What go together better than food and love – two of life's basic ingredients? Here are a few healthy recipes by top-notch foodies – not only are many of the recipes healthy, but several also have aphrodisiac ingredients.

Jamaican Jerked Chicken with Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Healthy Recipe by: Chef Jill Houk and Chef Ryan Hutmacher of Centered Chef Food Studios (www.centeredchef.com).

Ingredients:

For Jerk Marinade:

¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground espresso coffee
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons chopped jalapeno peppers
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced cilantro
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
½ teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon canola oil

3 tablespoons soy sauce
1½ tablespoons lime juice
¼ teaspoon brown sugar, packed

For Chicken:
2 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

For Black Bean & Corn Salsa:
¼ cup frozen corn niblets, defrosted
2 tablespoons minced red onion

3 tablespoons minced red bell pepper

3 tablespoons minced green bell pepper

3 tablespoons minced tomato

3 teaspoons minced cilantro
2 teaspoons lime juice
½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed

Method:

In a sauté pan, toast the allspice, cloves, espresso coffee and nutmeg until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Combine all the marinade ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary to your taste.

Place the chicken breasts in a bowl, cover with the marinade, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken from marinade and grill 9-10 minutes per side over a medium-hot grill.

Combine all ingredients for the corn salsa. Taste, and adjust the seasonings as necessary.

Place the grilled chicken breasts on two plates and top each breast with half the salsa.

Note: According to Houk and Hutmacher, coffee is a stimulant that works on both the body and mind, getting the drinker ready for extended physical activity. Cilantro is an Arabian aphrodisiac thought to cure infertility. Garlic is considered to be perfect for romance because its “bite” causes arousal. Ginger stimulates circulation, and nutmeg is an ancient Chinese aphrodisiac.

Serves: 2

Nutritional Information: Serving size 6 ounces: 300 calories, 5g fat, 44g protein, 19g carbs, 4g dietary fiber, 130mg sodium.

HG's Strawberry Cloud

Healthy Recipe by: Lisa Lillien, founder of Hungry Girl (www.hungry-girl.com) and author of Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World (St. Martin's Griffin, 2008).

Ingredients:

2/3 cup frozen strawberries (just plain -- NOT in syrup!)

5 ounces light vanilla soy milk

2 teaspoons Fat Free French Vanilla Coffee-Mate powder dissolved in 1 ounce warm water

1 ounce Sugar Free Torani Strawberry Syrup

3 packets Splenda

3 large ice cubes

2 tablespoons Fat Free Reddi-wip

Method:

Place all ingredients except Reddi-wip in a blender

Blend on high speed for 30-45 seconds.

Pour into a glass and top with Fat Free Reddi-wip.

Serves: 1

Nutritional Information: Serving size 12 ounces with whipped topping: 119 calories, 1g fat, 21g carbs, 102mg sodium.

Chocolate Not-Only-In-Your-Dreams Cake

Healthy Recipe by: Devin Alexander, chef and author of The Most Decadent Diet Ever! (Broadway Books, 2008).

Ingredients:

Butter-flavored cooking spray

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large egg whites

1 cup brown sugar (not packed)

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon very finely ground espresso beans

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar

4 raspberries, optional

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Generously mist four 3½-inch-diameter ramekins with spray. Place them side by side in an 8 X 8-inch baking pan. Add water to the pan until it reaches halfway to the top of the ramekins.

Use a sturdy whisk or spatula to mix the applesauce, vanilla, egg whites and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Add the cocoa powder, espresso and salt. Stir until just combined and no lumps remain. Divide evenly among the ramekins (each ramekin will be about 2/3 full).

Bake for 21 to 24 minutes, until the tops look silky and puff slightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out a bit wet.

Remove from the oven and carefully transfer the ramekins from the water bath to a cooling rack. Cool for about 10 minutes.

After cooling, invert each ramekin onto a dessert plate. Let stand for 1 minute, then slowly lift off the ramekin (the cakes should come out on their own, but if they don't, run a knife around the edge of the ramekins to loosen them).

Cool for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Use a fine sieve to evenly dust each cake with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. Place one raspberry on the center of each cake, if using. Serve immediately.

Serves: 4

Nutritional Information: Serving size 1 cake: 203 calories, 7g protein, 46g carbs, 2g fat, 1g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 6g fiber, 364mg sodium.

Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce

Healthy Recipe by: Michael Ozner, M.D., cardiologist and author of The Miami Mediterranean Diet and The Great American Heart Hoax.

Ingredients:

½ cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened pomegranate juice

4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken, cut into small pieces

2 teaspoons paprika

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium yellow onions, chopped

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

1 small hot banana pepper, finely chopped

3-4 cups canned chunky tomatoes, with liquid

Method:

Bring the pomegranate juice to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 3 tablespoons. Set aside.

