Valentine's Day recipes 2/8/09

Orange Sparkler

½ cup of sugar

¼ cup of water

1 cup of orange juice

1 ¼ cup of ginger ale or champagne, chilled

Bring sugar and water to a boil until sugar dissolves. Add to orange juice and chill. Add ginger ale or champagne right before serving.
Makes 2 servings.

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Orange Stuffed French Toast

¼ cup of softened cream cheese

2 tablespoons of butter or margarine

4 (1 ½ inch thick) slices of French bread

sifted powdered sugar

4 teaspoon of orange marmalade

maple syrup

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons of milk

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Spread cream cheese on 1 side of all four bread slices. Spread marmalade over cream cheese on 2 slices of bread. Press bread slices together with cream cheese and marmalade in the middle, making sandwiches.

Wisk together eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture coating all sides. Heat butter or margarine in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook toast sandwiches in skillet about 3 -4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with syrup. Garnish with sliced strawberries and orange rind strips.

Makes 2 servings.

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Spiced Fruit Salad

¼ cup of sugar

1 cup of fresh grapefruit sections

¼ cup of water

1 cup of cubed fresh pineapple

1 orange spice tea bag

1 cup of fresh orange sections

Bring sugar and water to a boil until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add tea bag. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.

Discard tea bag and allow liquid to cool. Toss liquid and fruit. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Makes 2 servings.

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Dining By Design, 5021 S. National Ave., Springfield, Mo. 65810, 417-866-4630, www.dbdgourmet.com

The Pie Box, 5021 S. National Ave., Springfield, Mo. 65810, 417-886-4PIE (4743), www.mypiebox.com