Valentine's Day Pancakes with a Sweet Message

Do you have the final details ready for your sweetheart tomorrow? If you need another breakfast idea, I have the perfect detail. Let your Valentine know how you feel through pancakes! These pancakes are heart shaped and include a special message.

First, prepare pancake batter either from scratch or by following mix instructions for six to seven pancakes. The consistency we need is somewhat thick, not runny. If you pour into a pan it should keep its shape.

Pour about 1/4 of the batter into a squeeze bottle.
To the remaining batter, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of water. Mix and add red food coloring. Mix until incorporated. Pour into a squeeze bottle.

Heat a pan to low heat and spray with nonstick butter spray.

Take the non-colored batter and write your message. The message needs to be written backwards, so that when you turn the pancake it will read correctly. We do this so that the pancake looks smooth and the message is not on the "bubbly" side of the pancake. (Yes, I did the XOXO as OXOX when I flip it over, this is where I learned.)

Quickly take the colored batter and draw a heart around the message, fill in any letters (like the inside of B, e, o), and fill in the heart.
Once the pancake no longer looks runny, flip over and finish cooking.
Wake up your Valentine with a nice breakfast with a message. :)

Valentine's events this weekend!

Check your favorite winery for events this weekend. Many are holding special tastings or dinners for Valentine's Day.

I will be attending the Wine & Chocolate Weekend at the Madera Wine Trail. Check back next week for a post on my experience. :)

Valentine's Mug Cookies

February is here and Valentine's Day is just around the corner. For those with a special someone, you may already have ideas to show how much you care. If not, here I am to help.

I found a cool cookie cutter while browsing through World Market. The "Side-of-the-Cup Cookie Cutter" comes in a flower, star or heart shape. The cookies hang from your mug. The heart shape cookie cutter is great to make cookies and greet your special someone good morning, not just on Valentine's Day, but any day.

The cookie cutter comes with a shortbread cookie recipe as well. The cookies come out soft and have a nice butter like taste. And what dessert does not taste better with chocolate! After all, Valentine's Day is about chocolates. Dip the cookies in melted chocolate and oh goodness! They are good!

Shortbread Cookies

Recipe from World Market

2 cups butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

My suggestions

Chocolate melts (optional)

Sprinkles (optional)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, stir in the vanilla. Add flour and salt and mix well. Roll out cookie dough and cut cookie.

Transfer cookies to a baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place the cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes. This will prevent cookies from spreading while baking. In the mean time, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake cookies for 10 - 12 minutes. My cookies took the full 12 minutes.

Let them cool for about 30 minutes. Melt chocolate melts according to dir

ections. Dip cookies in the chocolate and sprinkle nonpareils or your choice of decoration.

Place cookies on parchment paper and refrigerate for about 15 minutes until chocolate firms. Position cookie on the edge of a mug and "Good morning!" to your special someone with a yummy goodie!