February is the perfect month for exploring and honoring our bodies and cultivating our sexual essence. Sexuality in more self-aware, embodied, playful, positive and creative ways are the keys to having an intimate relationship with yourself and the connections you have with others be more satisfying, energizing, joyful and enlightened. 

Our sex lives or lack of desire can be very revealing and a window into our health and emotional well being. Beyond simply our primal drive for touch, closeness and sex, the body, heart, and mind each have their own energy, and are intimately connected to our need for physical safety, and the flow of our emotions and desire for union.

With better self care and self awareness you can become more sexually expressive, emotionally fluid, and get your mojo flowing in a way that creates a grounded, creative and loving container for real intimacy and lasting connection. 

Activities like meditation, yoga, and dance can heat you up, open your heart, and release pent up emotions. Besides these physical activities, there are many foods and herbs that belong in the pantry of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. 

Many healing traditions around the world prepare foods and herbs in unglazed clay that synergistically works to nourish, cleanse or calm the body, keep it warm and supple, create an environment that calms the heart, awaken the libido, and promote desire for intimate and creative encounters. In the VitaClay cooker, it is quick and easy to make broths, soups and elixirs that work their magic on your whole being. 

To become more familiar with your SENSE-ual side--what tastes and textures attract you, what feels warming, refreshing, satisfying-- and what lights you up, make some time to experiment with foods and spices that carry heat, touch the senses, awaken your imagination and enliven your motivation, as well as foods that have healing and grounding qualities. Get curious, get playful, get creative....and most importantly, get in touch with what pleases you. Relationships are a two-way interaction, but know that it really starts with your own happiness.

1. Nourishing Steel-Cut Oats

Nourishing Steel-Cut Oats to Rev Up Your Valentine’s Day!

There’s nothing quite like a warm, satisfying bowl of steel cut oats on a chilly winter morning. In VitaClay, steel-cut oats are not only delicious and healthy, they can be ready as soon as you wake up: just set the timer on the Smart Organic Multi-Cooker the night before and you will wake up to the magical aroma of fully-soaked, fully-cooked steel-cut oats.

But plain oats are a bit… plain! And for Valentine’s Day we thought it would be appropriate to “spice it up” a bit with a few delicious libido-enhancing spices to get you ready for your Valentine’s night!

Makes 4 servings

Appropriate for VF7700 and VM7900 models

Ingredients

• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup milk of choice (avoid soy: a libido-killer)
• 1 T coconut oil or butter
• Salt, to taste
• ¼ t cinnamon
• ½ t ginger powder
• 1/8 t nutmeg
• 1/8 t clove
• 2 t maca root powder
• 1 T coconut sugar or brown sugar (optional)
• Sliced bananas
• Toasted pumpkin seeds
• Fresh or dried blueberries

Directions

1.   Add steel cut oats, water, milk, sugar and all spices to the VitaClay pot, and stir.

2.   Set to "Stew" for 30 minutes or set. For softer oats, set to "Warm" for 30 minutes.

3.   Wake up to freshly-cooked, delicious steel-cut oats! Add sliced bananas, blueberries and pumpkin seeds if desired.

 

2. Drunken clams

Spice up things with this drunken clams recipe. Clams are a well-known libido-booster, and also make for a romantic dinner! This drunken clams recipe makes a meal to remember: delicious, unique and hot! VitaClay makes this exotic dish easy!

Makes 2-3 servings

Appropriate for VF7700 and VM7900 models

Ingredients:

• 1 cups sausage (Andoullie)
• 2 T chopped shallots
• 2 t butter
• ½ c fennel
• ¼ t coriander
• ¼ t curry powder
• 1 T heavy cream
• ½ c beer

Directions:

1.   2lb Clams, soaked 1 hours with 1/4c salt in 2 qts water

2.   Place clams in the VitaClay. 

3.   In a saucepan, cook the Andouille sausage with shallots and butter for 5 min.

4.   Add fennel, coriander and curry powder and continue to sauté.

5.    Add beer and cream then transfer to the VitaClay. Set on “Stew” for 20 -30 mins or until cooked through.

 

3. STEAMED SALMON WITH SPINACH CREAM CHEESE AND CAULIFLOWER

This romantic pink fish is the perfect addition to your Valentine's night dinner. Fatty fish like salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which not only act as the basic building blocks for hormone molecules which enhance your libido, but also boost serotonin levels to improve your mood which will help keep you and your relationship happy. This is a paleo/keto-friendly recipe that is sure to impress your date.

