Why not make this weekend a Valentine's weekend? That way your kids can feel special and you and your sweetie can splurge on Monday knowing that you included the whole family in your celebration.
These recipes and menus feed your heart and your soul. Many of the main dishes are made with heart-healthy foods including fish, barley, vegetables, and garlic. Get your whole family involved in the shopping and preparation of the meals for this special weekend; it's also a great idea to let your children choose some of the recipes you'll make together.
Enjoy the weekend, enjoy these recipes, and Happy Valentine's Weekend!
Saturday Breakfast
- Blueberry Pancakes
A compound found in blueberries may help reduce cholesterol. But your kids don't have to know this; they just taste great. - orange juice, milk, coffee
- Apple Glazed Sausage and Bacon
And this recipe feeds your soul. I love the combination of sweet and savory in this easy and delicious recipe.
Saturday Lunch
- Fishwiches
As we know, fish is very heart healthy. And making your own breaded fish filets is not only fun, but they taste better than the frozen breaded variety. - Dill Dip with Crudites
Vegetables are an important part of a heart healthy diet, and I've found there's no better way to get kids to eat them than to serve baby carrots, bell pepper strips, and celery pieces with a delicious dip. - Dark Chocolate Cookies
- milk and sparkling water
Saturday Dinner
- Tex Mex Chicken Pasta
This flavorful and easy pasta main dish is elegant enough for company. And the peppers in this dish are full of antioxidants that may help prevent against heart disease, plus garlic that is part of the Seven Foods Diet. - Marinated Fruit Salad
This beautiful salad is made with the best produce you can find in the market. In the winter I often make it with just different types of melon. - Soft Garlicky Breadsticks
These delicious breadsticks remind me of ones that were sold in a soup and salad restaurant that I frequented in Minneapolis. They're so good. - Heart Cake
This meal must end with this recipe. It's so easy, because it uses a cake mix, is so timely because of its shape, and is (kind of) heart healthy because it uses chocolate. - red wine, sparkling red grape juice, coffee
Sunday Brunch
- Overnight French Toast
To make this fun recipe even better, use a cookie cutter or form and cut out heart shaped pieces of bread. Since the recipe makes its own sauce, you really don't need toppings, but if you insist, try some chocolate syrup! - Ambrosia Salad
Lots of fresh fruit is so good for you; and this recipe is fabulous. If you don't like coconut, you can substitute toasted sliced almonds (another heart healthy food!). - orange juice, milk, coffee
Sunday Dinner
- Salmon with Blueberry Grape Salad
This perfectly beautiful recipe is so delicious. Blueberries and grapes are packed with antioxidants, and salmon, of course, is high in those wonderful omega-3 fatty acids. The salmon can be cooked under the broiler, using the same cooking times, if you don't want to fire up the grill. - Creamy Potato Bake
Soul feeding time! This fabulous recipe is so rich and creamy. You can use fat free half and half if you like, and reduce the butter to three tablespoons. - Double Onion Muffins
Onions are like garlic in that they good for your heart. Make these delicious and tender muffins using Vidalia or Walla Walla onions for incredible flavor. - Strawberry S'More Tart
Strawberries start to come into season in February. This wonderful and indulgent recipe feeds your heart and soul!
Happy Valentine's Weekend!
