Heart Healthy Date Night Dinner

Looking to spice up your romantic date night without compromising on your health? How about a sensational salmon dish that goes from oven to a bed of fresh greens and vibrant veggies, drizzled with a zesty dressing of ginger, lemon, and soy? It’s a match made in culinary heaven! And to sweeten the evening, indulge in a delightful dessert of Black Cherry Granita – a sweet frozen treat that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy! Not only will your taste buds be dancing, but you’ll also be fueling your body with heart-healthy nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which work together to prevent plaque formation and lowers the risk of heart disease. You can enjoy delicious meals while still prioritizing well-being of you and the one you love. So go ahead, make it a date to remember – your heart will thank you!

This main course salad with no carbs and dessert makes the perfect date night dinner or small dinner party that looks 5 star but is quick and easy. It features a combination of foods that prevent cardiovascular disease and keep you on point for your fitness goals while satiating your taste buds with the perfect mix of flavors, textures and temperatures.

SEARED SALMON AND NAPA CABBAGE WITH WARM LEMON-SOY DRESSING

Serves 4
Recipe from “Raising the Salad Bar” by Catherine Walthers, Lake Isle Press, 2007, lakeislepress.com

INGREDIENTS

SALAD

4 cups very thinly sliced Napa cabbage (about 1/4 head) or
baby spinach
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 thick carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
2 radishes, trimmed and cut into matchsticks or
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced
4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each, with skin)
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil

LEMON-SOY DRESSING

3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

PREPARATION

1. In a serving bowl, combine the cabbage, scallions, carrot, and radishes or cucumber.
2. Season the salmon with salt and pepper.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°. Heat a heavy ovenproof skillet,
   preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan, then add the fish fillets, flesh side down.
4. Cook undisturbed until salmon is lightly browned, about 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully slide a spatula under each fillet and turn over.
5. Transfer the skillet to the oven to finish cooking, approximately 6 to 8 minutes, or until the fish is almost opaque throughout, but still moist.
6. While fish is cooking, make the dressing. In a small skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil and add the ginger. Let ginger sizzle for about 1 minute. Stir in the soy sauce and lemon juice, then turn off the heat.
7. Divide the salad among 4 individual plates and drizzle each serving with a little dressing. Remove fish from the skillet, discarding the skin that remains in the pan. Arrange a salmon fillet in the center of each salad and spoon the remaining dressing over all.

BLACK CHERRY GRANITA DESSERT

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: Freeze Overnight
Serves 8
www.cravingsofalunatic.com, Author: Kim Beaulieu

INGREDIENTS

1 pound 2 cups of fresh cherries, pitted and stems removed
1/4 cup sugar, optional
1 cup Black Cherry Sparkling Ice Naturally Flavored
Sparkling Water
1 tablespoon almond extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the cherries in a food processor, or blender. Pulse until the cherries become smooth liquid.
2. Pour in sugar, Black Cherry Sparkling Ice, and almond extract. Pulse until smooth.
3. Pour into a metal loaf pan, or any bowl of equal size.
4. Place in the freezer. After about 4 hours give the granita a scrape with a fork. Repeat as desired. Freeze overnight.
5. Remove and scrape the mixture with a spoon. Transfer scraped parts to serving dishes.
6. Garnish with black cherries and serve.