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The Weekend Cook: Valentine's Weekend

For Your Heart and Soul

By Linda Larsen, About.com

Salmon with Blueberry Salad

Salmon with Blueberry Salad

Linda Larsen
I know that most greeting card companies are trying to make single day holidays into a weeklong celebration. While I agree with them in theory, I do like having one special day to celebrate. However, food is different.

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

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!

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