Meanwhile, sprinkle the chicken pieces with paprika, salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add chicken pieces and stir-fry about 2-3 minutes.

Add garlic and stir-fry another 2-3 minutes.

Add thickened pomegranate juice and all remaining ingredients.

Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and cook for about 30 minutes until chicken is tender.

Serve over rice.

Serves: 6-8

Nutritional Information: Serving size 1 1/2 cups (without rice): 364 calories, 14g fat, 50g protein, 8g carbs, 1g dietary fiber, 401mg sodium.

Mocha Mousse

Healthy Recipe by: Jason Graham, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa executive chef and author of the Cal-a-Vie LIVING cookbook (Favorite Recipes Press, 2007) www.cal-a-vie.com.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Kahlua liqueur

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

2 (12-ounce) packages light extra-firm silken tofu

½ cup baking cocoa

½ cup pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Raspberries and fresh mint, for garnish

Whipped cream, optional

Method:

Heat the Kahlua in a small saucepan. Add the coffee granules and stir to dissolve completely.

Combine the tofu with the baking cocoa, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon in a food processor fitted with a metal blade.

Add the coffee mixture and process for 7-10 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Spoon into a bowl and chill for 20 minutes or longer. Garnish with raspberries and fresh mint.

For a nice presentation, alternate layers of the mousse with freshly whipped cream in wine glasses.

Serves: 6

Nutritional Information: Serving size: 4 ounces (without whipped cream), 149 calories, 2g fat, 9g protein, 26g carbs, 2g dietary fiber, 104mg sodium.

Love Linguine with Almond Pesto

Healthy Recipe by: Chef Amy Reiley, author of Fork Me, Spoon Me: The Sensual Cookbook (Life of Reiley, 2006) www.eatsomethingsexy.com.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons toasted almonds

3 cups fresh basil
1 large clove garlic, sliced
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt to taste
1 pound dried flax or 100 percent whole-wheat linguine pasta
 
Method:

Pulse almonds in a blender or food processor. Add basil, garlic, cheese and lemon juice. Process to a pulp. Add oil slowly in a fine stream and blend until creamy.

Prepare linguine according to package instructions. Top with pesto and toss to coat thoroughly. Salt to taste.

Variation: For a more substantial meal, you can enhance your pasta with crumbled goat cheese, mussels or steamed clams.

Serves: 8

Nutritional Information: Serving size 3/4 cup pasta with 1 tablespoon pesto: 270 calories, 6.8g fat, 10g protein, 42g carbs, 5.6g fiber, 3mg cholesterol, 145mg sodium.

Note: According to Reiley, almonds, basil, cheese and garlic are all noted aphrodisiacs. If you would also like an energy boost from protein, you can add steamed clams and mussels, which are also aphrodisiacs!

Carrot, Fennel and Star Anise Soup

Healthy Recipe by: Chef Diane Brown, author of The Seduction Cookbook (Innova Publishing, 2005).

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced fine

1 whole shallot, minced fine

½ cup prepared chicken broth

3 whole carrots, peeled and cut into 3 portions

1 small fennel bulb, greens removed, cleaned, cut into wedges

2 whole star anise cloves

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

 Method:

In medium sauce pot, heat olive oil to a sizzle.

Cook garlic and shallot in the oil until softened but not browned.

Add chicken broth, carrots, fennel, star anise and thyme. Cook over medium heat, boiling gently, for 30 minutes.

Remove star anise cloves from mixture.

Pour soup into a blender or food processor and process until smooth.

Serve immediately, or store in refrigerator and reheat.

Serves 2
 
Nutritional Information: Serving size 1 cup: 109 calories, 3.3g fat, 16.8g carbs, 5.7g fiber,  5.1g protein.

Note: The ancient Romans thought that fertility was directly linked to what a person ate. Little wonder that they looked at the shape, color and flavor of foods to determine their power to influence sexuality. Hence, root vegetables became a symbol of strength to the libido. In our modern world, we've discovered carrots to be high in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6, all essential nutrients for high-functioning sexuality. Also said to slow aging and promote healthy vision, the carrot packs a double punch for feel-good fun. In this soup, I've matched the root with fennel, itself purported to provoke sexual vigor with its boost of vitamin C and dietary fiber, for a flavor combination guaranteed to whet the carnal appetite.

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CHARLES STUART PLATKIN is a nutrition and public health advocate, founder of DietDetective.com, and host of the new WE tv series I Want To Save Your Life. Copyright 2008-2009 by Charles Stuart Platkin. All rights reserved. Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter and iTunes podcast at www.DietDetective.com