Eat This: Breakfast in Bed

Happy Hearts Day . . . almost.  Surprise your sweetie (or sweeties - this is a kid-friendly menu) with a Valentine's Day-appropriate breakfast.  ORDER UP!

CHERRY VANILLA SMOOTHIES

1 cup apple juice or cider
1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups frozen pitted cherries

Blend together all ingredients.  Yields:  2 servings.

CUPID KABOBS

Watermelon slices, seedless grapes, pineapple chunks and strawberries
Marshmallow Peep Hearts


Use small heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut hearts out of watermelon slices.  Thread fruit and Peep Hearts on wooden skewers to make kabobs.  Use watermelon hearts (point-side forward) or Peep Hearts for arrows; Peep Hearts also make good feathers at the opposite ends, or you can end a kabob with a strawberry with the top on (so that the top sticks out at the end to resemble feathers).
VALENTINE'S CROISSANT FRENCH TOAST

4 large day-old croissans
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 T butter
3 T powdered sugar
Sweetened Whipped Cream (optional)
Fresh Strawberry Syrup

Slice croissants in half lengthwise.  Whisk together milk, eggs and vanilla.  Pour into a shallow dish.  Dip croissant halves into egg mixture, coating well.  Melt 1 T butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add four croissant halves, and cook about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.  Repeat procedure with remaining butter and croissant halves.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar; top with Sweetened Whipped Cream, if desired, and Fresh Strawberry Syrup.

Sweetened Whipped Cream:  Beat 1/2 cup whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.  Add 1 1/2 T powdered sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.

Fresh Strawberry Syrup:  Combine 1 quart strawberries, sliced, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup orange liqueur or orange juice and 1 tsp. grated orange rind in a saucepan, and let stand 30 minues or until sugar dissolves.  Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until warm.