Have My Heart Potato Pancakes

What You Need:

1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
1/2 t pepper
1 green onion, chopped
1 1/2 C instant potato flakes

How to Make It:

Pour the broth into a saucepan over medium high heat.

Stir in the pepper well.

Bring the broth to a brisk boil then remove from the heat.

Gently stir in the green onion.

Pour the potato flakes into the pan and let them stand until they have absorbed
all the broth liquid.

Lay a heart shaped cookie cutter in a skillet over medium heat.

Fill the cookie cutter with the potato mixture.

Cook 5 minutes then flip and continue cooking 3 minutes or until browned.

Serving Size:  4

Make these heart potato cakes extra special for your Valentine by adding a
spoon of applesauce with red hot candies on the top of each one.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides us with the nutrition we need to make it until lunch time without passing out. There are plenty of suggestions for Valentine’s Day breakfast meals that kids can make for parents or one spouse can make for the other (women do make breakfast for their husbands, too).

Let’s start with casseroles. These are man-friendly breakfast dishes that don’t require too many steps. Most casseroles can be put together ahead of time and baked on demand in the morning.

Most breakfast casseroles contain eggs. They hold the entire meal together. If your sweetie doesn’t like them or doesn’t eat them, you can choose something else to make. Some popular add-ins for casseroles include: sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, chopped peppers, chopped onions, ham, and cheese. Yum!

How about breakfast in bed? We’ve all heard about it and probably thought it was some type of urban legend, but it does happen and Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion. Keep it simple so there’s room on the tray for a rose or a beautiful card.

The centerpiece of that breakfast place can be pancakes or French toast. Metal cookie cutters are placed in the pan and batter poured in to make heart-shaped pancakes. For French toast, it’s easier to cook the toast and then use the heart-shaped cutter to create your loving masterpiece.

Some people don’t like to eat too much in the morning. For them, try a simple breakfast of fruit and toast. Cube their favorite fruit and top with yogurt. Some toast and jam adds substance to the meal. This is a Valentine’s breakfast that would satisfy that vegetarian in your life.

The season is still winter when Valentine’s Day rolls around. If it happens to be a particularly cold morning where you are, try a bit of hot cereal like oatmeal or cream of wheat for that special day. Use honey or syrup to drizzle a sweet “I love you” on the top.

Valentine’s Day is that time when we show the folks we love an extra special good time. This year, start with an invigorating meal that comes from the heart to show them how we feel.

Peanut Butter Cranberry Breakfast Sandwich

What You Need:

1 (15.6 oz) box Cranberry Quick Bread mix
1 C water
2 T canola oil
2 large eggs
3 T creamy peanut butter
1 banana, peeled and sliced

How to Make It:

Place the oven temperature on 375 and allow the oven to heat up.

Spray a loaf pan with a non stick cooking spray and flour being sure to tap out
the excess flour.

Place the quick bread mix into a mixing bowl.

Add the water, oil and egg and whisk until completely.

Bake for the amount of time directed on the box.

Remove and cool in the pan for 15 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish
cooling for 1 hour.

Cut 8 slices from the cooled loaf.

Spread the peanut butter on 4 slices of the bread.

Layer the bananas on top of the peanut butter.

Lay the remaining slices of bread on top of the sandwich.

Serving Size: 4

These make a quick little breakfast sandwich that can be eaten on the run.  What
better way to show your family how much they are appreciated on Valentine’s
Day morning, or any morning for that matter.

Chocolate Berry Biscuits

What You Need:

1 1/2 C flour
2/3 C sugar
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
10 T unsalted butter, melted and hot
1/4 C + 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 large egg
1/4 C + 2 T milk

How to Cook It:

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl.

Add the sugar, baking soda and salt and blend all the ingredients together well.

Place the hot melted butter into a separate bowl.

Add the cocoa powder and whisk until very smooth.

Add the egg and milk to the chocolate mixture and blend until completely
combined.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture and stirring from the bottom up
mix the ingredients until the flour mixture is just moistened completely.

Place a piece of wax paper on a flat surface and remove the dough to the wax
paper.

Form the dough into a rectangle.

Place the dough into the refrigerator and allow it to chill 15 minutes.

Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees and allow the oven to heat while
finishing preparing the biscuits.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to
cut out the dough into 8 heart shaped biscuits.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the biscuitss in a single layer on the prepared sheet.

Bake 12 minutes or until the bottoms just begin to color and the tops begin to
crack.

Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.

Serving Size: 8

Serve these on Valentine’s morning with a few fresh berries on the side.  Whether it’s for your love or your family they will make a great addition to Valentine’s day!

Valentine Breakfast Fritters Recipe

What You Need:

2 C + 1 T canola oil, divided
1 lg. egg, slightly beaten
1/2 C milk
1 C sweet apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 C all purpose flour
1/2 C sugar + 1 T sugar, divided
1 t baking powder
1 1/4 t cinnamon, divided
1/4 t salt
1/2 C strawberry or maple syrup

How to Make It:

Place the 2 C of canola oil into a deep fryer or heavy pan and allow to heat to
365 degrees.

Pour the milk into a bowl with the slightly beaten egg and whisk to combine.
Add the apples to the mixture and gently stir to incorporate.

In a separate mixing bowl toss together the flour, 1 T sugar, the baking powder,
1/4 t cinnamon and the salt.

Add the flour mixture to the egg and milk and blend until all the dry ingredients
are just moistened.

Drop 3 to 4 teaspoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry 4 minutes, turning
occasionally for even browning.

Remove the fritters when they are a golden brown with a slotted spoon and place
on a paper towel to drain.

Continue deep frying in this manner being sure to allow the oil to return to the
correct temperature before adding a new batch.

Place the remaining sugar and 3/4 t of the cinnamon into a sealable plastic bag.
Add the fritters a couple at time.

Seal the bag after each addition and shake to cover the fritters well.

Place the fritters on plates.

Place the syrup into a microwave safe bowl.

Stir in the remaining cinnamon until well combined.

Microwave on high for 30 seconds or until the syrup is warmed.

Pour the syrup over the fritters just before serving.

Serving Size:  16 fritters

Breakfast is a great time to spend together as a family and enjoying a special
Valentine’s Day treat.  Add a few fresh strawberries on the side to show them just
how much they matter.