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Valentine’s Day Ideas

 Love is in the air and that’s because Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Valentine’s Day has always been a day to show your loved ones that you care… whether it’s sharing a special meal, going out of your way to send a text or call, or getting a little something– there is plenty you can do to make the one you love feel extra special  February 14th. 

Need some inspiration? Here are a 3 things you can do or give as a token of your love.

Sweets

Does your loved one have a sweet tooth? Chocolates, cookies, pastries, chocolate covered strawberries, candies.. So many opportunities! Our bakery has a variety of Valentine’s Day sweets! We have special cookies and butter cookies decorated with pink sprinkles. We have chocolate covered strawberries. We also have special, heart shaped cannoli cake or a cookie cake. Nothing quite says “I love you” like a sweet from our La Bella Romana Bakery! 

Flowers

An easy reminder of your feelings is flowers! With all the different bouquets and arrangements, it is easy to find the one that fits your loved one perfectly. Whether you want to order an arrangement or just pick up a bouquet, we have just what you need! 

Flowers are proven to release happy chemicals into the brain because the vibrant colors, the fragrance, and the overall look can bring about a sense of  joy. Flowers are a great way to spread love. We have a wide selection of flowers at each store. You can also call Naperville, South Elgin, or Carol Stream to place a custom order!

Love flowers, but want to do something a little different that will last longer? Check out our rose globes! In a variety of different colors, round or heart shaped glass, these are awesome! They last for a long time, so this happy reminder will be around for a while.

Cook a meal

Cooking a meal together and sharing laughs, conversations, and maybe some wine is a great way to make memories and spend time with your valentine. You can stop by our seafood department or meat department to pick up some main course items… surf and turf anyone? 
If you want to cook together, but need some ideas on what to make, here is a few that we are looking forward to testing out  

Head to The Recipe Rack for some more ideas

From Our Family To Yours

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6 Foods for your Immune System

In the winter and especially right now, it is important that we take care of our bodies and strengthen our immune system. You can take supplements and vitamins, but what you consume also has a big effect on your body function. There are many foods that will naturally help your body stay strong and boost your immunity. 

Your immune system protects your body from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances and toxins that may enter your body. Your immune system has the ability to  distinguish between good blood cells and bad blood cells, and a healthy immune system helps to fight off the invaders. 

There are tons of foods that you can incorporate into your diet that are full of vitamins and nutrients you need. So if you’re looking for some easy foods to add into your diet to help your body, we can help you! 

Here are 6 of our favorite immune boosting foods… and some recipes to make them!

Citrus

Citruses like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, clementines, and more! These are high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C aids in increasing the production of white blood cells– the blood cells that help your body fight infections! A good way to get your vitamin c boost is to drink our fresh squeezed orange juice! Squeezed fresh daily, we put the oranges in our juicer, and transfer to the bottles… that’s it! No additives, just fruit! It tastes delicious too

Recipe to try: Orange Superfoods Bowl

protein packed, fiber-filled, and immune boosting

Ginger

Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatories are important because inflammation can have a negative effect on your immune system. Ginger also is a rich source of antioxidants. 

Recipe to try: Ginger Garlic Veggie Stir-Fry

Broccoli 

Broccoli is filled with vitamins and minerals. There are vitamins A, C, E, fiber, antioxidants, and more! The properties in broccoli boost the antioxidant and enzymes which help combat free radicals! 

Recipe to try: Ginger, Almond, and Garlic Broccoli

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate and cocoa have an important antioxidant called theobromine in it. This can help to boost the immune system and protect your body. 

Recipe to Try: Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Berries

Berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are high in antioxidants. Eating a bowl of mixed berries will do great things for your immune system! 

Recipe to try: Berry Cream Pie with Chocolate Crust

Fish

Fish is high in Omega 3 Fatty acids which are vital to increasing the activity and strength of white blood cells. They are also a great source of vitamins, known to contain vitamin A and B, and are a good anti-inflammatory.

Recipe to try: Lemon Baked Salmon with Asparagus

We hope everyone stays healthy! 

From Our Family To Yours

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La Bella Romana Soups

The weather is getting colder and we’re getting cozier. In the winter months (and especially now), there are nights when all you look forward to is staying in with a fire going, a blanket, some good music, and comfort food! What’s the ultimate comfort food? A warm bowl of soup! 

January is also National Soup Month, so it’s the perfect time to explore the varieties of La Bella Romana soup we offer! We have a full line of soups– vegan, vegetarian, broth, cream, hearty, and nostalgic– we have it all! Some of our recipes are original recipes going back over 20 years. You can get the same soup your mom or nonna would make with flavors that will transport you right back to their kitchen. 

Our soups are made in-house. We use all natural ingredients, no preservatives, and no additives so you can feel good about what you’re eating! We use real cream, fresh vegetables, our homemade sausage, and meat prepared by our meat department. 

Here are just a few of some soups we offer

  • Chili (awarding winning and will make your taste buds do a happy dance)
  • Cream of Chicken
  • Minestrone
  • Vegan Butternut Squash
  • Chicken and Dumpling
  • Clam Chowder
  • Cream of Broccoli
  • Lentil
  • Beef Barley

and so much more! Check out all of our offerings in store in our prepared foods section!

A customer recently made a vegan meal using our new vegan butternut squash soup! This customer used the soup as a sauce and added protein+ penne pasta, spinach, and topped with salt and pepper for a delicious looking meal!

Let us know what soup you’re trying first in honor of National Soup Month!

From Our Family To Yours