What better way to say “I love you” than with a serving of pork?!

Kevin.Schulz, senior content specialist

February 10, 2017

3 Min Read
Love is in the air; pork better be in the kitchen
Pork Checkoff

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if you’re like most people waiting until the last minute is par for the course in buying/making a gift for your one true love.

It has been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and I’m sure farm women don’t mind enjoying their loved ones while also on a full stomach. PorkBeInspired.com has an idea to satisfy both camps with a short video on how to make beautiful (and tasty) bacon roses. In the name of quality control, you had better start with more than a dozen strips of bacon, just in case some don’t actually make it onto a stem and into a vase.

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While bacon roses make for an edible centerpiece, you probably should have something else to satisfy the taste buds for a romantic Valentine’s meal or a feast for the whole family. PorkBeInspired.com also provides recipes for pork dishes that will warm the hearts of those you love. Try one of these: Spicy Cranberry Pork Tenderloin (pictured); Pork Roast with Bacon, Brussels Sprouts and Pomegranate; Pork Milanese with Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti; or Italian Pork Cutlet Florentine.

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Hearts are at of the core of Valentine’s decorations, and of course, they’re also at our core, so it’s best to keep the old ticker going strong.

Pork cuts can have a place at the table as an entrée that will be delicious and good for you. Pork sirloin roast has recently received Heart-Check certification from the American Heart Association, joining the pork tenderloin with the designation. Heart-Check Certified cuts of meat adhere to the AHA’s requirements allowing its label as a “heart-healthy food.”

“The prominent Heart-Check mark on packages of meat offers consumers an easy way to cut through the clutter of often conflicting nutrition information,” says Adria Huseth, RDN, LD, CPT, and manager of nutrition communications and research for the Pork Checkoff. “The Heart-Check mark is valuable and serves as a trusted resource for consumers. By cutting through the noise at the meat counter, shoppers can quickly identify heart-healthy foods.”

According to a National Pork Board press release, sound science and proven research serve as the basis for the Heart-Check Food Certification Program nutrition requirements. Introduced in 1995, the Heart-Check Food Certification Program helps consumers identify foods that can be building blocks of a heart-healthy diet. To become certified, a product must meet specific nutrition requirements.

Many people wear their hearts on their sleeve, but creativity in the kitchen can help the stoic ones among us win over those dear to you. Sometimes a cut of meat coincidentally resembles another object or shape, such as a pork chop looking like Valentine’s heart. When nature isn’t so convenient, you can easily trim a chop or a pork loin or roast to look like a heart. If you’re not up for a full meal, you can fry up heart-shaped pork sausage, bacon or even pork brats into love on a plate.

Regardless how you share your love for your significant other, remember to say it with pork.

About the Author(s)

Kevin.Schulz

senior content specialist, National Hog Farmer

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