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon filets
• olive oil
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• garlic
• sea salt and pepper
• cauliflower
• 1 cup low-sodium fish or vegetable broth

 Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in your VitaClay and Set on "stew" for 20 minutes.
2. Top with spinach cream cheese. (optional)

4. Pesto Chicken Pasta

Pesto is made with pine nuts which are high in zinc content, and zinc is a known sex drive enhancer for women. Pasta is also a Valentine's dinner classic and this recipe can be made in just 30 minutes with the VitaClay cooker. Celebrate your Valentine's day with this delicious pesto chicken pasta that will also boost your sexual function.

Watch the video on how to make this here

Ingredients:

• 2 c pasta
• 2 c water or chicken broth or veggie broth
• ½ c of pesto or to taste
• ½ - 1 lb chicken fillet or chopped

Directions:

1. Add water, pasta in VitaClay pot.
2. Add 2 chicken fillet breasts on top (chopped or whole.
3. Add 3-4 table spoon fresh pesto sauce spread on top of the fillet.
4. Set on Stew for 30 minutes At the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the rest of pesto sauce to simmer until cooking cycle complete.
5. (Optional) Garnish with Parmesan cheese, parsley and serve.

 

5. Creamy Chowder Salmon

Warm up your Valentine's night with this creamy chowder salmon recipe. Chowder is a delicious comfort food: it makes a perfect appetizer to a romantic Valentine’s Day meal. VitaClay makes chowder easy—cook it all in one pot with less clean-up afterwards. Win-win!

Several of the ingredients in this recipe are proven libido-boosters, so it makes a great addition to a Valentine’s Day meal!

Makes 2-4 servings

Appropriate for all VitaClay models

Cook time: Approximately 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 8 green onions, chopped
• 1 T thickener (corn starch, arrowroot powder)
• 2 c milk
• 2 medium potatoes, chopped
• 1/2 t sea salt
• black pepper
• 2 c cooked wild rice
• 1 lb salmon, cut into bite-sized pieces

Directions:

1.   Whisk thickener into cold milk an add to the VitaClay pot.

2.   Add the green onions and potatoes and set on stew setting for 30-40 minutes, until sauce thickens.

3.   Stir in the cooked rice.

4.   Add salmon pieces, close and cover, allowing it to continue on the stew setting for another 10 minutes, until fish is cooked.

6. SLOW COOKER POMEGRANATE CHICKEN STEW

Recipe and image by Elise Bauer from https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/fesenjan_persian_chicken_stew_with_walnut_and_pomegranate_sauce/

Legends say that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, planted the first pomegranate tree. Persephone, the goddess of spring, was bound to Hades by consuming pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates increase your hormones which bolster your libido. This small red fruit is not only a symbol of temptation, but it is highly nutrient dense and filled with antioxidant content to keep you and your relationship healthy. It has a unique sweet, acidic flavor that will seduce your taste buds. 

The pomegranate has been a symbol of love and fertility in many stories. Feature the pomegranate in your own love story with this delicious slow cooker chicken stew cooked in pomegranate molasses garnished with pomegranate seeds. 

Ingredients:

• 1 to 2 large yellow onions, chopped, (3 cups)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
• 1/2 pound walnut halves (about 2 cups)
• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs and/or breasts, trimmed of excess fat, cut into medium size pieces, patted dry and salted
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Salt
• 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate arils for garnish (optional)
• 1 tablespoon corn starch

Directions:

1. Saute the onions on stovetop for a few minutes or until onion is translucent. Transfer to clay pot

2. Coat chicken breast with one tablespoon of corn starch. Transfer to your clay pot.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the clay pot and mix well. Set to "Stew" for 40 minutes to 1 hour.

4. In the meantime, toast the walnuts on a skillet or bake in the oven and transfer to your clay pot in the last 20 minutes of cooking. 

5. Garnish with pomegranate seeds. Serve over parsi pulao or other favorite rice.

 Health Note:

Pomegranates are a great source of antioxidants and vitamins. Pomegranate juice is particularly effective at: Neutralizing damaging free radicals, Preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol and plaque build-up in blood vessels and preserving nitric oxide, a key chemical in the body for regulating blood flow and maintaining vessel health.