I always like to do something fun and festive for my boys when Valentine’s Day arrives. Last year we made Heart-Shaped Pizza using pre-baked dough so to mix things up a bit this year we are making Heart-Shaped garlic bread instead! To go along with the theme, I made pretty pink Beet Pasta (recipe below) and a side of sautéd broccoli rabe– 2 variations on vegetables my kids will actually eat.
Heart-Shaped Garlic Bread
6-8 slices of sourdough bread
3 T butter
1 T olive oil
2 T grated parmesan cheese
1/4 t garlic powder
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or scissors to cut hearts out of sliced sourdough bread. Butter each piece and lay them on a baking sheet. Drizzle the whole sheet with olive oil and then sprinkle with the grated parmesan and garlic powder. Broil until golden (about 2-3 minutes).
Use any leftover bread to make homemade croutons like these from the Kitchn.
Enjoy!
Heart-Shaped Garlic Bread
BEET PASTA
recipe from The Forest Feast Mediterranean
8 oz. (225 g) pasta (I used rigatoni here, but any type works)
1 small beet
2 oz. (55 grams) goat cheese
1/2 lemon
2 T olive oil
Fresh parsley (or other fresh herb you like)
Boil the pasta according to package instructions. As pasta cooks, grate the beet using a fine grater or zester (no need to peel). Drain the pasta and then put it back into the hot cooking pot. Add the grated beet, juice from 1/2 lemon, the goat cheese, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
* For an even more kid-friendly version of this recipe, just use half of a small beet and leave out the lemon and goat cheese. Instead add 1 T butter to make it a little creamier, and a bit more mild. My kids will protest if I put parsley on top, so I leave it on the side, mostly for the grown-ups to sprinkle.
Enjoy!
Max enjoying Beet Pasta
Broccoli Rabe sautéd with butter & garlic. Sauté on medium high heat until bright green.
