Set the Table... for a Heart-Shaped Breakfast

FOR VALENTINE'S DAY you can start showing the love from the very moment your sweetie(s) wake. But, I'm sure that you'll not want to get up hours early on a weekday morning to make heart-shaped belgian waffles with strawberry compote and hand-whipped cream. Despite what all the poets may tell you, love can be practical.

Here is a simple idea for a Valentine's Day breakfast that won't take much extra time and will let your dear ones know they are loved.

A Valentine's breakfast to warm your loved ones' hearts.

• 1 slice of bread per person
• 1 egg per person
• your favorite jam
• ham steak
• 1 heart-shaped cookie cutter

Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut 1 slice of ham per person and put the ham hearts in a skillet over medium heat.  (Save the remainder of the ham, it can be cut into chunks for an omelette or quiche for another day's breakfast.) Wash the cookie cutter and dry it well.

Cut a heart from each of the slices of bread. Set the hearts aside for toast. Melt butter in a large skillet and place the pieces of bread in the skillet. Turn the ham so that it can brown a bit on both sides.

Crack each egg and pour it into one of the heart-shaped holes in each slice of bread. Cook the egg to each person's preferred doneness. The eggs could even be scrambled. Toast the hearts that were cut from the bread and cover them with jam.

Arrange the toast, eggs-in-bread (sometimes called eggs-in-a-hole, eggs-in-a-nest or Egyptian eggs) and ham on plates and enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!