Celebrate Food, Love and Valentine’s Day With Seasonally Fresh Cowichan Grown Produce From Cow-op!
As the late winter season unfolds, a unique palette of ingredients becomes available, offering a delightful array of flavors to savor. Embracing late winter seasonal foods not only allows you to enjoy the freshest produce but also provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special touch. Let’s explore how to incorporate these seasonal delights into a romantic and delectable celebration.
Root vegetables, such as beets and parsnips, store well throughout winter. Transform them into a rich borscht soup or a velvety root vegetable puree, providing a heartwarming and nutritious start to your Valentine’s Day feast. We have included a delicious borscht soup recipe full of seasonally available produce, from the Cowichan Grown Cookbook.
Kiwi fruit and cranberries brighten up a winter salad with their vibrant colors and refreshing flavors. Incorporate them into a kale and radicchio salad. Other hearty greens that you can include in a salad are arugula, mustard greens and of course microgreens, which are readily available all year long.
Cold weather brings forth an abundance of hearty vegetables like brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, and winter squash. These vegetables can be roasted to perfection, creating a warm and comforting side dish for a romantic dinner. Consider drizzling them with a small-batch maple syrup or honey for truly local flavour.
Wild harvested salmon, from the cold waters of Vancouver Island, can be the star of your Valentine’s Day dinner. Salmon’s rich and succulent flesh pairs well with a variety of herbs and spices. Roast or grill the salmon and serve it with a citrus salsa for a dish that is not only delicious but also heart-healthy.
We always save the best for last, if you are looking to end your meal on a sweet note, try local hand made chocolates! Folklore Chocolates and Sea Salt Chocolates have a delicious assortment of truffles to try. Their assorted chocolate gift boxes are perfect for gifting and are certain to make your special Valentine smile.
Embracing seasonal foods provides an excellent opportunity to craft a memorable and romantic Valentine’s Day celebration. From hearty vegetables to sustainably harvested Pacific Coast fish and sweet winter fruits, the Cowichan Valley’s bounty offers a diverse range of ingredients to create a delicious and heartwarming feast for you and your loved one.
Borscht Soup Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups potato (peeled and sliced)
1 cup beets (peeled and sliced)
6 cups of broth or water
2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups onion (chopped)
1/2 tsp caraway seed or dill seed
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 medium carrot, sliced
3-4 cups of shredded cabbage
1 tsp dried dill
black pepper
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
INSTRUCTIONS
-Place potatoes, beets and broth in a medium saucepan, cover and cook over medium heat until tender (20 to 30 minutes).
-Melt the butter in a large pot and add onion, salt, and caraway seed. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent (8 to 10 minutes).
-Add carrots and cabbage, two cups of broth from the potatoes and beets. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender.
-Add the remaining ingredients (including all the potatoes, beets, tomatoes, and the rest of the broth they cooked in). Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
-Garnish with sour cream and dill, serve warm.