Eating Healthy in a Tough Economy!

Valentine's Day is a mere week away!  What's cooking in your kitchen for your Sweetie?  Valentine's Day has a rich history.  Here is a video that gives a brief description of Saint Valentine. 

This story is really what began the whole idea of a special day to say "I Love You".  What is Valentine's Day without a bit of chocolate?  I wondered why chocolate was chosen and found the following:

Every February 14th love-struck men and women spend more than 1 billion dollars on chocolate products. Blame Cupid for the love-struck part, but why chocolate? What does chocolate really have to do with the most romantic day of the year? Here’s a brief history of chocolate and Valentine’s Day.

Our infatuation with chocolate first began 2,000 years ago when it was discovered in Latin America. The Maya and Aztec elites infused cocoa beans with water to form frothy chocolate drinks – the first frappuccinos, if you will – for special occasions and as sacrifices to the gods. The Aztec ruler Montezuma believed that chocolate was an aphrodisiac and routinely drank it before entering his harem, thus increasing chocolate’s popularity and its association with love and romance. As it turns out, he was ahead of his time. Modern-day scientists have linked the chemical phenylethylamine in chocolate to feelings of excitement, attraction and even pleasure.

The rest of Aztec society used cocoa beans as money and were unable to afford to drink it. Thus “gifting” chocolate for consumption was the Aztec version of John Cusak standing outside of your window with a boom-box. Christopher Columbus saw how the Aztecs revered cocoa when he entered the picture in the sixteenth century and immediately took the luxury product back to Queen Isabella of Spain. Chocoholics sprouted up all over Europe, sharing the legend of their new obsession’s alleged mythical powers. At one point in time, chocolate was believed to be so potent that nuns were forbidden from eating it and French doctors used it to treat “broken hearts.”

By the 1800s, the Cadbury Brothers set up shop in England and began packaging candies to sell to a mainstream audience. In 1861, in a genius marketing move, Richard Cadbury created the first ever heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day, spurring the commercialization of the holiday. To this day, every February 14th we all still have a sweet spot for the sweet stuff.

THE HISTORY OF … VALENTINE’S DAY & CHOCOLATE

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2011 BY MADDIE DONNELLY

Here is what is on my Menu:

Lasagna

Tossed Salad and Your favorite dressing

Toasted Garlic Cheese Bread

Brownie Sundae

Game Plan for a Stress Free Dinner

Prepare a list and plan to grocery shop in advance on a day that you have time.

Wednesday
The key to this menu is the presentation.  Decide what dishes, silver ware, glassware, table covering and center piece to use.  I plan to use a center piece I actually still have out from Christmas.  It has a wintery mix of green pine, purple poinsettia with red accents.  This is a silk arrangement, and the colors are perfect for Valentine's Day.  I like to find things I already have and utilize them in place of buying something new. Re-purposing items gives me great satisfaction!  I am going to use a lace table runner and utilize the good dishes I have.  For the dessert, I have dessert dishes I inherited from my Grandma and they are a lot of fun for special occasions.  Don't forget to have a nice selection of music.  My selection is Kisses on the Bottom By Paul McCartney.

Next up, decide if you want your lasagna to be prepared in the normal fashion, or if you are going to utilize a slow cook recipe.  In either case, you will want to prepare.  I personally will make it in the normal fashion as I will be away from home next Thursday longer than it will take to make a good product in my slow cooker.  So, Wednesday evening I will put the lasagna together.  I begin by making sauce.  Brown hamburger and onions, drain and rinse meat.  My secret to sauce in a hurry is to use my favorite spaghetti sauce (or, the one that is on sale!).  Adding herbs and spices can help enhance the flavor of the sauce.  Oregano and Basil are always great flavor enhancers for Italian dishes.  Once you have your sauce going, you can also be preparing the Lasagna Noodles per the package directions.  Drain the pasta and rinse with cool water.  Lightly spray a 9X13 pan.  Spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of pan.  Place three noodles on bottom of pan, on end of pan, add noodle, you will have to cut it to fit the pan so it lays flat.  Next, add sauce over the noodles.  You can then place a layer of cottage cheese on top of the sauce.  We prefer to leave out the layer of cottage cheese.  Next, sprinkle shredded mozzarella or an Italian blend on top.  Continue layering noodles and sauce.  The top layer is sauce and Cheese.  Cover with foil and put in refrigerator.  You could prepare your lasagna over the weekend and freeze the dish, then, pull it out to thaw Wednesday night.  Either choice works great.

The next item on the agenda is to bake a pan of brownies for your Sundaes.  Brownie mixes are great to use!  Yes, I do have a few items I use that are boxed.  Be sure to have a can of whipped cream for the top of your Sundaes, this adds a bit of flare for your dessert!

Thursday

All you need to do today is preheat your oven, bake the lasagna, I usually bake it at 400 degrees for about 1/2 hour.  If you are using a low-fat cheese, a little tip is to broil the top of the lasagna right before you take it out, it takes about 2 to 3 minutes, watch it closely.  It will add a nice bubbly brown to the dish.   Prepare your garlic toast while waiting for the lasagna.  I simply spread butter on french bread, sprinkle on garlic powder and top with cheese.  You can slice the bread in half and prepare both sides, or you can slice it into individual pieces.  

To lesson your stress, you can use a bag salad with a variety of greens.  Place salad in a nice salad bowl and you can add croutons and whatever other vegetables and things your family likes in a salad, the key is keep it simple!

You can cut the brownies and put them in the dessert bowls so that all you need to do is add a scoop of ice cream, chocolate sauce and top it with whipped cream.

Aaah, that was not so bad?  Beats the crowds and noise of a restaurant. Now, relax, set the tone with some great music and perhaps even a candle, and enjoy!  Bon Appetite!