Romantic Meal for Vegans

Get out the candles and put on some soft music. You're going to make a romantic meal to go with the atmosphere. A vegan dinner will leave your significant other with enough energy for amorous pursuits after the food is gone and the clean up is over. You'll want to conserve your energy , also, so don't over extend yourself with the meal.

You can put out a delicious plate without burning yourself out before dinner is served. With a combination of fresh preparation and smart shopping, you'll be as fresh as a summer tomato when your dinner guest arrives. But what will you make that's fun and flavorful? Wonder no more!

Check out this menu:

Spinach and Strawberry Salad with chopped pecans

Portobello White Pizza

Mango Sorbet served over fresh sliced Mango

Ingredient measures are all "enough for two" and are listed as we go along.

Prepare and serve the first course:

About half an hour before serving, dice up some firm tofu and toss in a bowl with strawberry balsamic vinaigrette. The tofu will infuse with the tangy vinaigrette marinade. Tofu has very little taste and one of its best characteristics is that it will assume whatever flavor it's combined with. Tofu is a totally versatile food product.

Strawberry vinaigrette (and tofu marinade): olive oil, strawberry preserves, and balsamic vini.

Whisk together until blended.

(Enough for two salads would consist of a half cup of total vinaigrette).

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Wash and dry the spinach leaves, pull off the stems and place leaves in a bowl. (if leaves aren't bite sized, tear them into the desired size).

Slice up strawberries and add to the spinach. Dice some red onion, chop up the pecans (or buy them already chopped) and add to the strawberries and spinach. Add diced marinated tofu to the mix, pour the marinade over the salad and toss.

If you can resist, let the dressing sit for several minutes so the flavor can penetrate into the spinach leaves. Dry spinach leaves are not fun on the tongue. Top with a handful of golden raisins.

Prepare Portobellas:

-Remove stems and wash caps

-Mash some tofu into spreadable consistency.

-Mix with garlic powder, chopped or dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste

-Spread inside mushroom caps

-Top with sliced black olives and diced tomatoes

-Cover with meltable vegan cheese.

-Bake in 450 degree oven until "cheese" is melted.

-For softer mushrooms, steam portobellas until they are "al dente" or softer.

"Enough for two" might be as little as one each or as many as four each. Depends on the individual appetite.

Pour a pink fruity wine, look deep into each other's eyes and sigh.

After dinner, serve chilled sliced mango over mango sorbet (which you conveniently picked up when you were in your favorite natural food store getting the Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette).

Enjoy the fruit of your labor.

Your tummy will thank you for your smart meal choice and the combination of the sweet dressing, the green spinach, the earthy mushrooms and the fruity dessert will round out your nutritional needs quite nicely.

Now blow out that candle and feed your appetite for passion!