• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Nourishing Gourmet

Nourishing. Satisfying. Gourmet.

  • THM Coaching
  • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
    • Everyday Nourishing Food
    • Salad Cookbook
    • Soup Cookbook

Nourishing Romantic Meals and Free Trade Organic Chocolate

February 11, 2010 by KimiHarris 21 Comments

Thanks for stopping by! If you're interested in healthy eating check out my free gifts! and subscribe to get regular email updates. *Some links may be affiliate.*
Thanks for stopping by! If you're interested in healthy eating check out my free gifts! and subscribe to get regular email updates. *Some links may be affiliate.*

chocolate(My three year old was so excited about the above chocolate, I found her trying to hack a piece of chocolate off with a butter knife before I had the chance to take my picture!)

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. I hope that everyone has a wonderful day, whether single, married, or dating. I couldn’t resist giving a few romantic meal ideas (and I would love for you to give more too!). But keep your eye out for my post later today, it will be entitled “Why I think Mops are a Romantic Gift and Why I am Giving One Away Over Valentine’s Day Weekend”.

Meanwhile, here’s a few recipe ideas for main dishes and desserts from my site and elsewhere

Main Dishes

Oysters are known for being an aphrodisiac food. It’s not hard to imagine why with their high zinc content, which is vital for men’s “fertility” if you will. We will start with a few recipes for oysters.

For the adventurous, try raw oysters, like in this recipe.(Epicurious)

Or, for a little tamer approach, try Oysters Rockafeller, baked in a bed of salt with a bread topping. A similar recipe is Baked Oysters with Bacon and Leeks (Epicurious)

I always like soups, so Oyster Soup with Frizzled Leeks sounded delightful to me.(Epicurious)

Broiled Clams with Garlic and Ginger (Nourished Kitchen)

Salmon with Basil Romesco Sauce (Very flavorful and refreshing)

Buckwheat Blini with Smoked Salmon and Cashew Garlic Sour Cream

Pasta with Creme Freshe and Salmon (Super frugal)

Fresh Clam and Herb Sauce over Pasta

Broiled Black Cod on a Bed of Greens with a Blackberry Dressing (Very simple, beautiful and delicious!)

Herbed Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon (Nourished Kitchen)

Beef Stroganov (Nourished Kitchen)

Braised Seven Hour Leg of Lamb (a household favorite)

Desserts

Persian Watermelon Rose Salad (Watermelon isn’t exactly in season, but this is very romantic)

Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Flour Cupcakes (The title says it all)

Brownie Pudding Cake (one of the most frugal cakes!

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries (another romantic favorite that is a little out of season, but still delicious!)

Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream (So creamy and absolutely divine)

Chocolate Pudding (Made with Coconut Milk ) (Ditto)

Honey Sweetened Blackberry Cream Gelatin (Another creamy and flavorful dessert)

The Best Fudge Ever (This really is my favorite fudge ever).

Roasted Banana Ice Cream with Fudge Sauce (oh, yummy!)

Flourless Chocolate Cake (Looks amazingly rich and delicious, Kelly the Kitchen Kop)

Deep Dark Chocolate Tart (Oh boy, this is for the chocolate lovers)

Lemon Sponge Custard (Light in Flavor and very good)

Berry Chocolate Tart (My newest recipe!)

Fair Trade Chocolate

And speaking of chocolate, the Company “Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate” just announced that they are moving their entire worldwide chocolate line into becoming completely fair trade. Along with some delicious chocolate samples, I got this information from them.

  • With this commitment, Green & Black’s will become the world’s leading 100% organic and 100% Fair Trade Certified chocolate brand.
  • This Fair Trade commitment will provide farmers with the security of fair prices.
  • Green & Black’s will make an additional monetary investment of $485,000 per year for the next ten years for social, environmental and economic development in the farmers’ communities.

Kudos to them for this very important step! But before you go and buy out their whole line, make sure you stick with the dark chocolate choices. First of all, it has higher anti-oxidants, secondly, the milk chocolate has milk powder in it which I do not recommend because the cholesterol will be oxidized (bad  news).  The ingredients on my Dark Chocolate Espresso bar were the following. “Organic chocolate liquor, organic raw cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic coffee, soy lecithin (emulsifier) organic vanilla extract. ” The soy lecithin was confirmed to be non-GMO, so this set of ingredients was great! And the flavor outstanding (it reminded me of a chocolate covered coffee bean). The Maya Gold flavor they sent me will also definitely be a favorite with hints of orange and spices.

