Will You Be My Valentine? A Sexy Seasonal Menu for Two
Valentine’s Day is all about love. Share a Valentine’s Day menu to prove your love: delicious, seasonal, healthy food that is good for the body and good for the soul… and a little bit sexy, of course!
Appetizer – Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate Seeds and Fried Goat’s Cheese
You can’t have Valentine’s Day without a bit of red, and jewel-toned pomegranate seeds are perfect. They’re tossed with shredded raw Brussels sprouts, a seasonal specialty, in this Brussels sprout salad. Even those who don’t love the tiny green cabbages will be charmed by their sweet and nutty flavor when they’re tossed raw in a homemade shallot vinaigrette. Perhaps the most luxurious part of this appetizer salad are the fried goat cheese discs. Use your favorite local goat cheese and homemade seasoned breadcrumbs to make this salad truly delightful.
Main – Roasted Pork Loin with Roasted Pears and Local Beer Reduction
While you’re enjoying your first course, the second will take care of itself. Roasted pork loin is a delicious, lean meat option, and accompanied by seasonal pears and local beer, it’s a delightful dish. And to top it all off, it’s simple as can be!
Ingredients
1 pork loin
4 Tbsp. grainy mustard
2 pears, thinly sliced
1 bottle local dark beer
1/4 cup water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat the pork loin with the mustard. Place the pears in the bottom of a roasting pan, and place the pork roast on a rack above them. Roast for 20 minutes. Begin basting with the beer every 20-25 minutes until the pork loin is cooked through, about 20-25 minutes per pound.
Remove the pork from the oven. Place the loin on a cutting board and tent with foil. Remove the pears to a serving dish. Place the roasting pan over medium-low heat on the stovetop, and deglaze the roasting pan with water. Allow the sauce to reduce by 1/3. When the pork has rested 15 minutes, carve and serve with sauce and pears. Serve warm bread alongside for the extra sauce!
Alternatively, try Organic Authority’s very own organic vanilla cured pork loin with roasted turnips in a maple vanilla sauce.
Dessert – Chocolate Lava Cakes with Persimmon Sauce
Chocoalte lava cakes are the perfect, decadent treat to end a Valentine’s Day meal. But don’t stop at that. A luscious, tangy persimmon sauce, like the one for this persimmon sundae, will kick your cakes up a notch and make them the perfect treat for you and your honey to share.
Images: How I See Life (top), Emily Monaco
