Love is in the air at Arden as couples prepare for Valentine’s Day. With fresh produce sourced from Arden’s five-acre community farm, you can cook a romantic plant-based dinner for you and your valentine that feels healthy and tastes great!

Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day recipes that you can recreate in your own kitchen for the one you love.

Blueberry and Rosemary Spritzer (Nonalcoholic)

Ingredients

• ¼ cup filtered water
• ¼ frozen blueberries (plus extra for garnish)
• 1 spring fresh rosemary*
• 2 tbsp. simple syrup
• 1 cup sparkling water or club soda
• Juice of 1 lime
• ½ tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

1. In a blender, blend blueberries, water, and some rosemary until it forms a smooth puree.
2. In a pitcher, mix simple syrup, sparkling water, lime juice, and maple syrup until well-combined.
3. Stir blueberry puree to the sparkling water mix.
4. Pour into glasses with ice. Garnish with rosemary springs and blueberries. 

Pasta with Farm-Fresh Pesto

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups loosely packed basil leaves*
• 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• Lemon juice or white wine vinegar, to taste
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast to taste
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Four ounces of dry pasta (spaghetti, linguine, penne, or fusilli recommended)

Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the nuts of your choice, tossing occasionally until they are golden and release a nutty aroma. 
2. Transfer the toasted nuts into a food processor with the garlic cloves. Pulse repeatedly until you have a fine crumb, but not a paste or puree.
3. Add the basil, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and cheese or nutritional yeast.
4. Blend until a paste forms, scraping down the sides as you go. 
5. With the motor running, slowly stream in the olive oil until the sauce emulsifies. 
6. Bring a pot of lightly salted water of a boil. 
7. Add your pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, approximately 10 minutes. 
8. Drain your pasta and place into a pan. Mix your sauce into the pasta and serve. 

Rosemary Roasted Carrots

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of small carrots, peeled*
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary*
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. Toss carrots with olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt, and pepper.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tender. 

Bananas Foster

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp butter or vegan butter
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 ½ tablespoons rum
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla beans
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 bananas,* peeled and slice lengthwise
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
2. Stir in brown sugar, rum, vanilla, and cinnamon. 
3. Place bananas and walnuts in pan. Cook until bananas have softened and caramelized, 1-2 minutes. 
4. Serve immediately. Feel free to add your favorite dairy or non-dairy ice cream. 

We hope you enjoy these recipes with farm-fresh ingredients. We hope you and yours have a happy Valentine’s Day!

*Farm share basket ingredient