Elevated doesn’t have to mean expensive or stuffy. I’ve created a dinner party menu that is low fuss – though never boring – with healthful and interesting ingredients.

I am reluctant to call it a Valentine’s Day dinner, though it is what I had in mind when I developed it, because there are so many occasions upon which this meal would be delightful.

Anchoring the menu is a simple butternut squash pasta dish, with pops of zest from ancho chili powder, garlic and fresh basil.

A lovely accompaniment, and nod to February 14th with it’s bright red strawberries, is an asparagus and crisp green salad studded with berries and toasted almonds.

And for the grand finale, a do-ahead frozen treat called semifreddo takes center stage (no ice cream maker required). This one is spiked with peppermint, shaved bittersweet chocolate and chocolate cookies, and I promise you every plate will be licked clean.

As a completely vegetarian meal, it’s easy on the wallet, excites your tastebuds, and can largely be prepped ahead.

Strawberry & Asparagus Salad with Toasted Almonds

When springtime gives you fresh asparagus and juicy ripe strawberries, toss them into a salad with Manchego cheese and a vibrant lemony garlic vinaigrette. Add a few toasted almonds for complexity and crunch, and you have an easy, seasonal side. The salad and dressing can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated, separately. Toss just before serving.

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Rigatoni with Roasted Butternut Squash & Blistered Cherry Tomatoes

This is a simple, yet flavorful pasta dish due to the addition of ancho chili powder, fresh garlic and basil. Ancho chili powder is now widely available at many supermarkets, but if you cannot find it in the spice section, look in the Hispanic foods section. You can get ahead by preparing the vegetables through step two. Cool and refrigerate them until you are ready to proceed, then warm them in the pot with the pasta as described in step 4.

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Peppermint Chocolate Semifreddo

Plan ahead, as this needs a few hours in the refrigerator to set up. What it does not need, is an ice cream maker. Semifreddo is a frozen dessert that is meant to be served sliced and plated. It will thaw slightly as you serve it, but since it is made primarily of meringue and whipped cream, it will hold its shape without melting. Note that grating the chocolate can be a messy affair, but I prefer this method which produces thin shavings of the chocolate that meld seamlessly with the creamy dessert, instead of using chopped chocolate or mini chips which would yield too much texture. Note, if you aren't feeding a crowd, halve the recipe and use an 8×4" loaf pan instead.

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