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Having a reason to stay in on Valentine’s Day (I have a toddler, I can think of 100 reasons) isn’t an excuse not to celebrate! Whether you’re parents with kids and no Vday babysitter, a couple of homebodies, or trying to save your cash, I am showing you a great way to keep the dinner yummy and the vibes romantic. Get your groove on right in your own living room!
First, we’re going to set the mood with some comfy pillows. If you have a coffee table in your living room, you can cover it with a pretty table cloth, light some candles, and spark up the fireplace! A great meal is really the cherry on top here.
This Valentine’s day, I’ve created a menu that showcases the Pomegranate — the ancient Fruit Of Love, as well as Rosemary — a powerful de-stressing herb! Pomegranates are thought to have an aphrodisiac effect, as well as strong antioxidant properties. Cook up this menu, and hunker down with your Honey for a night that will never be disappointing.
At-Home Valentine’s Day Menu
Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
One of my favorite elevated weeknight recipes has always been my Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops! This one is all about the super simple but DELISH marinade. You just throw them on the grill and sear in that amazing flavor. I like to pair them with Sautéed White Beans for a really healthy and protein-rich meal.
Sautéed White Beans
This is a great protein-rich side for meals!
Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate Dressing
Pomegranate – the ancient Fruit Of Love – makes for the best Date Night Side Dish!
ROSEMARY GRILLED LAMB CHOPS
(Serves 2)
Ingredients…
- 4 loin-cut lamb chops
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, stem removed and finely chopped
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 anchovy fillets, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Directions…
- In a baking dish, combine all the ingredients besides the lamb chops. Mix well.
- Add the chops to the baking dish, and coat well with the marinade.
- Cover the dish with plastic and refrigerate for at least two hours or up to overnight.
- When ready to cook, preheat a grill or grill pan to high, and brush with oil. Remove chops from marinade, discarding additional marinade.
- Grill the lamb chops, approximately 5 minutes on each side for medium.
Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
One of my favorite elevated weeknight recipes has always been my Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops! This one is all about the super simple but DELISH marinade. You just throw them on the grill and sear in that amazing flavor. I like to pair them with Sautéed White Beans for a really healthy and protein-rich meal.
Equipment
- Baking Dish
- Grill or Grill Pan
Ingredients
Lamb Chops
- 4 loin-cut lamb chops
- 2 sprigs rosemary, stem removed and finely chopped
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 anchovy fillets, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Lamb Chops
- In a baking dish, combine all the ingredients besides the lamb chops. Mix well.
- Add the chops to the baking dish, and coat well with the marinade.
- Cover the dish with plastic and refrigerate for at least two hours or up to overnight.
- When ready to cook, preheat a grill or grill pan on high, and brush with oil. Remove chops from marinade, discarding additional marinade.
- Grill the lamb chops, approximately 5 minutes on each side for medium.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
Amount Per Serving (2 chops)
Calories 966
Calories from Fat 801
% Daily Value*
Fat 89g137%
Saturated Fat 31g194%
Cholesterol 172mg57%
Sodium 718mg31%
Potassium 532mg15%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 39g78%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 54mg5%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
SAUTÉED WHITE BEANS
(Serves 2)
Ingredients…
- 1 large shallot, sliced thin
- 16 oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ¼ tsp salt
- pinch of black pepper
Directions…
- In a sauté pan, begin by sautéing the shallot in the oil on medium heat, until translucent. (About 3-4 minutes.)
- Next, add the white beans, salt, pepper, and the juice from the lemon. Stir to combine.
- Nestle the rosemary sprigs in the beans and sauté for 5 additional minutes on medium-low heat.
- Remove the rosemary sprigs and either discard or use as garnish. Serve warm.
Sautéed White Beans
This is a great protein-rich side for meals!
Equipment
- sauté pan
Ingredients
- 1 large shallot, sliced thin
- 1 15 oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 sprigs rosemary
- ½ lemon
- ¼ tsp salt
- a pinch black pepper
Instructions
- In a sauté pan, begin by sautéing the shallot in the oil on medium heat, until translucent. (About 3-4 minutes.)
- Next, add the white beans, salt, pepper, and the juice from the lemon. Stir to combine.
- Nestle the rosemary sprigs in the beans and sautée for 5 additional minutes on medium-low heat.
- Remove the rosemary sprigs and either discard, or use for garnish. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Sautéed White Beans
Amount Per Serving (8 oz)
Calories 80
Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 293mg13%
Potassium 79mg2%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 7mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH POMEGRANATE DRESSING
(Serves 2)
Ingredients…
For the Roasted Butternut Squash…
- 1 large butternut squash, skin and seeds removed, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
For the Pomegranate Dressing…
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 tsp honey mustard
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Directions…
For the Pomegranate Dressing…
- Whisk together the remaining 1 tbsp of oil, honey mustard, and lemon juice.
- Season with salt and pepper, and then fold in the pomegranate seeds.
