What better way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day than with a heart-healthy (and heart-shaped) dinner for your loved ones? All you need is an 8- or 9-inch heart-shaped cake pan in which to bake a delicious savory loaf made with red quinoa, kidney beans, beets, and walnuts. Extra points if you have a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to fashion sliced beets and potatoes into decorative (and tasty) accompaniments. To keep their bright red color, the beets are best boiled or steamed until tender, then cooled and sliced before cutting into hearts. For the potatoes, cut raw russet potatoes into 1/4-inch slices and arrange in a single layer on a baking pan to roast until tender. You can then arrange some of the cooked potato and beet hearts on top of (or surrounding) the quinoa loaf when ready to serve. Serve the loaf with your favorite brown gravy or red wine sauce. It can also be topped with a balsamic reduction or even ketchup for a comfort food meal destined to warm hearts on Valentine's Day. Red Quinoa Loaf If red quinoa is unavailable, regular beige quinoa may be used. This is especially fun to serve in a heart-shaped pan on Valentine’s Day, but if you don’t have one, you can make the loaf in a square or round baking pan or in a loaf pan.

Red Quinoa Loaf [Vegan]

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