Have any favorite fair trade and organic chocolate companies to share about or recipes for Valentine’s day? I would love to hear from you!

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

KimiHarris

I love beautiful and simple food that is nourishing to the body and the soul. I wrote Fresh: Nourishing Salads for All Seasons and Ladled: Nourishing Soups for All Seasons as another outlet of sharing this love of mine. I also love sharing practical tips on how to make a real food diet work on a real life budget. Find me online elsewhere by clicking on the icons below!

Latest posts by KimiHarris (see all)

  • 2 Ingredient Peppermint Bark - December 21, 2022
  • Herbal Hibiscus Lemonade (Keto, THM) - March 16, 2022
  • Creamy Curry Red Lentil Soup - December 8, 2021

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Pennywise Platter Thursday 2/11/10
Next Post: Giveaway of a Great Eco Friendly Mop (Worth $107) and why I think Practical Gifts can be Romantic »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenny

    February 11, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    So much looks good! Thanks!

    However, the Oyster Soup with Frizzled Leeks seems to have the wrong link. FYI.

    Reply
    • KimiHarris

      February 12, 2010 at 1:37 pm

      Thanks Jenny! I will check it out.

      Reply
  2. Erin

    February 12, 2010 at 5:55 am

    Great ideas! I love equal exchange dark chocolate, especially because they don’t contain soy lecithin. My favorite is the Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate (80% Cacao). Happy Valentine’s Day!

    Reply
    • KimiHarris

      February 12, 2010 at 1:38 pm

      Haven’t tried either of those brands. I must try them soon!:-)

      Reply
  3. Kimberly

    February 12, 2010 at 7:55 am

    I am not believing it, but I just bought BOTH of those flavors yesterday at Whole Foods and I tell you, you are right they are terrific. I love this brand of chocolate and feel even better about my purchase since they are becoming 100% Fair Trade!!

    Reply
  4. PEG

    February 12, 2010 at 9:10 am

    Fair trade chocolate is so great…thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  5. Cara @ Health Home and Happiness

    February 12, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    I just saw the Green and Black chocolate at Target today. I love buying local and from small scale companies, but it’s nice to be able to find good stuff at mainstream stores too so I’m glad to see it there.

    Reply
    • KimiHarris

      February 12, 2010 at 1:38 pm

      I had no idea they carried them at Target! Thanks for letting us know. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Grace

    February 12, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Those desserts sound yummy!

    Reply
  7. Heather

    February 12, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Hey Kimi, I’m waiting for your post on mops! Your comment cracked me up because my husband wants a Dyson vacuum cleaner for Valentines Day! I told him we could think about buying one if he could tell me the last time he used our current vacuum cleaner! 🙂

    Reply
    • KimiHarris

      February 12, 2010 at 1:39 pm

      Hi Heather!

      It’s coming, I promise! The post is all ready, I just need to get one thing from Ann Marie and I will have it up. 🙂

      I love the story about your husband! That cracks me up too.

      Reply
  8. Raine Saunders

    February 12, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Hi Kimi – great article on chocolate and some yummy ideas for meals this weekend. I received my Green & Black’s samples in the mail this week and we’ve been enjoying them. I really don’t care for milk chocolate at all, but my son has been enjoying it. And, I’m definitely not on board with the milk powder G&B and some other brands use in their chocolate.

    My favorite chocolates are Xocai – I’m an independent distributor of this brand (and it’s pretty healthy as far as that sort of thing goes), Equal Exchange, and Theo. Like G&B, Xocai is fair trade & has no GMOs. Xocai chocolate also supports sustainable family farms (on the Ivory Coast). All of these brands have minimal ingredients. Those are my important criteria for choosing chocolate! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Rayelle

    February 12, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    Another vote for Equal Exchange and Theo chocolate! I’ve never seen Xocai but will keep an eye peeled for it now. I don’t like it when they use soy lecithin in chocolate, and it tastes so much better without it!

    I didn’t try your fudge recipe at Christmas but I just got my coconut oil replenished today, so I think I’m going to have to try it this weekend. Mmm thank you! It should be lovely with some Greener Planet Tempranillo-Garnacha organic red wine! 😀

    Reply
  10. Sarah

    February 12, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Thank you for the lovely dessert ideas.

    I can tell you why a mop may not be the best romantic gift. Along similar linesm my Father had a way of giving very practical gifts to my mother while raising a family of five children. I still remember the gift of a new stove one Christmas and how she cried . . . Even though I understand the idea that life would be better . . . she didn’t see it the same way. I don’t think she enjoyed cooking for seven all that much.

