In contrast to the true spirit of Valentines Day many people celebrate with activities that cause immense animal suffering. Purchasing a fur coat for a loved one, buying chocolate with dairy ingredients, or having a romantic dinner for two over an animal carcass are all based on the exploitation and death of animals. Thankfully, compassionate alternatives are plentiful so read on.

The Valentine’s Day Tradition

No one is quite sure how St. Valentine's Day started. Europeans believe it is the day that birds choose their mates. The ancient Romans celebrated a feast in honor of the god Lupercus, who protected their shepherds and flocks from the wolves roaming the countryside. For the more romantic among us, another story claims that a man named Valentine was jailed for attempting to convert Pagans to Christianity. While in prison, he fell in love with, and miraculously healed, the jailer's blind daughter. He signed his letters to her "From your Valentine." Written Valentines appeared around the 15th century, and by the 1800s caught on in America. In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, so it’s no surprise that he’s associated with all things romantic, particularly Valentine cards.

Compassion for Companions on Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is a day of romance, love, and friendship. Please don't forget that there can be danger hidden for your companion animals among the wonderful boxes of candy and beautiful bouquets your beloved one gives you. Because of their small size and unique metabolism, cats and dogs tend to be very sensitive to toxic plants. Check a list of toxic plants before bringing any bouquets or potted plants home. Whether you think the plant is toxic or not, you should be very concerned if your companion eats a plant and shows any abnormal signs. Non-toxic plants can be sprayed with toxic chemicals or your companion could have an allergy to certain plants.

As for candy, don’t leave it out. Put it away where your companions can’t get to it. Yes, sharing is fun but not when an animal’s safety is at risk. Most animals love the sweet taste of your chocolate candy, but chocolate is often fatal to animals, especially cats, if consumed in a large quantity and/or over a period of time. The substance in chocolate that makes it so dangerous for your companions is called theobromine. Small amounts of normal chocolate may cause symptoms like increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity, while larger amounts can have more serious effects, including hyperthermia, muscle tremors, seizures, coma, and even death. If you’d like to get your companion a Valentine’s treat be sure to get something especially designed for animals.

Fashion Faux Pas

Believe it or not, some people feel that buying a fur coat for a loved one on Valentines Day is a measure of romantic dedication. Apparently, they don’t realize that fur is fashion's biggest faux pas. Synthetic fibers have been readily available for ages, and we certainly can’t claim to need animal furs to keep warm. All a fur coat can do is broadcast that you’re in favor of senseless cruelty to animals or possibly get you mistaken for Cruella DeVil! But if you choose to avoid fur, you’ll be in great company. Charlotte Ross, Dominique Swain, Christina Applegate, Goran Visnic, Chrissie Hynde, Pink, Joaquin Phoenix, Alicia Silverstone, and many more have all said no to cruel fur. Click here to find out more about the fur trade.

Foods that Inspire Passion

Thoughts of Valentine's Day undoubtedly summon images of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. The Aztecs and Mayas both thought chocolate was an aphrodisiac, with the power to invigorate men and make women less inhibited. Today, the popular confection is still widely believed to stir passion in the people that eat it. But remember that not just any chocolate will do for your loved one. When shopping for chocolate, look for products that do not contain any dairy ingredients and contain a high percentage of cocoa solids. This will ensure that you choose chocolate with the deepest, most complex flavors and chocolate that has not caused any pain to animals.

Many other foods have long been considered aphrodisiacs, but these ideas vary from one culture to another. Some plant foods commonly thought to have exciting properties include, artichokes, asparagus, apples, avocados, and, believe it or not, those breath-taking vegetables, onions and garlic. Egyptian priests weren't even allowed to eat the bulbous plants, because of the potentially inappropriate libidinous effects. Avocados were considered to have special sexual powers by the Aztecs. Noticing that the fruits grew in pairs and looked remarkably like the male anatomy, the Aztecs called them Ahuacuatl, which actually means testicle!

Perhaps you were hoping to prepare something special for your sweetheart to eat on Valentine’s Day. Or maybe you would just like to cook something nice for yourself or your friends. The delicious, vegan recipes below will win over reluctant carnivores and vegetarians alike.

Warm Artichoke Spread with Vegan Parmesan

Ingredients

• ½ Tbsp. olive oil
• ½ cup white mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cans artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed and quartered
• 1 (10.5 oz) package firm silken tofu, drained and crumbled
• ½ cup plain soy, rice, almond or other non-dairy milk
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1 tsp. dried basil leaves
• 1 tsp. thyme weed
• 1 tsp. arrowroot
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• ¼ tsp. salt and pepper
• Paprika
• Vegan parmesan (1 cup nutritional yeast, ½ cup skinned almonds, salt, ground together)

Preparation

• Stir fry the sliced mushrooms over medium heat until browned. Pat dry and set aside.
• Place the rest of the ingredients, except parmesan and paprika, in a blender or food processor and blend until very smooth.
• Pour into a large bowl and blend in the parmesan and mushrooms.
• Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle paprika over the top.
• Bake at 350˚F until golden and crispy on top, about 50 minutes.
• Serve warm with bread.

