Valentine's Dessert Ideas

Happy Valentine's Day! February is known the month of love, and you know I love to celebrate. Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to celebrate and spend time with the person you love. I have plenty of dinner ideas to celebrate and help you make a great menu.

But, you don't have to make a huge meal to celebrate. Pick something to make or bake. Share it with your loved ones: family, friends, co-workers, or your Galentines! Here are some of make favorite desserts to make and share.

Browned Butter Salted Cereal Bars

Ginger Cookies 

 Layered Cake with Fruit Filling
Here are some tips for decorating layered cakes.

 Blueberry Thyme Crisp

 Individual Vanilla Soufflé

 Blackberry Crostata

 Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta topped with Berries

 Strawberry Shortcake with Homemade Whipped Cream

 Sugar Cookie Decorating

You're the only one I "sea."

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter and Nutella Buttercream

If you can't choose one treat, make a few and set up a dessert bar. Share with the ones you love.

Dessert bars are a great way to entertain. It would be such a fun idea to host a dessert potluck. Have everyone bring one dessert or fruit and send everyone home with the extra as a party favor.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you liked this post, you might enjoy: 

Top Recipes of 2016

Dessert Bar

Valentine's Dinner Ideas

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. February is the month of love, and you know I love to celebrate. Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to celebrate and spend time with the person you love. But, you don't have to just celebrate today. I have plenty of dinner ideas to celebrate with a meal and spend time together. Here are some recipe menu ideas for you and your loved ones. Pick an entrée and 1 or 2 sides, and you've made a great menu!

 Homemade Pasta Tips

 Prosciutto and Vegetable Risotto

Crab Cakes

Chicken Marsala

Lasagna Bake

Salads and Sides:

 Greek Salad

 Caesar Salad

 Southern Italy Salad

Berry and Feta Cheese Salad

Glazed Carrots

Bacon or Turkey Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Roasted Asparagus

Your Valentine's Day doesn't need to be elaborate or complicated to be special. Think about what you and your significant other love, and celebrate together. Maybe even try cooking together. Stayed tuned because I'm sharing dessert ideas later this week.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you liked this post, you might enjoy: 

Top Recipes of 2016

Browned Butter Rice Cereal Bars

Dessert Bar

February Reader Favorites

Thank you for all of the love this month! 2016 has been a great year so far. February was a great month where I spent time with family, traveled, and persevered through the cleaning and organizing I started in January. If you missed any of the posts last month, here are the top favorite posts you visited in the month of February. Enjoy!

 Chicken Marsala for Your Valentine

Recipes for Winter and the Souper Bowl

pun intended :)

  My Thoughts on Goals and Resolutions

P.s. Happy National Nutrition Month!

Let me know if there are any nutrition-related topics you would like me to write about. You can comment below. 

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you liked this post, you may enjoy:

 2015 Reader Favorites

November Reader Favorites

RDtipoftheday's Friday Favorites: February Edition

Welcome to a new series called Friday Favorites. I am sharing my favorite things from blogs I read, my new favorite recipes, and much more. My goal is to share my favorite reads and save you time wadding through the web. Hope you enjoy the new series!

You can also tag me, @RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter to let me know of anything you want featured on Friday Favorites. Also, tag me if you make any of my recipes. Enjoy the February edition of Friday Favorites!

Valentine's Day:
Did you forget to make Valentine's Day reservations? Or, do you not want to fight the crowds? Don't worry. Just make my chicken marsala recipe for a delicious, romantic way to say I love you to your special someone or make it for yourself. You deserve a delicious meal!

Does your sweetie have a sweet tooth? Does your honey crave honey? Do you have sweeth teeth instead of just a sweet tooth? If so, try out my quick and easy Valentine dessert bar. There's a little something gooey and extra chocolately, something sweet and spicy, and something sweet and salty. Basically, there's something for everyone you love.

I love these mini rose pies for your Valentine's Day celebration; so cute!

Mardi Gras and the Lenten Season:

Being from Louisiana, I look forward to Mardi Gras and the Lenten Season. If you can't find a bakery making King cake, don't worry. Make my easy King Cake recipe and celebrate all season.

If you are looking for a more traditional King Cake, check out the recipe for a yeast-leavening King Cake.

Recipes:
Are you looking for a quick, healthy, and delicious way to start your day? Look no further than my quick and fruity breakfast smoothie.

Has the Winter weather got you craving Spring? Try my spicy pablano pepper soup to remind you of warmer weather.

 

Infographics
I love all these infographics about American favorites: United Tastes of America, United Slang of America, and the United Sweets of America. Check them out.


For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you liked this post, you may enjoy:

RDTOD Friday Favorites: November Edition

 

 

Top Posts of 2015

Chicken Marsala for Your Valentine

It's almost Valentine's Day. This is a great day set aside to show your loved ones that they are loved. How do you show someone you love them? I'm not a talented artist or musician. I can't paint a picture or create a love song. But, I can cook. 

As a registered dietitian (RD), I have the opportunity to develop and analyze recipes for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) for more than 4 years. I'm sharing one of the recipes that I created for the NKF today.

This is my Chicken Marsala recipe. This recipe is a perfect combination of al dente orzo, juicy chicken with thyme, and mushrooms that soak up a velvety, Marsala wine sauce. It is a perfectly romantic meal for you and your loved one on Valentine's Day. It is so good; it's worth making for your special someone to show them how special they are to you.

Click the link to get the full recipe for Chicken Marsala.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you liked this post, you might enjoy:

A Dessert Bar for Valentine's Day

American Heart Month

Easy Entertaining Recipe Ideas

Easy King Cake "Recipe"

Chicken Marsala: An Easy Entree

Did you know that today is National Italian Food Day? Here's an easy entree, Chicken Marsala, to make to celebrate today or for Valentine's Day.

This Chicken Marsala is delicious. It will make your house smell wonderful. It has 10 ingredients (if you don't count the salt and pepper) and is simple to make. 

Chicken Marsala with Orzo
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup Marsala cooking wine
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken stock
2 Tablespoons flour
1 Tablespoon butter
2 cups cooked orzo
2 teaspoons fresh parsley for garnishing

Heat oil in Dutch Oven over medium high. (Thanks for my Le Creuset hubby!) Add mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes. Move mushrooms to the sides of the pan. Add chicken to the middle of the pan. Add thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook chicken 2-3 minutes on each side. Add wine. Cook 1-2 minutes. RDTip: You want to cook the alcohol off in the pan. So, cook the alcohol until you can no longer smell it. Add chicken stock, and cook for 8 minutes. Mix butter and flour into a paste in a separate bowl with a fork. Add paste to the pot. Cook 2-3 minutes until thickened. 
Cook orzo according to directions on package to yield at least 2 cups cooked pasta.
Serve Chicken Marsala over orzo.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings (1/2 cup cooked orzo with 1/4 of the Chicken Marsala recipe)

I hope you enjoy this recipe. It was a hit in my home! This is a great, easy entree to entertain with. It holds well in the dutch oven for 20-30 minutes. This would be a great entree to make for Valentine's day. Enjoy!

Follow me, RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter for more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating. You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

Dessert Bar for Valentine's Day: Double Chocolate Brownies and Ginger Cookies

There is something about the cold weather that makes me want to bake. Maybe it's being near an oven to keep warm. Maybe it's because I love sweets. Maybe it's because baking sweets is a good excuse to invite people over and share the baked-good-love. Or, maybe it's a combination of those reasons.

I have always enjoyed baking. I love sweets and a reason to eat sweets. Valentine's Day is a perfect reason to bake treats, invite people over, and share.

I made this Valentine's Day inspired dessert tray with two simple recipes and store-bought chocolate covered pretzels. I made ginger cookies and double chocolate brownies. 

These double chocolate brownies could also be called boyfriend brownies because you could make them to get a boy who's a friend to become your boyfriend (hahahaha! just joking.). Do you know the old saying that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach? These brownies may qualify for that statement. But, these really are super simple brownies; they are a great, easy recipe for a beginning baker. They are simply jazzed up boxed brownie mix.

Double Chocolate Brownies
1 box fudge brownie mix
oil
eggs
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Nonstick cooking spray

Follow the recipe on the brownie box and add the recommended amount of oil and egg. Mix well. Spray 8 x 13 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add brownie batter. Top with chocolate chips. Bake according to the box. This recipe is so easy I don't even know if it qualifies as a "recipe." 

Enjoy! Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

Follow me, RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter for more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating. You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.