Nutella Stuffed French Toast

This recipe is a show stopper! My husband made it for breakfast on Valentine’s Day, I know right - so sweet #besthusbandever.

This recipe combines my favorite food group - breakfast, with my favorite food - Nutella. I have an uncontrollable addiction to Nutella, if it is in my house I cannot resist eating it up immediately, it’s a problem.

The other great thing about this recipe is its super easy! Start by slicing a thick piece of challah bread, fluffy, eggy, delicious challah bread. Then stuff it with as much Nutella as you can, dip in the batter and grill. Top it with some fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream. The combination of the rich gooey melted Nutella stuffed inside the toasted and butter challah with the tartness of the strawberries and smooth whipped cream is just pure gold. Please enjoy!

Nutella Stuffed French Toast
Recipe adapted from Cook Like A Champion
Makes: 4 Slices
Printable Version

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sliced strawberries 
• 2 teaspoons sugar 
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream 
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 4 thick slices challah bread 
• ½ cup Nutella (or as much as you can fit) 
• 1 large egg 
• ¾ cup milk 
• 2 tablespoons melted butter 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour 
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• ¼ teaspoon salt 
• Butter for griddle 

Directions:

1. Combine the strawberries and sugar in a bowl, set aside. 
2. Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form; add powdered sugar and vanilla, set aside. 
3. Cut a pocket into each slice of bread, taking care not to cut all the way through. Fill each slice of bread with about two tablespoons of Nutella. 
4. In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter and vanilla. Add the flour, cinnamon and salt and whisk until smooth. 
5. Dip the challah slices into the egg mixture, and then grill in a medium heat buttered pan for 2-3 minutes per side until they are light golden brown. 
6. Top with sliced strawberries and homemade whipped cream.

Floating Bookshelves

I love books, not so much reading books, but just owning them. After I moved and donated my husband’s 10+ year old college bookshelf from Ikea, I realized that we had a lot of books and nowhere to put them. So I was looking for a unique and fun way to store them that was pretty, but also accessible if we ever decided to actually pick one up and read it.

I came across these floating bookshelves online from Amazon and knew they would be perfect to surround the French doors in my guest room. They are inexpensive, easy to install and make a bold statement.

In case you are wondering how they look invisible, there is an L shaped bracket that attaches to the wall with screws. The bracket was super easy to install!

• Pencil in a line on the wall where you want to hang the bottom book. 
• Line up the bottom of the bracket with the line and mark the top hole. 
• Drill a pilot hole at the mark and then fasten the top screw. 
• Put a level on the bracket at the bottom and once level mark the bottom hole. 
• Drill a second pilot hole for the bottom screw and fasten the bottom screw. 
• Finally add books separating out the colors so each shelf has a pop of color! 

Floating Shelves from Amazon

This project turned out perfect, I love the way the bookshelves look, they add a little surprise to the guest room after you walk in and turn around.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red velvet cupcakes are a classic southern favorite. I decided to make these in celebration of Valentine’s Day for my husband and coworkers!

My secret for quick, delicious and buttery red velvet cupcakes is to use a box mix as the base and a homemade cream cheese frosting. I always start with a Duncan Hines mix and follow the instructions on the back, except substitute melted butter for the oil.

Add some festive sprinkles and some baker’s twine to package them up and you will be the favorite in the office the next day!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Makes: 24 cupcakes
Printable Version

Ingredients:

• 1 Box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix 
• 3 eggs 
• 1 cup water 
• 1/2 cup melted butter 
• 1 stick room temperature butter 
• 1 brick room temperature cream cheese 
• 3 cups powdered sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• Pinch of salt 

Directions:

1. Mix cake mix, water, eggs, and melted butter on high until combined. 
2. Spoon batter into liners, bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes 
3. For frosting, beat butter and cream cheese in a bowl until combined. 
4. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, mix. 
5. Add vanilla and salt, beat on high for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy. 
6. Frost cooled cupcakes and enjoy!