3 Recipes To Make Your Valentine Swoon
February 8, 2023
We're talkin' breakfast, dinner and dessert
Strawberries-and-Cream Stuffed Croissant French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6-8 small, day-old croissants 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1⁄3 cup high quality strawberry jam
- 3 tablespoons melted, salted butter, plus more for the pan
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced horizontally whipped cream and maple syrup, for serving
Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 8
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375° F, grease a baking sheet with butter
- In a large shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, 1 tablespoon vanilla and salt
- Make a 1-inch slit at the top of each croissant, creating space in the croissant for the filling
- In a bowl, gently stir together the cream cheese and strawberry jam and spoon the mix into a sandwich bag, snipping the corner off the bag; squeeze approximately 2 tablespoons of the strawberry cream into the slit of each croissant
- Dip each croissant into the egg mixture, allowing to sit 1 minute per side; arrange the croissants on the prepared baking sheet
- Brush each croissant with leftover egg batter; bake for 20-25 minutes or until the croissant is golden
- Melt together the butter, brown sugar and 2 tablespoons maple syrup; spoon the butter mixture evenly over each croissant and bake another 10 minutes until the croissants are crisp
- Toss the berries with 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Top the French toast with whipped cream, berries and maple syrup
Ravioli With Mushroom Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 20-ounce package store-bought ravioli
- 1 cup walnut pieces, plus
- ½ cup walnuts roughly chopped
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound sliced cremini mushroom
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 3 cups packed baby spinach leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Time
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 6
Directions
- In a large pot of salted water, boil the ravioli per package instructions; reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain
- Pulse 1 cup of the walnuts and the milk in a blender until very smooth
- In a large cast iron skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat, adding the mushrooms and seasoning with salt and pepper; cook and stir occasionally, until tender and golden (about 5 minutes); remove to a plate and wipe skillet clean
- Return skillet to medium heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil and garlic; cook, stirring, until garlic is light golden and fragrant (1 minute) then add the flour and cook, stirring (1 minute)
- Whisk the walnut-milk mixture into the skillet and add the cream cheese and ¾ cups of the reserved pasta water; cook, stirring, until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is thickened slightly (about 3 minutes)
- Stir in the spinach and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper, cooking until spinach is just wilted (about 1 minute); stir in the cooked mushrooms and cooked ravioli (if sauce is too thick, add the remaining pasta water, a little bit at a time)
- Top with the chopped walnuts and serve
Caramels
Ingredients
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 60
Directions
- Grease a 12x15-inch pan, set aside; attach a candy thermometer to a medium-sized pot
- Place whipping cream, white sugar, brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and evaporated milk into the pot; cook and stir mixture over medium heat until temperature reaches 250° F (120° C) and then remove the pot from heat
- Stir in vanilla; pour mixture into the prepared pan and let cool completely
- Cut caramel into 60 small squares; wrap them in waxed paper for storage
As days shorten and leaves begin to change, September invites us to refocus our minds to new possibilities. What better way to grow than by learning a new language?
Do you have enough life insurance for your family?
A handy guide to help you find the best prices on school supplies, electronics, clothing and more.
With some strategic planning, you can easily navigate the back-to-school shopping season.
A handy guide to dorm room must-haves that will help you create a cozy, organized and stylish space.
August is National Wellness Month, a time to reflect on your health and commit to simple habits that support a well-balanced lifestyle. That’s where Optimity enters.
Staying cool in the summer can be a challenge, especially when you're trying to stick to a budget. If you're a GBU member, you have access to a fun benefit!
When it comes to planning for the future, there are few things more meaningful than knowing your legacy will make a lasting impact. At GBU, we’re proud to offer members the tools and resources needed to protect what matters most while also providing meaningful ways to give back.
Since December 2024, donors have contributed an impressive $1,443,000 to
the GBU Foundation, establishing new scholarship, educational grant and
donor-advised charitable funds. These gifts help to shape a brighter future for
students, communities and charitable causes across the country.
Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, is a meaningful way to leave behind an impact on the causes and organizations you care about. By incorporating life insurance and annuities into your estate planning, you can maximize the benefits of your legacy gifts, ensuring they are both impactful and tax efficient.