As a working mother of four, I understand busy evenings all too well. But, I still like to make my family’s favorite homemade foods, especially for holidays. The secret is as simple as a little planning ahead (make-ahead recipes). Basic ingredients and a bit of day-before prep let you serve your family – or a very special Valentine – this comforting feast, even on a hectic weeknight. Remember, the best meals are made with love, so be sure to add a heaping portion of that, too. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day Menu:
Slow Cooker Meatballs with Marinara and Angel Hair Pasta
Dutch Oven Bread
Spinach Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Amish Date Pudding
Evening before the feast: Approx. 1 hour
Make meatballs
Mix salad dressing and bread dough
Bake date pudding
Evening of the feast: Approx. 40 minutes
Bake Dutch oven bread
Cube date pudding and mix with whipped topping
Toss salad
Cook angel hair pasta
The Make-Ahead Recipes
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Slow Cooker Meatballs with Marinara
This super-easy, make-ahead recipe has been a crowd-pleaser in our family for nearly 20 years. We love walking in the door to the aroma of Italian spices and savory sauce. Feel free to vary the seasonings to your taste – you can’t go wrong.
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef OR 1 lb. ground turkey
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder or fresh minced garlic
1 egg, beaten
Enough milk to moisten mixture
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
- Use your hands to form mixture into 2” meatballs. Place meatballs in the bottom of a large slow cooker. Cover with a jar of your favorite marinara sauce plus ½ cup water. Cover and refrigerate until next day.
- Cook on low 6-7 hours, or on high 3-4 hours, or until meatballs are done.
Keywords: meatballs, slower cooker recipes
Dutch Oven Bread
Once I stumbled upon this method, I was hooked! Mixing the dough takes about 5 minutes, then leave it on your counter overnight/for up to 18 hours (the longer it sits, the better it turns out). The loaf is perfectly crusty on the outside and soft inside – great for dipping in the marinara sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups white flour
- 1 tsp. active dry yeast
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast. Stir in water (and a little more flour as needed) until a sticky, shaggy dough forms. Cover tightly and let rise on countertop or in a cool place for 8-18 hours.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place a Dutch oven with lid on the center rack and heat for 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, use a generous amount of flour on your fingers and remove the dough from the bowl. Quickly form it into a ball and set it on a heavily floured surface. Remove Dutch oven from oven, take off the lid (careful – it’s very hot!) and place the ball of dough inside. Replace the lid and bake at 450 for 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid and bake for another 7-10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack. Serve while still warm.
Spinach Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
A sweet, tangy dressing complements the crispy spinach and salty cashews in this hearty salad. Possible add-ins: cubed granny smith apples and shredded Swiss or crumbled feta cheese. If you’re really pressed for time, skip the dressing recipe and go with this yummy option.
Ingredients
Salad:
- 2 bags baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups cashew halves
Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 1 cup olive oil
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. dried mustard
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
- 1 tsp. dried onion
Instructions
- Blend all dressing ingredients in a shaker container or canning jar and refrigerate.
- When ready to serve salad, combine spinach and cashews (and other add-ins if you wish) in a salad bowl and toss with dressing.
Amish Date Pudding
My grandfather Ivan loved this dessert – and anything with dates. Now when my children gobble it up, I tell them their great-grandfather would be proud. A local favorite here in Ohio Amish Country. This version is from Ruth, my grandmother and Ivan’s wife of 63 years.
Ingredients
Boil for one minute:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 cup brown sugar
Batter:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped dates
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Prepare batter while first mixture boils. Put boiling water in a greased baking dish. Then drop the batter in one spoonful at a time. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool and refrigerate overnight.
- Cut cake into small cubes and place in serving dish. Add one tub of whipped topping and fold in until mixed.
- Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Keywords: desserts, Amish recipes, pudding
These recipes look wonderful! The only thing I would add to the bread directions is to make sure you score your bread before baking so it looks wonderful like the picture above. You can simply take a thin sharp knife and cut two lines across or make a simple design on the top.
I’m going to try the dessert to honor your grandparents!
All of these are among my favorite foods. But when I saw the Dutch Oven Bread, I knew I had to add it to my list of favorites. Although I have not put one bite in my mouth, it will not be long before I do. The dough is in the bowl on my counter waiting to go into my Dutch oven. I had been struggling all week, really, to find the right Dutch oven bread recipe, and just when I was about to give up, I received the email. I’m so glad I subscribed!!
Great tip, Heidi!