Every February 14, millions of Americans from all walks of life celebrate Valentine’s Day. In this age of materialism and ever-growing skepticism, Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity for friends, lovers and married couples to revel in the glory of love, romance and passion.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated with almost religious reverence by many, as evidenced by the over $13 billion spent annually to show the depth of their devotion – mostly on candy, roses, cards and jewelry. Nonetheless, there is a growing number of people who believe that the day should transcend the notion of commercialization, and instead, focus on the spiritual aspects of the day. To them we say, what better way is there to rejoice in the occasion than preparing a healthy and delicious meal for loved ones? In light of that, we have compiled below five healthy fruit recipes for those intent on enriching their experience on this day of amour!
1. The Lover’s Whipped Cream Delight
Ingredients:
Blueberries, one ounce
Raspberries, one ounce
Cantaloupe, four ounces
Watermelon, four ounces
Raisins, a small handful
Almonds, a small handful
Rum, a quarter cup
Lime juice, a tablespoon
Heavy Cream, a quarter cup
Dark chocolate, one ounce
Instructions:
(i) Peel and de-seed the cantaloupe. Using a melon baller, carve out as many whole spheres as you can
(ii) Repeat the process with the watermelon.
(iii) Place the watermelon and cantaloupe balls inside a shallow bowl. Pour the rum evenly around. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
(iv) Toast the almonds for a couple of minutes in the microwave. Once cooled, chop them into 2 or 3 pieces.
(v) Slice the raspberries and blueberries into halves.
(vi) Melt the chocolate under low heat.
(vii) Take the cantaloupe and melon from the fridge and split it evenly into two serving bowls. Ladle several spoonful of heavy cream unto each bowl. Next, sprinkle berries, almonds and finally, lime juice over the bowls. Finally, dribble the chocolate the finish it up. Ambrosia for the gods!
2. Sweet, Sweet and Sour Apple Cinna-Bomb!
Ingredients:
Apples, one cup, peeled and diced
Yam, one cup, peeled and diced
Sweet potato, peeled and diced
Cinnamon powder, one teaspoon
Salt, half a teaspoon
Honey, 2 tablespoons
A very thin slice of butter
3 large strawberries, quartered and diced
Instructions:
(i) Boil water in a pan. Once bubbling, drop the diced yam and sweet potato in. Take out after 3 minutes.
(iii) In a large saucepan, throw in the butter, yam, sweet potato and apples. Stir regularly. After about two minutes, sprinkle the cinnamon and salt evenly over. Stir regularly for a couple more minutes. Remove from heat, and spread it over two serving plates. Drizzle the honey, and top it up with the strawberry slices. Voila, a zesty and nutritious sweet and sour dish!
3. Crouching Apple, Drunken Pear
Ingredients:
Two Pears
Two Apples
Half a bottle of Italian Barolo wine
Two small sticks of cinnamon
Two cloves
A quarter cup of sugar
A thin slice of butter
Instructions:
(i) Brush a little butter inside a wide baking pan.
(ii) Arrange the pears and apples, whole and unpeeled, inside the pan.
(iii) Tuck in the cinnamons and cloves around the fruits.
(iv) Sprinkle the sugar evenly.
(v) Pour half a bottle of the wine into the pan.
(vi) Place the pan in the oven for an hour or so (325 degrees F).
(vii) Finish the other half of the wine with your partner while waiting.
(viii) Serve warm, whole or in slices.
4. A Tall Glass of Peach and Currant Parfait
Ingredients:
One peach, peeled and chopped coarsely
Blackcurrants, half a cup
Mascarpone, a quarter pound
Heavy cream, quarter cup
Sugar, two tablespoons
Vanilla extract, one teaspoon
Two slices of lemon
Instructions:
(i) Whip the mascarpone until creamy. Add in the cream, sugar and vanilla essence. Whip again until thick and spongy.
(ii) Prepare two tall serving glasses. Ladle some of the mascarpone cream in, followed by the peach. Ladle more cream, but this time, followed by currants. Repeat process until you reach the top.
(iii) Refrigerate for ten minutes. Serve with tall spoons, preferably while cuddling on the couch.
5. Fruity Lime Salad
Ingredients:
Cantaloupe, four ounces, diced
Peach, diced
Watermelon, four ounces, diced
Seedless grapes, a half a cup, sliced into two
Blueberries, a quarter cup
Honey, three tablespoons
Lime juice, two tablespoons
A few mint leaves, sliced thin
Instructions:
(i) In a sauce bowl, mix the honey, lime juice and mint leaves gently.
(ii) Place all the fruits inside a large serving bowl.
(iii) Refrigerate both. Pour the dressing over the fruit just before serving. Toss a little to spread the sweet, sour and tangy goodness that is at once refreshing as it is filling!
Needless to say, all of the recipes above are relatively cheap and will literally take only minutes to prepare. However, if you can pull it off, be prepared for a rush of loving gratitude from your other half. Happy Valentine’s Day!