In the Kitchen: An Intimate Dinner for Two

Friend of the show and Food Writer, Jenn Press Arata ( www.thatssojenn.com ), joined Teresa in the kitchen to demonstrate her version of a Valentine’s Day inspired intimate dinner for two.

Two Hearts on Fire Salad

Ingredients:

1 (14 oz.) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained

1 cup sliced hearts of palm, drained

1 avocado, cut into pieces

1 mild green chili pepper

3 cups arugula

1/4 cup good olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Combine hearts of palm rounds and drained artichoke hearts in a bowl. Remove seeds from chili pepper, slice into rounds and add to hearts. In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over salad. Gently incorporate avocado and arugula. Eat and enjoy with someone you love!

 

Linguine Marinara with Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage

Ingredients:

1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes (I use Tuttorosso)

1 (29 oz.) can tomato sauce (Also Tuttorosso)

1/4 extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves of garlic

1/4 cup pine nuts

2 oz. red wine (Any bottle you like to drink)

2 sprigs of thyme, removed from stems

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 package spicy Italian chicken sausage

1 lb linguine

Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

Mince garlic. Add olive oil and garlic to your pan and place over medium heat. Warming them together will allow the flavor of the garlic to infuse in the oil. Saute for a few minutes until garlic turns slightly browned. Add pine nuts and sauté over medium-low heat until lightly brown. Pour in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and add red wine. Sprinkle in thyme, salt and crushed red pepper. Cut chicken sausage into rounds and brown on both sides with a touch of cooking spray. Add meat to sauce and simmer over low heat for about 10-20 minutes. Boil linguine and toss sauce with pasta. Eat and enjoy on Valentine’s Day!

Chocolate Tasting

If baking isn’t your thing, make dessert a shared activity. Pick up an assortment of dark, milk and white or make it easy and get yourself a boxed sampler. Take turns blindfolding each other and feeding one another different kinds while the other guesses the filling and flavors.