Vegan Valentine's Day Dinner

Planning a special Valentine's Day dinner is never an easy task. Preparing a special Valentine's Day dinner for a vegan is even more difficult. Our society is a mainly a carnivore one, so being vegan is not an easy lifestyle choice. Unfortunately, at least for the time being, we must adapt in this world. In order to help smooth out your Valentine's Day and make your dinner as special and painless as possible, here is a guide for creating a special, romantic Valentine's Day dinner vegan style.
The most important aspect of your dinner is, obviously, what you are going to eat.
It is important to remember that vegans do not eat or use any type of animal product. No, not even chicken. It may be necessary to visit a specialty store, such as Whole Foods, to get some of these vegan friendly options. Some local grocery stores are beginning to carry vegetarian and vegan foods, so you may want to check there as well. These recipes are all very simple and do not require any hard to find ingredients.

It is a great idea to start your meal off with an appetizer.
For our vegan Valentine's Day dinner, the appetizer will be Asparagus Wheels. Asparagus is a great source of Vitamin C, fiber, and even protein, which is crucial for vegans.

For the Asparagus Wheels you will need:
8 Asparagus Spears (fresh)
8 Slices of Bread (whole wheat)
½ Package of Cream Cheese (a great vegan option is Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Cream Cheese. The ingredients are healthy and the company is vegetarian and vegan friendly)
½ Tablespoon of Minced Chives
1/8 Cup Butter (Earth Balance is a great vegan option)

Cooking Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees
You will need a non stick cookie sheet or one that has been greased.
In a skillet, cook the asparagus for approximately 5 or 6 minutes. The spears should be tender and crispy when you are done.
Take each slice of bread individually and flatten it out. A rolling pin will be helpful, but not necessary.
Mix together the cream cheese and chives in a separate bowl.
Cover each slice of bread. Place one piece of asparagus on the edge of each piece of bread with the cream cheese mixture and then roll it up.
Brush the top of each Wheel with butter and then bake in the oven for approximately 10 minutes. They should be golden brown when they are done.

The main course for this vegan Valentine's Day dinner is Linguine with Vegetables and Nuts
For this recipe you will need:
1/2lb Package of Whole Grain Linguine Noodles
½ Cup Vegetable Broth
1 Cup of Cauliflower (fresh, cut into small pieces)
½ Head of Cabbage (shredded)
1 Tablespoon of Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon of Crushed Pine Nuts (you can also use any other crushed nut of your choice)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Parsley to Garnish (if desired)

Directions:
In a skillet, mix vegetable broth, cauliflower, cabbage, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Keep ingredients on the heat until the vegetables are tender and crisp.
When the vegetables are done, drain, leaving a small amount of vegetable broth, and set aside.
In a large pot, cook the linguine noodles according to the package instructions. When the noodles are done, add in the vegetables.
Mix in the nuts and top off with the parsley.

Now that you have enjoyed a delicious meal it is time for dessert.
Chocolate Pudding (this is a very easy and delicious recipe)
For this recipe you will need:
1 Box of Silken Tofu (be sure that it is silken tofu! You may not be able to find this in the refrigerator section. Check the shelves - that is where it usually is.)
¼ Cup of Cocoa
¼ Cup of Sugar
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

Mix all the ingredients together until they are smooth. Put in a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve. It needs at least one hour of sitting in the refrigerator to be at the right temperature.

Now that you have the menu planned out, you need to consider the atmosphere. Pick a CD of Jazz music or easy listening music. If you have satellite or cable, you probably have music channels that will work very well if you do not have a CD that is suitable.
A white table cloth over the table will look very nice with a vase of fresh flowers of the recipient's favorite variety or color.
If you can get vegan friendly candles, they will help add to this atmosphere. You may need to check a specialty candle store. (call ahead if you are in a hurry) If you cannot find vegan friendly candles, try the flameless candles that operate on a battery. They look very nice, are reusable, and do not harm animals in the making of them. Many local discount stores sell them. I have recently seen them at Bed Bath and Beyond. Again, call ahead if you are in a hurry.

You have your menu planned and your atmosphere set. Don't forget a card! You can pick this up at almost any store or make your own.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Vegweb.com is a great source for more vegan recipes for Valentine's Day, or any day.