Tag Archives: date night recipes

risotto

Quinoa Risotto

A few years ago, I played in a volleyball tournament in South Carolina.

It was hot, muggy, and gorgeous.  We made a good showing at the event making it to the semi-finals I believe. I’m not good at remembering my finishes.

What stood out to me more than anything, and is something that I have never forgotten was my first taste of quinoa.

At this particular event the staff of the AVP (the professional volleyball tour that I played for) had hired a fantastic chef to prepare our food. Everything was delicious, and highly nutritious.

It wasn’t until last year though that I actually tried to make quinoa and it has become one of my favorite side (or main) dishes.

If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend that you do. It can be substituted for rice, and what I love is that it packs a lot of protein.

Quinoa Risotto

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbsp olive oil
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms
  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 3 cups chicken broth (or veggie broth)
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the mushrooms and saute until soft (about 5 minutes).  Remove from skillet and set aside.  Add garlic and shalot to pan and saute until they being to soften and turn translucent, about 5 minutes. 

Add quinoa. Stir for approximately 3 minutes.  Lower the heat to simmer, and add the wine cooking until it is absorbed.  Next add 1 1/2 cups broth.  Stir until it is absorbed completely.  After that add the remainder of the broth.  Stir occasionally until broth is absorbed and qunioa germs burst open.  It should taste al dente when done.

Stir in the parmesan cheese and mushrooms, and turn off heat. Cover with a lid and let stand 5 minutes.

What’s your favorite risotto?

 

 

 

The 15 Best Aphrodisiac Recipes for Your Hubby and You

The 15 Best Aphrodisiac Recipes For Your Hubby & You

The 15 Best Aphrodisiac Recipes for Your Hubby and You

Does your hubby know his way around the kitchen?  Does he love showing off his culinary skills?  

If you’ve been longing to see your husband standing over the stove and making a delicious meal for you, show him these recipes!  

I guarantee he will be all too happy to burn it up in the kitchen so you can both steam up in the bedroom a little later.

Studies have long shown that certain vitamins and minerals increase nerve sensitivity and boost hormone levels, pumping up that sometimes elusive libido.  

I know what you might be thinking, and no, oysters aren’t the only aphrodisiac food with the ability to put you in the mood.

So find a recipe here and eat your way to an incredible time using the 15 best aphrodisiac recipes we’re dishing up.  

Breakfast (Did you know libido is oftentimes highest in the morning?  Or so I’ve been told :) )

Almond French Toast: Grab your hubby by the hand and get the morning started off right!  Not only does this recipe include two aphrodisiac foods, almonds and eggs, you can top it off with two more -bananas and strawberries- for an orgasmic delight.

Freestyle Frittata: This distinct Italian relative of the omelet uses not one but two aphrodisiac foods.  Send your libido into overdrive with every delectable bite!

Chocolate Maca Milkshake: Get a libido boost first thing in the morning by adding this powerful superfood to any of your smoothies or begin the morning with something a little sweeter.  Sworn by Peruvians to be the most powerful aphrodisiac ever, Maca roots are said to boost sexual strength and libido.

Lunch or Dinner (don’t be afraid to break away in the middle of the day for a bedroom soiree)

Black and White Steak au Poivre: Those French certainly know how to make some sexy dishes!  Add a glass of red wine, another aphrodisiac food, to this meal and Ooh La La.

Asparagus, Mozzarella & Prosciutto Parcels: An English herbalist from the 17th century, Nicholas Culpepper, wrote that asparagus “stirs up lust in man and woman.” In 19th century France, bridegrooms were served three courses of the sexy spears at their prenuptial dinners. A great source of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, which is said to boost histamine production necessary for the ability to reach orgasm in both sexes.  Oh yeah!

Fig Goat Cheese Pie with Basil: If you’ve not figured it out by now, my goal is to find recipes that combine as many of the top 30 aphrodisiac foods thought to boost the libido as possible.  This lovely recipe combines three, almonds, fig and basil, for a taste that is out of this world!

King Ranch Chicken: With the slightly spicy kick of poblano and jalapeño chile peppers (and aphrodisiac food that fires you up in all the right places), this cheesy chicken casserole is anything but ordinary.

Oyster and Scallop Tartare with Ginger Dressing: Cue the gastronomic explosion in your mouth with this recipe that combines three aphrodisiac foods: oysters, ginger and champagne.

Salmon with Sweet Chili Glaze and Sugar Snap Peas: The wild variety of salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. These essential oils are said to help in proper glandular development and lead to increased response to arousal.  Throw in some sweet chili sauce and ginger and you’ve got a dinner jam-packed with three aphrodisiacs.

Bacon, Avocado and Tomato Cristini: Although I’ve never seen bacon on a list of aphrodisiac foods, I’m sure there are plenty men out there who might disagree.  But just in case bacon being an aphrodisiac is a myth, this recipe includes three real ones: avocado, garlic and lemon.  As my little sister would say, “Yummerz!”

Cold Almond and Garlic Soup with Figs and Marcona Almonds: The Mediterranean diet isn’t thought to be the sexiest diet in the world for no reason.  This soup boasts three aphrodisiac ingredients -used often in Mediterranean diets- in one bowl. Jackpot.

Spicy Strawberry Salsa: What happens when you add a little bit of lime juice, jalapeño pepper, and a few other choice items with strawberries?  You get something that is out of this world!  Sure, strawberries are pretty sexy-looking already. But on top of that, they contain antioxidants and improve circulation, which up your chances of having a hot-blooded encounter.

Dessert (chocolate is an aphrodisiac…so get double the pleasure)

Pomegranate Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies: Now, who wouldn’t love the combination of these three aphrodisiacs (chocolate, pomegranate and oatmeal)?  Don’t even wait until these cookies cool down, eat them just minutes out of the oven and while the melted chocolate gets all over your hands…well…you know (**wink wink**).

Banana and Nutella S’Mores: You mean Nutella doesn’t qualify as an aphrodisiac?  I’m shocked!  Well, at least this yummy twist on a campfire tradition includes two known aphrodisiacs, bananas and chocolate.

Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Tart: It just seems like any recipe with “chocolate” contained twice in the name should make it onto this list of our 12 best.  On Epicurious.com, this recipe is rated 4-forks with ninety-eight percent saying they’d make it again.  Sounds like a winner to me!

QUESTION: What’s your favorite recipe(s) featuring an aphrodisiac food?  Add it below in the comments (and if you have the link to the recipe, feel free to include that too!)

Until Monday…make it a great weekend!

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