Good Morning, Valentine

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 2012) — Valentine's Day often brings to mind romantic dinners or decadent desserts, but why wait until the end of the day to celebrate? Start the holiday off with a surprise breakfast for the whole family that says "I love you."

"Valentine's Day is all about love and what better way to express it than to wake up the whole family with a festive breakfast?" said Martha White® baking expert Linda Carman. "If mornings are hectic in your home, consider a recipe that's easy to make with a convenient muffin mix, leaving you more quality time with your loved ones for a Valentine's breakfast."

Welcome your family to the table on Valentine's morning with Strawberry Chocolate Chip Message Muffins. Combining strawberry flavored and chocolate chip muffin mixes is an easy way to make a fun-flavored muffin, perfect for the holiday. Just before serving, top off each muffin with a swirl of strawberry cream cheese. For an extra-sweet addition, use a toothpick flag to attach special messages for your Valentines.

Instead of serving a muffin, yogurt and fruit separately, layer everything in a glass to create a Rise and Shine Banana Berry Parfait. Crumbled banana nut muffins with granola are delicious and combine perfectly with vanilla yogurt, bananas and berries to create a festive Valentine's breakfast treat your whole family will enjoy.

Warm up a winter morning with a batch of homemade biscuits served hot out of the oven. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to add a whimsical, Valentine's Day touch. Serve Sweetheart Biscuits with butter and jam or as an accompaniment to a traditional bacon and egg breakfast.

For more Valentine's Day recipe ideas, go to www.marthawhite.com and click on recipes.

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Message Muffins

Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 (7 oz.) package Martha White® Strawberry Flavored Muffin Mix
1 (7.4 oz.) package Martha White Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix
1 cup milk
1 (8 oz.) container strawberry cream cheese
Colored sugar or sprinkles, optional
Toothpicks, tape and craft materials

1. HEAT oven to 425°F. Spray 12 muffin cups with no-stick cooking spray or line with paper liners.

2. STIR together muffin mixes and milk just until moistened. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 2 to 3 minutes in pan. Remove to cooling rack.

3. SPREAD about 1 tablespoon cream cheese on muffins at serving time. Sprinkle with colored sugar, if desired. Cut appropriate shapes out of paper, write a message, tape to toothpick and insert message into muffins.

Makes 12 muffins

Rise and Shine Banana Berry Parfait

Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 (7.6 oz.) package Martha White® Banana Nut Flavored Muffin Mix
1/3 cup granola
1/2 cup milk
6 (6 oz.) containers vanilla yogurt
2 1/2 to 3 cups fresh or frozen berries of your choice
2 bananas, sliced

1. HEAT oven to 425°F. Lightly spray 6 medium muffin cups with no-stick cooking spray. Stir together muffin mix, granola and milk in small bowl just until moistened. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.

2. BAKE 14 to 17 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 2 to 3 minutes in pan. Remove to cooling rack and cool completely.

3. CRUMBLE one muffin in a short 10-ounce glass. Top with a container of vanilla yogurt. Divide berries and banana slices among parfaits.

Makes 6 parfaits

Tip: For smaller parfaits, layer ingredients into small juice glasses.

Sweetheart Biscuits

Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 cups Martha White® Self-Rising Flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/3 cup Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
1 tablespoon butter, melted

1. HEAT oven to 450°F. Spray cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray. Combine flour and sugar in large bowl. Blend well. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add buttermilk. Stir with fork until soft dough forms and mixture begins to pull away from sides of bowl.

2. KNEAD dough gently on lightly floured surface just until smooth. Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with floured 3-inch heart-shaped cutter. Place on prepared pan.

3. BAKE 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter. Serve warm.

Makes 8 biscuits

Tip: To substitute for buttermilk, use 2 1/2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice plus milk to make 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons.

Crisco is a registered trademark of The J.M. Smucker Company.