A Simple Romantic Healthy Vegetarian Birthday Dinner for Fall

Here are the recipes for a simple romantic healthy vegetarian birthday dinner. This is great dinner for fall.

All recipes serve two.

The Menu

Fall Salad of Fennel, Frisee and Apple

Pouched Egg, Zucchini and Leek Soup

Mandarin Orange and Green Tea Ice Cream

Sparking Cider

Salad of Fennel, Frisee and Apple

1 small bunch frisee, washed and dyed

1 medium bulb fennel, thinly sliced

1 small tart apple, pealed and thinly sliced

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

Pinch of sugar

Pinch of salt and black pepper

1. In a small bowl add the balsamic vinegar to the thinly sliced fennel. Let the fennel sit for 5 minutes in the balsamic vinegar.
2. Toss the olive oil with the frisee, and add the a pinch of sugar, salt and black pepper.
3. Add the sliced apple and fennel the freisee. Put onto serving place and top with the cranberries.
   
4. Serve.
   

Pouched Egg, Zucchini and Leek Soup

4 cups vegetable broth, preferably homemade

1 leek

2 small baby zucchini, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

1 tablespoon virgin olive oil

Pinch of black pepper

2 large eggs (preferably free range)

Chili sauce to serve

1. Thinly slice the leek, and place it a bowl of cold water. Carefully wash the leek to be sure there is no dirt or sand on it. Drain the leek and set aside
2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a heavy pot. Add the leek and cook until limp, string occasionally. About 3-5 minutes.
   
3. Add the zucchini and cook until the zucchini until lightly cooked, about 4-5 minutes.
   
4. Add the vegetable broth, soy sauce, chili flakes and cook until the zucchini is tender, about 10 minutes.
   
5. Turn up the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Carefully add the eggs, one at time. Do not stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the eggs are pouched.
   
6. Ladle the soup into bowls, being sure there is an egg in each bowl.
   
7. Serve with black pepper and chili sauce.

Mandarin Orange and Green Tea Ice Cream

1 cup French vanilla ice cream

1 fresh mandarin orange

1 teaspoon green tea powder (matcha)

1. Soften the ice cream for a few minutes.
2. Chop the orange into small pieces.
3. Add the green tea powder and the orange to the ice cream.
4. Stir and serve.