The month of February brings a plethora of events worthy of celebrations. Ground Hog Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and at least one if not five snow days that keep most of us home. Many experienced the snowstorm or ice storm of the millennium the end of January. Then this week the groundhog as well as the armadillo in Texas predicted six more weeks of winter because they each saw their own shadow, despite this little girl having an important message to Mr. Groundhog. Wow, if weather prediction could be that easy all the time. We tucker in our homes, sip on our hot tea and coffee, find great movies to watch, a pile of books setting on the end table for those evenings under a lamp and warm throw, as well as stocked pantries and refrigerators to bake bread, prepare homemade soups, and sweet goodies. What better time to make your sweetheart or neighbor their favorite dessert?

I am sharing a favorite sweet goodie amongst children and the children at heart. Below is a recipe for Stuffed French Toast Hearts found in Volume 2 of Strewn Words in the Stew: A Memoir of Recipes, Poems, Short Stories, and Sayings. Click on the book title to go to the page about my writing adventures and where you can purchase my books.

Stuffed French Toast Hearts

The ingredients are 24 slices buttermilk or sourdough bread; 6 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup fruit preserves or jelly; 6 eggs; 1 cup milk; 2 teaspoons granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup butter

The instructions are:

1. Using sharp large heart-shaped cookie cutter, but bread slices into hearts; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and preserves; beat until blended and creamy.
3. Spread 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in center only of 12 heart-shaped bread slices.
4. Top each slice with matching heart-shaped bread slice to make 12 sandwiches.
5. In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, extract, and salt; beat until blended and frothy, then set aside.
6. Heat butter in a griddle or large skillet.
7. Dip each sandwich in egg mixture, place in pan and grill on each side until golden brown.
8. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Makes 12 stuffed sandwiches.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie