For many of us Valentines Day can be considered the least romantic day of the year. Yes you heard me correctly. Most of us act like robots, purchasing cards, flowers and chocolate for our sweethearts because that is what we think we are meant to do.

So why not whip out your apron instead and cook up a meal that will melt your lovers heart. Sprinkle the table with rose petals, light those aromatherapy, soy candles and share a meal that will spark a night of passion.

Menu:
Fried Soba Sushi in Broth
Aduki Bean Rice
Fresh Tekka Relish
Age Dashi Tofu
Mixed Greens with Olives
Red Cabbage Salad
Coffee Mousse

Order your Copy of:
Eat Me Now!: Healthy Macrobiotic Cooking for
Students and Busy People by Melanie Waxman

 

 

 

Fried Soba Sushi in Broth
Soba noodles are known for their vital energy. This lovely soup will send passion to your toes.

Broth

Ingredients:
1 shitake rinsed, soaked and sliced
2 inch strip kombu rinsed
Shoyu
Mirin
Sea salt

Soba Sushi
2 sheets toasted nori
2 scallions washed and finely sliced
1 carrot washed and cut into matchsticks
2 teaspoons fresh ginger
1/2 packet soba cooked
Safflower oil for deep-frying

Preparation:

Place the shiitake and kombu into a pot. Add the water and bring to a boil on a medium flame
Remove the kombu.
Season with a pinch of sea salt, shoyu and mirin.
Place the noodles in rows on a cutting board.
Place a sheet of nori on a sushi mat.
Place a layer of noodles across the nori. Leave 1/2 an inch at the top and bottom of the nori.
Place a line of carrots and scallions across the noodles.
Roll up the sushi in the mat.
Repeat to make another roll.
Cut each roll in half.
Meanwhile, warm the oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, deep-fry the sushi roll for about 3 minutes.
Remove and drain on paper towels.
Cut into bit-size pieces with a damp knife.
Divide the sushi between 4 bowls.
Pour the hot broth over the top.
Serve garnished with the remaining carrots, scallions and fresh ginger.

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Aduki Bean Rice
Nourishing the kidneys might not sound very romantic but sexual potency is determined by their healthy function. Aduki beans are a wonderful way to give our kidneys that little sexy kick.

Ingredients:
2 cups sweet brown rice rinsed
1/4 cup aduki beans rinsed
1 inch strip kombu rinsed
2.5 cups spring water (a little more or less water can be used)

Preparation:
Place the ingredients into a bowl. Soak overnight.
Place the ingredients into a pressure cooker.
Bring up to pressure on a medium flame.
Turn the flame to low.
Cook for 30 minutes using a flame deflector to evenly cook the rice.
Remove from the heat and allow the pressure to come down.
Remove the rice from the cooker and serve hot.

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Fresh Tekka Relish
A passionate relish full of root vegetables designed to nurture the lower part of the body and stimulate sex drive.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup minced carrot
1/2 cup minced burdock
1/2 cup minced lotus root
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon barley miso diluted in a little water
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon orange rind
1 cup spring water

Preparation:
Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the vegetables in the following order, onion, carrot, lotus root and burdock. Add enough water to cover the vegetables.
Cover with a lid and simmer on a low flame for at least 1 hour or until soft.
Add the diluted miso and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the ginger and orange rind and stir gently. Remove from heat and serve over hot brown rice.

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Age Dashi Tofu
This delicious way to serve tofu gives you a lovely sophisticated flavor. Deep fried tofu helps to relieve stress and will give you nourishing, deep and sustaining energy.

Ingredients:
1 block tofu sliced into 1/4 inch thick squares
Safflower oil for deep frying

Batter

Ingredients:
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 -1 1/2 cups sparkling water
Pinch sea salt

Dipping

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried bonito flakes (optional)
4 tablespoons shoyu
2 tablespoons mirin
2 tablespoons grated daikon
1/2 cup spring water
1 scallion washed and finely sliced

Preparation:
Place the tofu on paper towels to drain any excess moisture. Dredge each one with a little flour.
Place about 3 inches of safflower oil in a pot. Start on a low flame and turn it to high when you are ready to deep fry.
Place the flours and sea salt in a bowl. Add the sparkling water and mix gently. Do not over-mix. The mark of a good tempura batter is a powdery ring of flour around the sides of the bowl and a mixture marked with lumps of dry flour!
Place the tofu in the batter and coat well.
Place the tofu in the hot oil and deep fry until golden on all sides. This takes around 1-2 minutes.
Remove and place on clean paper towels.
Place the shoyu, mirin, water and scallions in a bowl. Place the tofu on a serving dish and sprinkle with the dried bonito flakes. Dip the tofu in the sauce and enjoy!!

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Mixed Greens with Olives
Asparagus known for its aphrodisiac properties adds a lift to this simple dish not only from its shape but its ability to stimulate sex hormones.

Ingredients:
1 bunch watercress washed and sliced
2 cups kale washed and finely sliced
6 asparagus tips cut into pieces
1/2 cup takuan pickle finely sliced in match sticks
1/2 cup black olives pitted and finely sliced
2 cups spring water
1 tangerine

Preparation:
Place the water in a pan. Cover and bring to a boil on a medium flame.
Turn the flame to high. Add the kale and blanch for about 30 seconds. Remove and place on a serving dish.
Wait for the water to return to a boil before adding the watercress. Remove and add to the kale. Repeat with the asparagus. Gently mix the vegetables together. Add the takuan and olives, and mix through the vegetables.
Serve with a squeeze of tangerine.

 

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Red Cabbage Salad
The fragrance of fresh basil might be enough to get the heart racing. However, it is also believed to stimulate sex drive and create a sense of well-being.

Ingredients:
1/2 red cabbage shredded
1/2 cucumber peeled and cut in matchsticks
1/2 lettuce shredded
1 tablespoon fresh basil minced
Pinch sea salt

Dressing
2 tablespoons white miso
1 lemon, juiced
Few drops shoyu
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger juice (optional)

Preparation:
Sprinkle cabbage with salt and mix by hand. Lightly press and leave for 20 minutes.
Pour off any excess liquid and add the basil, lettuce and cucumber.
Place ginger juice, miso, shoyu, and lemon juice into a small bowl and then mix.
Pour over salad and mix through. Let sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

 

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Coffee Mousse
Okay this might not be chocolate but the aroma of almonds and vanilla is said to stimulate passion so why not have a go and create a healthy dessert instead.

Ingredients:
4 cups apple juice2 cups spring water
6 heaping tablespoons agar agar flakes
6 heaping tablespoons grain coffee
2 tablespoons rice syrupPinch sea salt
3-4 tablespoons almond butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toasted chopped almonds for garnish

Preparation: Place apple juice, water, pinch of sea salt, and agar agar flakes in a pot. Heat on a medium flame. Let the mixture heat, stirring occasionally until the agar agar is completely melted. Using a whisk, add the grain coffee and mix until dissolved. Add the rice syrup and mix well. Remove from the heat. Pour into a serving dish and allow to cool until firm. When the kanten has set, place half in a blender with half the almond butter and vanilla essence. Blend until smooth. Repeat with the other half. Place in a serving dish or individual glasses and chill.

Serve garnished with toasted almonds.