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
2025 Financial Impact Report
Practical Tips to Organize For Your Well-Being
Rest as a Form of Productivity
Each year, we set aside time to deep clean and organize our homes. But when was the last time you set aside time to organize your finances? We sat down with GBU Life Home Office agents Leah Teahl and Dominic Nicciai to learn about the benefits of an annual financial review and how you can get started.
Every child can name a teacher who made a difference: the one who stayed late to help, offered encouragement at just the right moment or made learning feel exciting. Recognizing a teacher’s dedication doesn’t require grand gestures, but it does call for intention. Thoughtful appreciation gifts, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week or year-end celebrations, offer a tangible way to express heartfelt gratitude.
Board Election GBU Financial Life’s national bylaws allow adult insured members (as defined in Article VI, Section 1 of the bylaws) the right to vote for the organization’s Board of Directors. Ballots will be mailed at the beginning of August 2026 to all eligible members. Eligible members may vote by paper ballot via mail or electronic ballot online once they receive their ballot. Cumulative voting or voting by proxy is not permitted.
We hope the holiday brought you moments of rest and joy for the year ahead, giving you time to recharge and look forward with renewed purpose.
Winter is a magical time filled with holidays and the warmth of togetherness. It’s the perfect season to start traditions that your kids will look forward to every year. Here are some creative ideas to start your family’s unique winter traditions!
To help you shine at your next workplace white elephant party, here’s a list of affordable and useful gift ideas.
Here are 9 unique and meaningful ways to express your gratitude.