Create a heartfelt meal that will sweep you loved one off his feet. Incorporate one of the many aphrodisiacs into recipes. Some fruits, just based on their shape, are suggestive and incite passion. Other fruits such as pineapples, pomegranates and mangoes are symbols of love in many cultures. Turn up the romance with special finger food and dessert recipes that will make this a night to remember.
Fruit
Poets and writers have been known to rejoice in the the sensual characteristics of pomegranates. This dark red fruit with its syrupy sweet juices leave very little to the imagination. Start your evening with a pomegranate cocktail. Mix together 6 oz. vodka, 2 oz. seltzer water, 4 oz. Triple Sec, 4 oz. pomegranate juice, juice from 2 lemons, and the seeds from 1 pomegranate. Pour into a chilled glass.
Another fruit to use is a peach. Its delicate outer rind reminds many of soft skin. Slice up three peaches. Oil peaches with cooking spray and set on a grill. Cook each side for two minutes. Boil 1/2 cup of water and add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup of honey. Stir until sugar has dissolved and mixture has cooked down. Pour on top of peaches with 1 tbsp. of ricotta cheese on each peach. Pineapple can be substituted for the drink or grill recipe.
Finger Food
Bite-sized appetizers are ideal for Valentine's Day. Imagine being able to feed each other delicious morsels. Oysters are famously used for romantic dinners. They aren't heavy for the stomach and make dinners feel more luxurious. Surprisingly, their reputation might have some merit. These shellfish are full of zinc, the key factor for testosterone production.
Prepare oysters by cleaning the outside to remove grit and dirt. Take a shucking knife and pop open the shell. Serve on a bed of ice with cocktail sauce and butter. Another decadent appetizer is smoked salmon and crackers. Make a plate by using the traditional accouterments of chopped egg, diced red onions, horseradish and capers. Be imaginative and use foods that won't be too messy, spicy or cause gas.
Dessert
Many people serve chocolate-dipped strawberries on Valentine's Day, so why not put a spin on this classic? Instead of using milk chocolate, dip fruit in dark or white chocolate, peanut butter or marshmallow cream. Try different fruits like bananas, orange peels, dried apricots, dried pineapples or plums. Cupcakes also are a perfect treat on this day. Bake your favorite red velvet cake recipe and ice with cream cheese frosting.
Other dessert ideas include heart-shaped sugar cookies, white chocolate brownies or a fruit tart. For those who are watching their weight, make a huge fruit salad by using exotic fruits such as dragon fruit, star fruit, papayas, mangoes, kumquats or passion fruit. Knock the socks off your valentine by using creative food ideas for a memorable night.
Tags: fruits such, peaches with, that will, white chocolate