Apricot-glazed Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients 

• 1 lb. asparagus spears, trimmed
• Cooking spray
• 2 Tbsp. apricot jam
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• ¼ tsp. garlic, minced
• 1/8 tsp. salt

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 400ºF.
• Place asparagus spears in a foil-lined jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray.
• Combine apricot preserves, soy sauce, garlic, and salt; pour preserves mixture over asparagus. Toss well to coat.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Avocado Mood-boosting Squares

The Base: 

Ingredients

• 3 cups oats
• ½ cup margarine
• 1 cup brown sugar, to taste
• a handful of raisins, dried figs, dried apricots, or other dried fruit (chopped) 
• chopped walnuts, pecans, or cashews (optional)

Preparation

• Mix oats and margarine until it feels like a very coarse dough and holds together.
• Add sugar to taste, then add the fruits, nuts, and whatever else you think would taste good, mixing together.
• Press it into the bottom of a lightly oiled pan and stick it in the oven at 300˚F for 20 minutes or until the top begins to brown. Let cool.

Topping:

Ingredients

• 3 over-ripe avocados 
• juice of 1 lime 
• 400g dark non-dairy chocolate 
• 5 Tbsp. sugar

Preparation

• Start by melting the chocolate in a double-boiler or in the microwave. Make sure you don’t burn it.
• Put the avocados, lime juice, and melted chocolate in a blender and blend together until smooth, adding sugar to taste (more than you would expect, as things taste sweeter when warm than when cool).
• If you don’t think it’s chocolatey enough, add about a Tbsp. of cocoa powder.
• Spread the chocolate avocado goop over the cool base and chill it in the fridge or freezer. Serve and enjoy!

You can try making this dessert without the chocolate, too. It’s very green but delicious.

Raspberry Heart Cookies

Ingredients

• ½ cup almonds, toasted and ground fine
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. light almond or canola oil
• 3 Tbsp. brown rice syrup
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
• ½ tsp. vanilla
• ½ tsp. almond extract
• ½ cup natural raspberry jam
• A 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter
• A smaller heart-shaped cookie cutter

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
• Oil a cookie sheet lightly.
• Mix together the almonds, flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the rest of the ingredients except for the jam.
• Combine the wet mixture with the dry ingredients, stirring until well combined. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour a bit at a time.
• Roll out cookie dough to approximately 1/8 inches thick or less between sheets of waxed paper.
• With a 3-inch heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts and transfer them to the baking sheet.
• With a smaller heart shaped cutter, cut a small heart out of the middle of half of the cookie shapes.
• Bake until cookies are very lightly toasted along the edges, about 7-12 minutes.
• When cool, spread 2 tsp. of jam on a heart cookie, then place one of the windowed cookies on top of it.

Chocolate Cake with Vegan “Butter” Icing

The Cake:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar 
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp. salt 
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil 
•  1 tsp. vanilla extract 
•  1 tsp. distilled white vinegar 
•  1 cup water

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
• Add the oil, vanilla, vinegar, and water. Mix together until smooth.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350˚F for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

The Icing:

Ingredients

• ½ cup vegan margarine
• 1 1/3 cups sifted icing sugar
• 1 Tbsp. sifted cocoa
• A few drops natural vanilla extract

Preparation

• Beat all ingredients together. Refrigerate if necessary.

Fantastic Truffles

Ingredients

• 200g non dairy chocolate
• 1 package of silken tofu (blended to a cream)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup almonds and /or hazelnuts (whole or in pieces)

Preparation

• Put the maple syrup in a pan and bring to a boil.
• When boiling, add the nuts and stir constantly until the nuts are all sticking together and the syrup is not runny.
• Empty out onto some greaseproof paper and allow to cool.
• Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Don’t allow the bowl to touch the water. It should be just above it.
• Blend the praline nut mixture into either a fine powder or a coarse mixture and stir into the chocolate.
• Fold in the tofu.
• When it is all mixed take off the heat allow to cool.
• Cover and chill in the fridge.
• Form the mixture into small balls. Roll the balls in cocoa powder or grated chocolate or dip them in melted chocolate and allow to set.

Apple Pie

The Pie Crust:

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour 
• 1 tsp. salt 
• ¾ cup margarine 

• 5 to 6 Tbsp. cold water

Preparation

• In a medium bowl with fork, lightly stir together flour and salt.
• With pastry blender or two knives used scissor fashion, cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Sprinkle in cold water, a tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with a fork after each addition until pastry just holds together.
• With hands, divide pastry into 2 pieces, one slightly larger, and then gently shape each piece into a ball (if it's a hot day you may have to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or so).
• Divide pastry into 2 pieces, one slightly larger, and then gently shape each piece into a ball.
• On lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin, roll larger ball into a 1/8 inch thick circle, 2 inches larger all around than pie plate.
• Transfer pastry to 9-inch pie plate, easing into bottom and side of plate.

The Filling:

Ingredients

• ¾ cup fructose or sugar 
• 2 Tbsp. whole wheat pastry flour 
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 
•  ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg 
• 1 to 2 tsp. lemon juice 
• 6 to 7 cups thinly sliced, peeled, and cored cooking apples
• 1 Tbsp. margarine 
• Soy or rice milk (for glazing)

Preparation

• In a small bowl, combine fructose/sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
• Place half the apples in pie crust and sprinkle with half of the sugar mixture. Put rest of apples on top, then rest of sugar mixture.
• Dot the filling with margarine.
• Roll out the second dough ball. Cut out four slashes or shapes using a knife or cookie cutter.
• Place crust over pie and trim edges leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold pastry overhang under then bring up over pie plate rim.
• Pinch to form a high edge then make your choice of decorative edge.
• For a golden glaze, brush the top crust (not the edge) lightly with some soy or rice milk. Bake pie for 40-50 minutes at 425°F or until crust is golden.