Ah Valentine’s Day … the most grandiose of Hallmark holidays. While I don’t need Hallmark to tell me when to be romantic, it’s still a good excuse to flirt and eat chocolate.
How will this Hungry Athlete celebrate Valentine’s Day? Well, by supporting her boy, Rama at his first 100K trail race of course! Around the same time many couples will be gazing at each other over a romantic dinner, Rama and I will be scantily clad and engaging in a sweaty one on one moment. I’ll be pacing him, I mean chasing him, for about 10 miles, to the finish line. While this day will be all about Rama, it will still be a romantic treat for me to be able to support him and see him at the finish line.
Back to the flirting and chocolates. Although Rama will need to stick to a race day diet, I will have a few surprises up my sleeves.
Ta da! Here are the fun treats I’ll have waiting for him at the aid stations. I made the tags myself but found templates for the tags here:
http://www.skiptomylou.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/fruitlabels.pdf
But unless you are spending February 14th at an ultramarathon, you are probably looking for something a little more exciting to give to your Valentine.
Here are some decadent but healthy treats that your Valentine will find extra sweet because it’s hand made by you. These Dark Chocolate Covered Fruits and Nuts are so easy to make and are a better alternative to those sugary candy conversation hearts.
Ingredients:
Use your favorite fresh or dried fruits and roasted nuts. I like to sprinkle a little flake salt on top of the chocolate before it hardens. Here are some of my favorites:
- Dried banana chips
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Pomegranate arils (seeds)
- Clementine
- Assorted roasted nuts
- Dried fruit (cranberries and apricots)
- Chocolate chips (I prefer dark chocolate 60-70% cacao)
- Flake salt
Directions:
Melt the chocolate chips over a bowl set over bowling water or in a microwave. I dipped the fruit in the chocolate and placed them on parchment paper. Refrigerate for 3-5 minutes to harden.
If it weren’t for his race, we’d probably be at home making Valentine’s Day dinner together. Here are some ideas for a Valentine’s dinner at home.
Appetizer/Salad:
Orange, Fennel and Arugula Salad
Main Course:
Dessert:
The Hungry Athlete 