Holly's Healthy Cooking Blog

Romantic Valentine Dinner Menu Makes Great Gift

If balloons and stuffed animals aren’t your idea of a thoughtful gift – try food! A romantic Valentine dinner menu is the perfect way to let your loved one know how much you care. Who wants to fight crowds and make reservations when my trim and terrific recipes for Valentine’s day mean so much more! For fun go with a 50 Shades of Red theme! Now, that I have your attention,  join me in “red” themed Valentine dinner menu ideas. I wanted to have each course focused on a particular red food and these recipes for Valentine’s day are sure to please.

50 Shades of Red Velvet Cheesecake

I have a sweet tooth, so I have no shame starting with dessert as it’s the real star of the Romantic Valentine Dinner menu! Red Velvet Cheesecake from my trim and terrific KITCHEN 101 cookbook is seductive and creamy and the perfect end to the red meal. Two popular dessert recipes for Valentine’s Day, red velvet cake and cheesecake combine together for the ultimate indulgence.

Red Velvet Cheesecake from KITCHEN 101 cookbook  

Makes 16 servings, 2 (9-inch round) cheesecake pies or 1(10-inch) spring form pan

2 (8-ounce) packages reduced-fat cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoon cocoa
1 cup nonfat sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 (1-ounce) red food coloring
2 (9-inch) round commercially bought chocolate pie crusts

1. Preheat oven 350° F.
2. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, egg white, cornstarch, cocoa, sour cream, vanilla, buttermilk, vinegar and red food coloring, mixing until well combined.
3. Pour into crust. Bake 35-40 minutes or until center is firm. Turn off oven and remain in oven 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 270 Protein (g) 7, Carbohydrate (g) 13, Fat (g) 12, Calories from Fat (%) 39, Saturated Fat (g) 5, Dietary Fiber (g) 1, Total Sugars 23g Cholesterol (mg) 34, Sodium (mg) 262, Dietary Exchanges: 2 1/2 other carbohydrate, 2 1/2 fat

Chocolate Crust
If using a springform pan, here’s a crust recipe.

1 1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In small bowl, combine all ingredients. Press into bottom of 9-inch spring form pan. Bake 350°F 10 minutes.

More Valentine Dinner Menu Ideas in Shades of RED!

One of my most popular appetizers ever is this Mediterranean Layered Spread. This is the perfect starter for any event not just Valentine dinner menu ideas. This crowd favorite is especially delicious when you use roasted red pepper hummus. Actually, this is one of my most popular recipes in KITCHEN 101 cookbook, because this is such a delicious simple layered spread everyone adores.

Soup Course is my Louisiana Crawfish Bisque

Who doesn’t like Crawfish Bisque and I think you’ll love the exceptional flavors in this soup.  Bisque is really just a fancy time for a smooth, creamy soup.  Always be sure to look for Louisiana crawfish tails when making this soup! This satisfying sweet potato based soup has a hint of sweetness and touch of curry with Louisiana crawfish makes the best soup. Unbeatable flavor in this easy Crawfish Bisque from my Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook.

Seeing Red with the Salad Course

What could be better than farmer’s market strawberries for pops of bright red over mixed greens drizzled with a raspberry vinaigrette! Strawberries and kiwi bring the nutritious vitamin C to the romantic Valentine dinner menu. This sweet and full flavored 50 shades of red Strawberry and Kiwi Mixed Green Salad is from my Too Hot in the Kitchen cookbook.

This Pasta is a Side Not to Be Missed

Marvelous Marinara Sauce from KITCHEN 101 is quick and easy homemade yet tastes like it has been cooking all day! This easy marinara sauce is even diabetic friendly so you know it is healthy. My family prefers angel hair pasta and often I toss in other veggies and even ground meat to mix things up!

For the Entree My Dijon Pepper Beef Tenderloin is Always a Hit

Last, but definitely not least of the recipes for Valentine’s day. Special occasions call for special meals and my romantic Valentine dinner menu is not complete without this dish. Rare with light red interior, my go-to Dijon Pepper Beef Tenderloin recipe is definitely one of my very favorite meals to cook when I entertain. A pricey cut of meat, but SO worth it for the flavor, especially on special occasions.

Recipes for Valentine’s Day Start with Showstopping Dessert – RED Velvet Cheesecake

When it came to selecting a dessert for my romantic Valentine dinner menu, of course I had to go with red velvet, so give this Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe a try! Check out my other fabulous 50 Shades of Red recipes you can choose to make as well – Red Velvet Berry Trifle or Easy Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing! hope you enjoy all these recipes for Valentine’s Day or add in some of your own.  Have a great Valentine’s Day and most importantly, no stress in the kitchen!

 Recipes for Valentine’s Day in Too Hot in the Kitchen Cookbook
Too Hot in the Kitchen cookbook

From a healthy heart to a libido boost (as love is in the air) my quick, easy, and trim & terrific recipes for Valentine’s Day, will help you fill the room with romance. In my Too Hot in the Kitchen cookbook, Food for the Mood chapter is filled with recipes for romance with aphrodisiac ingredients.

I thought it would be fun to do a romantic Valentine dinner menu using the 50 Shades of Red theme! My Too Hot in the Kitchen cookbook makes the PERFECT gift with Valentine dinner menu ideas for your wife, sister or girlfriend.

The Healthy Cooking Blog | 50 Shades of Red: Romantic Valentine Dinner Menu Ideas | HollyClegg.com