A Strawberry Valentine's Feast! {Recipes}

Are you all ready for V-day?!  I am a procrastinator myself.  I probably won't get my hubs or my kids anything until next Monday, that's just how I roll for the most part!  I do have my boy's Valentines for his class purchased, so at least I have done something.

So thinking ahead about next week, I have decided to share with you a couple of strawberry recipes (because no food says Valentines quite like a strawberry!).  I try and make my husband a yummy breakfast on Feb. 14th (even though it is almost painful for me to wake up when he does :)  This first yummy recipe is something a little different and the components can be prepped ahead of time (aka the night before).  Not to mention they are pretty, and your husband will be impressed.

Sweet Berry Bruschetta 

10 slices french bread, 1/2 inch thick

5 tsp sugar, divided
6 oz. fat free cream cheese (I used the lower fat kind)
1/2 tsp. almond extract
3/4 c. fresh blackberries (I used strawberries this time)
3/4 c. fresh raspberries 
1/4 c. slivered almonds, toasted (I had sliced on hand)
2 tsp. powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting

Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet; lightly coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar. Broil 3-4 inches from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned.In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, almond extract, powdered sugar, and remaining sugar. Spread over toasted bread. Top with berries and almonds; dust with powdered sugar.

Recipe Source:   my friend Melinda Christensen

Next up, a warm stick-to-your-ribs kind of breakfast!  French toast is fabulous any day, anytime.  This one has the yummy cream cheese layer in the middle that just makes regular old french toast that much more decadent.  Your sweetie will feel special if they wake up to these!  Not to mention the syrup is something delicious all in itself...save the leftovers for pancakes the next day.

Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

1 (8 oz package) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

10 slices bread (I used Texas toast)

3 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced

4 eggs, beaten

2 1/2 tablespoon milk

4 tablespoon butter, optional

2 tablespoon powdered sugar extra

Combine the cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, and beat until smooth, and then spread 1/2 the mixture on one side of five slices of bread. Top with the sliced strawberries (you will have some extra). Spread more of the remaining mixture on the remaining five pieces of bread and place on top, and make five sandwiches, pressing them together gently to enclose strawberries inside.

Beat the eggs and milk together and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400F . Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place in oven to warm up. Melt 1/2 tbsp or so of butter in a frying pan. Take the sandwiches, one by one, and place in the egg and milk mixture, turning so that the mixture covers both sides. Transfer the sandwich to the pan and cook until the first side is lightly brown. Flip over and cook the other side. When both sides are lightly brown, place the sandwich on the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Before serving, top with the extra sliced strawberries and 2 tbsp powdered sugar. Drizzle with maple syrup or the Strawberry Syrup recipe below.

Strawberry Syrup

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons orange juice

3/4 cup pureed strawberries

Combine all the ingredients in a small pan. Stirring constantly, heat mixture over medium heat until it begins to thicken (approximately 5 minutes). While still warm, pour over French Toast and serve immediately.

Recipe source:  Real Mom Kitchen

Aren't they pretty?!  I saw these cute babies and couldn't resist :)  They would be dang cute at a Valentines get-together, a cute treat for your kids or your sweetie, or any get together for that matter.  They are dang easy to make and taste phenomenal!

Oreo Petit Fours 

You will need the white chocolate oreos {or you can dip your own oreos...I used white chocolate candy coating}. Then spread a layer of wildberry or any other berry cream cheese (I used strawberry) , top it with a half a strawberry--- and finish it off with a drizzle of choclate (melted semisweet chocolate chips).