Heart Healthy Valentine’s Dinner at Home

This year, avoid the stress of trying to secure a reservation at that hot new restaurant on Valentine’s Day and treat your significant other or loved one to a special dinner at home. To quote legendary cooking educator Julia Child, “careful cooking is love,” and there’s plenty to love about this three-course meal!

Watch and learn as Carolyn Dunn, NC State Extension nutrition specialist, guides you through a simple but sumptuous three-course dinner that any non-cook can prepare. Start with a spring mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette followed by a basil, shrimp and tomato pasta with feta cheese. Top it all off with a Grand Marnier strawberry parfait.

The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who’s close to you is about as nice a Valentine as you can give.~ Julia Child

Recipe

Balsamic Dijon Vinaigrette

Yield: 8 servings Time: 5 min.

Ingredients

This recipe courtesy of Med Instead of Meds.

• 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Note: If you chill the dressing, remove from the refrigerator a few minutes prior to serving to bring to room temperature – shake to combine ingredients.

1. Combine all ingredients in jar with tight fitting lid.
2. Shake vigorously.
3. Serve immediately with your favorite salad or chill until serving.

Recipe

Basil, Shrimp and Tomato Pasta with Feta

Yield: 6 servings Time: 40 min.

Ingredients

This recipe courtesy of Med Instead of Meds.

• 1 pound whole-wheat penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound shrimp, deveined, shells and tails removed
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 2 pints grape tomatoes, cut in half
• 4 ounces (approximately ¾ cup) low-fat feta cheese

Instructions

1. Cook pasta as directed.
2. While pasta is cooking, heat skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil to pan.
3. Sauté shrimp in olive oil until pink.
4. Add basil and grape tomatoes and sauté for additional two minutes until slightly wilted. Turn off heat.
5. Add feta and stir.
6. Serve shrimp, basil, tomatoes and feta over whole wheat pasta.