Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday observed on February 14 each year. Valentine was a holy priest in Rome about the year 270. He refused to renounce his Catholic faith and was beaten with clubs and beheaded on February 14. Source
In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which faithful lovers expressed their devotion to one another by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Source
For this decadent recipe, you want to take your time, set a vase of orange blossoms on the table, put on soft music and maybe some flavored ice tea or a chilled glass of champagne with a splash of fresh orange juice (Mimosa). Present a dozen roses to the one you're honoring. Other traditional gifts include jewelry, tickets for a long weekend and a book of poems. There's nothing that says "I care" more than a home-cooked meal.
Count of Monte Cristo Benedict Brunch
Ingredients:
2 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 pinch salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
4 thick slices day-old French bread
1 tablespoon butter
8 thin slices cooked ham
4 slices Cheddar cheese
4 slices Havarti cheese
8 poached eggs
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, or to taste
1 pinch kosher salt, to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, to taste
Whisk 2 eggs, cream, white sugar, salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and allspice together in a bowl until batter is thoroughly combined.
Lay bread slices into batter, one at a time, and let bread absorb the mixture. Turn bread slices in batter until almost all batter has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and melt butter in the hot skillet. Cook bread slices in the hot butter until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast slices to a baking sheet.
Lay ham slices into the hot skillet and cook until meat begins to brown, about 1 minute per side.
To assemble, place a Cheddar cheese slice on a slice of French toast, top with 2 slices of ham, and lay a Havarti cheese slice over ham.
Bake in the preheated 375 degree oven until French toast pieces are no longer wet, the batter is set, and cheese has melted and begun to brown, about 20 minutes.
Place sandwiches on serving plates and top each with 2 poached eggs. Season with kosher salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Serve with fresh oranges in season, . Garnish with chopped parsley.
2 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 pinch salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
4 thick slices day-old French bread
1 tablespoon butter
8 thin slices cooked ham
4 slices Cheddar cheese
4 slices Havarti cheese
8 poached eggs
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, or to taste
1 pinch kosher salt, to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, to taste
Whisk 2 eggs, cream, white sugar, salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and allspice together in a bowl until batter is thoroughly combined.
Lay bread slices into batter, one at a time, and let bread absorb the mixture. Turn bread slices in batter until almost all batter has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and melt butter in the hot skillet. Cook bread slices in the hot butter until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast slices to a baking sheet.
Lay ham slices into the hot skillet and cook until meat begins to brown, about 1 minute per side.
To assemble, place a Cheddar cheese slice on a slice of French toast, top with 2 slices of ham, and lay a Havarti cheese slice over ham.
Bake in the preheated 375 degree oven until French toast pieces are no longer wet, the batter is set, and cheese has melted and begun to brown, about 20 minutes.
Place sandwiches on serving plates and top each with 2 poached eggs. Season with kosher salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Serve with fresh oranges in season, . Garnish with chopped parsley.
Nutritional Information (amount per serving)
Calories 651; Carbohydrates 26g; Cholesterol 637mg; Fiber 2g; Sodium: 316mg; Fat 45g; Protein 30g
Source: All Recipes
Happy St. Valentine's Day to my family, friends and followers.