The season of love awaits. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Have you decided what to serve your date with? Don’t worry even if you haven’t. We got you covered. These are our favorite meals for this season and we’re sure you’ll love them too. So let’s get your date ready.
Read ‘til the end to find our bonus pick!
1. Heart-Shaped Lasagna Bundt
Too scared to confess with words? Surprise them with this special Valentine’s Day meal and we’re sure they will get the hint. This Heart-Shaped Lasagna is as soft, warm and special as your love for each other. If this is not the thing that will finally get them to confess their love for you, we don’t know what else is.
Ingredients That You Will Need Are:
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- One 16-ounce box lasagna noodles
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- One 6-ounce can tomato paste
- One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tsp sugar
- 12 ounces ricotta
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella (2 cups)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Procedure:
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles to al dente according to the package directions.
- Line a baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Drain the noodles and spread them flat on the baking sheet to dry them completely (you may need to create 2 to 3 layers to fit all of the noodles; put paper towels between each layer).
- Meanwhile, heat up the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook them, while stirring occasionally until softened and just beginning to brown, for about 7 to 8 minutes.Stir in the garlic and oregano and cook until the garlic is fragrant, for about 1 minute.
- Add the beef, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of black pepper, and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon and stirring occasionally, until the beef is cooked through, for about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook it until it gets well incorporated and heated through, for about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes, sugar, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of black pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened, for about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, eggs, Parmesan, parsley, ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl.
- Cut six noodles in half; crosswise.
- Line the bottom of a 10-cup heart-shaped Bundt pan with 4 of the half noodles (2 along the straight lines of the heart and 2 along the arches).
- Lay 12 whole noodles in the bottom of the pan, slightly overlapping and directly on top of the half noodles, making sure that one side of each noodle hangs 2 to 3 inches over the edge of the pan and the other side of the noodle runs up the center of the pan.
- Pour 1 cup meat sauce on top of the noodles, then spread 1 cup of the ricotta mixture over the sauce. Top with 4 noodle halves. Repeat the layering 1 more time. Pour 1 cup meat sauce and spread the remaining ricotta mixture over the top (the ricotta mixture will be less than the 1 cup used in previous layers).
- Fold the edges of the overhanging lasagna noodles, the lasagna towards the center, covering the filling and the hole in the center completely. Bake until the noodles on top are turning golden brown and are starting to crisp up, 45 to 50 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes. Invert the pan onto a cutting board. Reheat the remaining sauce if necessary and pour into the center of the heart. Slice and serve immediately.
Source: foodnetwork.com
2. Thai-Style Peanut Chicken Wraps
Surprise them with this surprisingly fresh meal of the day and warm up their heart to get them ready to be in love.
Ingredients That You Will Need Are:
- 1 13.5-ounce can light coconut milk
- 1 tbsp plus ½ teaspoon sambal-style chili sauce, divided
- 1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into thin cutlets
- 8 large leaves Swiss chard (from about 2 bunches)
- ¼ c crunchy peanut butter
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 4 tbsp fresh lime juice, divided, plus wedges for serving
- 1 thick carrot, peeled
- ¾ English cucumber, cut crosswise into 4-inch lengths
- 1 large red pepper, sliced
Procedure:
- In a large bowl, whisk together coconut milk and 1 tablespoon chili sauce. Reserve 1 cup mixture and set aside. Add chicken to the remaining mixture and refrigerate at least 20 minutes and up to 24 hours.
- Meanwhile, fill a large skillet with 1 inch water and bring to a simmer. Fill a large bowl with ice water and line a baking sheet with clean dish towels. Working with 1 chard leaf at a time, lay on the work surface vein side up and carefully trim side of the stem so it’s level with the rest of the leaf (this will make it more pliable when wrapping).
- Add the leaf to simmering water and cook for 30 seconds, immediately transfer to ice water to cool, then transfer to the prepared baking sheet; repeat with remaining leaves.
- In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, honey, ginger, 2 tablespoons lime juice, ¼ cup reserved coconut mixture, and remaining ½ teaspoon chili sauce; set aside.
- Heat the grill or grill pan on medium. Using a mandoline (or a Y-shaped vegetable peeler), shave the carrot lengthwise very thinly into ribbons. Add it to a medium bowl and toss with remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice; let sit, tossing occasionally, until ready to use.
- Remove chicken from the marinade (discard it after) and grill until lightly charred on 1 side, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and continue cooking, basting with reserved ¾ cup coconut mixture, until chicken is cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a cutting board, brush with any remaining coconut mixture, and let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.
- Using a mandoline, thinly shave the cucumbers. To assemble wraps, lay out each chard leaf and pile with vegetables and chicken. Roll up, folding sides over filling and then rolling from bottom up. Halve if desired and serve with peanut dipping sauce.
Source: Womansday.com
Related: How To Cook A Budget-Friendly Valentines Meal
3. Valentine’s Day Mimosas
Need a refresher? Just sit back, relax and sip on these delicious mimosas while letting them take a good look at those beautifully done hair of yours!
Ingredients That You Will Need Are:
- 1 bottle Champagne, chilled
- Grenadine
- Strawberries, cut into hearts
Procedure:
- Using a paring knife, cut strawberries into a heart shape. Pierce about 2-3 onto skewers.
- In champagne flutes, fill each glass about two-thirds full with champagne. Pour in about a tablespoon of grenadine on top. Garnish with strawberry skewers.
Source: Womansday.com
And now, it’s time for the bonus recipe!
4. Bacon Roses
What kind of a date is it, if there are no roses involved? Here’s a sweet surprise for your partner. Surprise them with this bouquet along with breakfast in bed in the morning and they will be swooned all day long!
Ingredients That You Will Need Are:
For The Bacon Roses:
- 1 package thick-cut bacon
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
For the Rose Stems:
- 1 dozen artificial roses (sold at crafts supply stores)
Procedure:
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- For the bacon roses, take each strip of bacon and roll it slowly, with the pink, meaty part of the bacon on the top (so it looks more like a rosebud than the translucent fat).
- Secure the seam of the bacon with a toothpick so it doesn’t unravel while cooking. For extra stability, add a second toothpick, forming an X. This will help the bacon rose stand upright.
- Place a baking rack on top of a baking sheet. Place the bacon roses on the rack, about an inch apart. Drizzle bacon roses with maple syrup and top with brown sugar and/or black pepper. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until the outer edge of the bacon has crisped up, and the bacon itself is deep red. Set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- To prepare the stems, carefully peel apart the rosebuds on the artificial flowers and use scissors to cut off the petals. There may be a Styrofoam ‘bud’ in the center — pull that off, leaving the plastic rod in the center of the bud intact. You’ll use that to stick the bacon roses on each bloom. Carefully clean the pruned rosebuds, then add a bacon rose on each one. Place in a vase.
Source: Delish.com
We hope we could help you to find the perfect dish for your perfect fit; and we hope you get to enjoy these lovely meals together, to celebrate your love towards each other. Now go prepare yourself for that fantastic date of yours! After all, you will be the tastiest meal of the day anyways.
Also Read: Try These Quick And Easy Vegan Meals| Recreate These Disney Foods| 4 Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats With Chocolate| How To Make A Charcuterie Board