    Reply
  11. Amy

    February 12, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    It is really good news to hear that Green and Blacks uses non-GMO soy lecithin! Did you have to call the company to find out? I seem to recall reading their label and noticing that it did not specify non-GMO, which would seem odd to me because I would think that it would be something they would want to make very clear. Possibly I am confusing them with another company. So — good news!

    Reply
  12. Carrie @ Deliciously Organic

    February 13, 2010 at 6:33 am

    I’ve also been using green and blacks for years and just recently discovered Trader Joes Organic dark chocolate. All organic without soy Lecithin! I’m not sure if they are fair trade, but do love how they run their business.

    Reply
  13. Mrs. Money

    February 14, 2010 at 7:36 am

    Oh my gosh, Green and Black’s dark chocolate is my favorite! I crave that stuff everyday. I don’t eat it every day, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to. 😉

    Reply
  14. Lisa

    February 14, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Careful with that dark chocolate, a few ounces has the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. I haven’t been able to sleep all week and I just figured out it’s the after dinner chocolate!!! I had no idea there was so much caffeine or I would not be eating it so late at night.

    Chocolate for breakfast anyone?

    Reply
  15. Leah F

    February 15, 2010 at 8:50 am

    They are not certified fair trade but Askinosie chocolate is also good.

    Reply
  16. Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen

    February 15, 2010 at 11:13 am

    Fantastic assortment of recipes! They all sound wonderful! Happy Valentine’s Day!

    Reply
  17. Nicky Madison

    February 15, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    Have you tried Green and Blacks Hot Cocoa? When you don’t have a chance to fix it homemade this is so so good!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

ConvertKit Form

Get Every Recipe

And the insider's view from our kitchen

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Search

Please Read:

The information you find here at The Nourishing Gourmet is meant to help you become a better cook! This site is primarily for sharing family friendly recipes. It's not meant to give medical advice or to make any health claims on the prevention or curing of diseases.This site is only for informational and educational purposes. Please discuss with your own, qualified health care provider before adding in supplements or making any changes in your diet. Also, any links to sponsors or affiliates (including Amazon) may give me a percentage of the sale or a pay per click. Thank you for supporting this site.

Categories

  • $10 Main (42)
  • $5 Dishes (43)
  • 52 ways to save money on a healthy diet (53)
  • AIP (23)
  • Baked Goods (83)
  • Beverages (72)
  • Breakfast and Brunch (61)
  • Condiments (8)
  • Dairy Free (492)
  • Desserts (184)
  • Dietary Needs (6)
  • Egg Free (11)
  • Egg Free (86)
  • For the Kids (66)
  • For the Love of Food and Books (18)
  • Gluten Free (484)
  • Grain Free (95)
  • Health (75)
  • Kitchen Tools (4)
  • Main Dishes (126)
  • Nourishing Frugal Recipes (167)
  • Nourishing Frugal Tips (70)
  • Nourishing Practices (56)
  • Nutrient Dense Foods (70)
  • Q and A (15)
  • Salads (39)
  • Sides (101)
  • Snacks (124)
  • Soups (50)
  • The Healthy $1 Menu (21)
  • The Low Energy Guide to Healthy Cooking (18)
  • THM (2)
  • Trim Healthy Mama (2)
  • Uncategorized (846)
  • Vegan (241)
  • Vegetarian (361)

Recent Posts

  • 2 Ingredient Peppermint Bark
  • Herbal Hibiscus Lemonade (Keto, THM)
  • Creamy Curry Red Lentil Soup
  • One-Pot Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
  • Healthy Pumpkin Spice Granola
  • Crispy Pumpkin Spice Granola (oil-free)
  • Why I Use THM Principles Now
  • Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad
  • Coconut Flour Pancakes
  • Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken

Recent Comments

  • Dorene St G on Cracker Toffee (Easy Peasy Christmas Candy)
  • Nadia Kriston on Finding a Toaster Oven Without Nonstick
  • KimiHarris on How to make heavenly coconut milk whipped cream (with an isi dispenser)
  • KimiHarris on Autumn Beef Stew (Tomato Free)
  • KimiHarris on How to make heavenly coconut milk whipped cream (with an isi dispenser)

Fresh: Nourishing Salads for All Seasons

Get Every Recipe

And the insider's view from our kitchen

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Footer

Privacy

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework