Valentine Ideas

Eggs in Heart Baskets

 

Luscious stuffed Raspberry Cream Cheese Toast is a decadent treat that can be enjoyed as a late supper as well as breakfast.

Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without at least one chocolate dish and this Chocolate French Toast kicks breakfast up a notch. Served in a puddle of raspberry sauce, it lends a touch of red in honor of the holiday.

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Cupid, Chocolate, Etc

I claim there ain't

Another Saint

As great as Valentine.

~ Ogden Nash

In past Valentine’s Day columns, I’ve shared the history of the day, accompanied by recipes for special treats for the day. This year, I’m suggesting starting the day off in the right mood with special breakfast recipes, one of which is chocolate of course. I’m also including miscellaneous data to help create your own trivia game for family and/or friends if you wish. Enjoy!

Strawberry Smoothie

2 c. frozen sliced strawberries, unsweetened

1/2 c. cranberry raspberry juice

1/4 c. orange juice

1/2 c. vanilla yogurt

2 fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)

Place the strawberries in the bottom of a blender or food processor fitted with a metal blade, add juices, top with the yogurt and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with each with a strawberry.

Eggs in Heart Baskets

2 slices whole wheat bread

3 t. butter, softened

2 large eggs

Sea or kosher salt and pepper to taste

Use a cookie cutter to cut heart shapes from the center of each piece of bread, leaving perimeter intact, and set aside.

Heat an electric griddle to 350 degrees or a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Place one teaspoon of the butter on the griddle and use remaining two teaspoons to butter one side of each piece of bread, including the cutout pieces. Place bread, butter side down on the griddle. Break one egg into a small dish and gently slide it into the hole of one of the bread slices. Repeat with remaining egg and bread slice.

Cook 1-2 minutes until egg is golden on the bottom. Flip gently and cook for a minute on the other side. Flip heart shaped pieces of toast and cook on the other side until toasted. Serve eggs baskets with heart toast while hot.

Raspberry Cream Cheese French Toast

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. raspberry jelly

2 T. chocolate chips

1 loaf French bread

6 large eggs

1 c. milk

1 cup half & half or light cream

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/4 t.. salt

Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Stir cream cheese, raspberry jelly and chocolate chips together in a medium-sized bowl. Cut bread into 1/2-inch slices and spread cream cheese mixture over half of the bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices to make sandwiches. Place sandwiches in prepared pan in a single layer. Cut sandwiches if necessary to fit pan.

Whisk together remaining ingredients and pour over sandwiches, turning several times to coat well. Cover and chill at least 8 or up to 24 hours.

Cover French toast and bake 30 minutes in an over preheated to 350 F. Remove cover and bake an additional 15-20 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with powdered sugar and syrup or your favorite toppings. If served in a pool of raspberry sauce, you really don’t need other toppings but again, this is simply a personal preference.

Chocolate French Toast

8 slices day-old challah or Italian bread

3 eggs

1 cup milk

2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

3 T. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla extract

1 T. butter

Place bread in a sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish, making sure pieces do not overlap, and set aside.

Whisk eggs, milk, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl and pour over bread slices. Turn bread until it is coasted well. Heat a griddle or a large nonstick skillet to medium-high heat before adding butter to it.

Place bread slices on griddle and cook 3-4 minutes on each side until lightly browned and cooked through. Serve with sliced strawberries and powdered sugar or other fruit if desired. Serve French toast with sliced strawberries or raspberries and powdered sugar. Note: Avoid using fresh bread if possible. Slightly stale challah or Italian bread yields the best results.

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Valentine Q and A

Q. Next to Christmas, what is the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year?
A. Valentine’s Day

Q. What famous inventor applied for a patent on Valentine’s Day in 1876?
A. Alexander Graham Bell. The patent was for the telephone.

Q. Which state produces the most roses?
A. Oregon

Q. Cupid was said to be the son of which Roman dieties?
A. Venus and Jupiter

Q. What is Cupid said to use to inspire feelings of love?
A. Magical arrows

Q. What were humorous valentines of the 19th century referred to?
A. "Vinegar Valentines" or "Penny Dreadfuls"

Q. In what year did the infamous St. Valentine’s Day massacre occur in Chicago?
A. 1929

Q. In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to do what to a Valentine’s Day card?
A. Sign it

Q. When was the “I Love You” computer virus detected in Hong Kong?
A.. May 1, 2000

Q. The first televised tour of the White House aired on February 14th of what year?
A. 1962

Q. Which 70’s rock icons were married on February 14th, 1974?
A. The Captain and Tennille

Q. Which famous English explorer was murdered on February 14th, 1779?
A. Captain James Cook

Q. St. Valentine was a Roman priest during the time of which Emperor?
A. Claudius

Q. How many saints by the name of St. Valentine, all martyred on February 14th are recognized by the Catholic Church?
A. Three

Q. Where can one find the oldest known Valentine card?
A. The British Museum

Q. Which industry promoted Valentine’s Day as an occasion for giving jewelry?
A. The diamond industry

Q. In what year was the feast of St. Valentine first declared?
A. 496 A.D.

Q. Approximately how many Valentine’s Day greeting cards are sent each year worldwide?
A. One billion

Q. Who invented the first Valentine’s Day candy box in the late 1800s?
A. Richard Cadbury

Q. Which holiday has the highest percentage of male card buyers, compared to other holidays where women purchase more cards?
A. Valentine’s Day

Q. During the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that which animals chose their mates on February 14th?
A. Birds

Q. During which war were the first valentines seen in the United States?
A. The Revolutionary War

Q. On average, who receives the most Valentine’s Day cards?
A. Teachers

Q. What do florists refer to as a “signature rose”?
A. A single red rose framed with baby’s breath

Q. Most roses sold on Valentine’s Day in the United States are imported from where?
A. South America

Q. Which west coast city is home to almost 600 varieties of roses and is known as “The City of Roses”?
A. Portland, Oregon

Q. Which author refers to roses more than 50 times in his writings?
A. Shakespeare