. 169)
3. Simple “Brown Sugar” Grilled Salmon
4. Shrimp & Cheddar “Grits” (Convenient Food, pg. 103)
Side Dishes
I personally like to keep side dishes really easy, so I would probably go with:
- easy roasted veggies like green beans, okra, or eggplant (you can find some recipes for these in both of my cookbooks),
- a nice coleslaw with red cabbage, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, THM Super Sweet Blend, onion powder, and dill (all to taste),
- and/or a tossed salad with cheese, bacon bits, toasted nuts/seeds if you want to get fancy, and a creamy dressing.
Desserts
5 Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse
Ganache-Covered Strawberries
Black Raspberry Cheesecake
Mocha Cheesecake
(Convenient Food, pg. 425)
Showstopper Valentine Cake
Creamy Red Raspberry Sherbet
(Convenient Food, pg. 313)
I bet this would be great with something like Honest Fizz Ginger Ale for a sugar-free sherbet float! That was a Valentine’s Day tradition at our house growing up: sherbet/ginger ale punch served in my mom’s wedding goblets.
Valentine Mini Cheesecakes
Fancy Cherry Gello Goblets
(Convenient Food, pg. 241)
Marshmallowy Fruit Dip
(Convenient Food, pg. 459)
Raspberry Crumble Bars
(Convenient Food, pg. 396)
This Raspberry Jalapeno Baked Brie from pg. 469 of Convenient Food is a great appetizer!
Leave a comment!
Does this give you some ideas? What are YOU planning to make for Valentine’s Day, if you celebrate it? Are you last minute like I am, or have you had things planned out for weeks already? I want to hear about your Valentine’s Day traditions!
Want to make some of the yummy recipes above for yourself? My cookbooks Necessary Food and Convenient Food contain about 400 low-glycemic recipes each, separated by carbs and fats and free of refined sugar and flour (like all the recipes here on my website). I grew up on my momma’s good cooking, and the recipes in these books are mostly just old family favorites made healthy! Now that I’m married, I’m gravitating even more toward quick and easy, and my newest cookbook definitely reflects that! CLICK HERE to check out my cookbooks in more detail and purchase.
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