For the Roasted Butternut Squash…
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss the squash pieces with 2 tbsp of oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and ground black pepper.
- Lay the pieces out on a large baking sheet, and roast in the oven until cooked through and starting to brown, (about 25 minutes).
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Toss the squash pieces with the pomegranate dressing, and serve warm. Enjoy!
Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate Dressing
Pomegranate – the ancient Fruit Of Love – makes for the best Date Night Side Dish!
Ingredients
For the Butternut Squash...
- 1 large butternut squash, skin and seeds removed, cut in to 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
For the Pomegranate Dressing…
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 tsp honey mustard
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
For the Pomegranate Dressing…
- Whisk together 1 tbsp of oil, honey mustard, and lemon juice.
- Season with salt and pepper, and then fold in the pomegranate seeds.
For the Roasted Butternut Squash…
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss the squash pieces with 2 tbsp of oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and ground black pepper.
- Lay the pieces out on a large baking sheet, and roast in the oven until cooked through and starting to brown, (about 25 minutes).
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Toss the squash pieces with the pomegranate dressing, and serve warm. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate Dressing
Amount Per Serving (8 oz)
Calories 383
Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 15g
Sodium 41mg2%
Potassium 1376mg39%
Carbohydrates 50g17%
Fiber 8g33%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 39863IU797%
Vitamin C 84mg102%
Calcium 183mg18%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Do you have plans to stay-in this Valentine’s Day?? Are you cooking or ordering-in food? I’d love to hear about how you’ll make the most of the holiday without leaving the house!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVA, KYLE AND LOWIE! Looks like you and Kyle had a great celebration of your love. It’s so fun to see what creative, thoughtful, thought provoking and new ideas for life, love, parenting, advice and support you are sharing with us. Keep up the good work. I’m sorry you have had some recent bumps in the road but you have responded with grace, style and a sense of humor. Love to all!
Hello Eva with her blogs leader co creators,
Your family is very fortunate to have such a conscientious, as well as talented woman, of the house. A wise friend of mine, told me about, a past woman friend whom we both knew, he said “Greg, THAT is a real woman.” From your blog Eva, my friend would say the same about you.
Your husband is a fortunate man. So happy for your family, that you found a quality man, who matches your level of quality.
Pomegranate is a love fruit? Fascinating.
So are tomatoes, they come from the tobacco family of plants. So for many centuries, tomatoes were never eaten, because they thought, like tobacco plants, that they were poisonous.
Thankfully they figured that out, no tomatoes on a burger, or with fries, that an OH NO and an Un uh. 😉
Tomatos look a lot like a real human heart too. Hmmm.
Things you learn at a community college western civilization class. 🙂
Tomatos, used to be called “the Love Fruit.” Now I know Pomengrates are the Love Fruit, too.
Can you feel the love? 😉
I am single this Valentines day, as are 50 percent or so of adult men with women in the United States.
But maybe that is why music, as well as coffee shoppes were invented, to occupy your time with interludes of sonic vibrations, on each persons quest for the journeying partner.
In the past several years a way to enhance the enjoyment of Valentines Day, whether or not you are in deep relationship with another, I have put together a mix cd with some and or one of my favorite female music artists.
Sometimes Madonna, sometimes Emmylou Harris, the Corrs from Ireland, there are a lot of good ones.
This year it is Mary Chapin Carpenter. Here is my song list for this Valentines Day:
* The Better to Dream of You
* The Age of Miracles
* Why Walk When you Can Fly
* Why Shouldn’t We?
* We’re All Right
* Something of A Dreamer
It isn’t Valentines day without some instrumental songs from the German band Cusco, some neat arrangements with flutes.
The song South America can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfg5j7Bz668 .
Very danceable, for you with your valentine acquaintances, friends, family.
Another song I sincerely appreciate is Pan and the Nymph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCP8hAdv_RI .
When I need some music to relax while feeling additional peace with some wind instruments, this most previous song, is a nice song, to help, bring further balance back to your consciousness, when your day gets out of balance.
I wonder what the equivalent of Valentines day is in South America, it may be different in each country there?
I will have to look that up on the internet, then off on a scavenger hunt to find that Age Of Miracles album from Mary Chapin Carpenter, in some ways catching up can be fun, also will phone a friend, who is alone, or all + one on this “VD Day” as he calls it.
He is with his dog, but thanks to phones, I am there with him as I am traveling.
Thanks for this quality blog Eva.
You have a wonderful family, where you all care about each other very much.
It is neat that you do such a good job of balancing being a mother, wife, as well as co provider, along with of equal importance, artist, hostess and ambassador of entertaining, with arts and crafts.
Your husband is fortunate, to have a balanced woman, to share the life journey with.
You are appreciated.
Hope for you all here at the blog, a fun, insightful, VD Day.
Greg Fillmore
I love your lipstick, who is it made by?