We leave for Cancun tomorrow, so I wanted to get this last Valentine's Day post out for you! While I have a few more surprises up my sleeve for Nolan, this one came a little earlier in the week and we snacked on them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sweet, nutty, and memorable, these rice krispie treats should be just another reminder of why you're with your loved one this Valentine's Day!

Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

As with many of my recipes, this one, too, is versatile. Use the add-ins you want, change up the white chocolate to dark, and write whatever message you want to convey to your baby boy.

Ingredients:

6 tablespoon butter
12 oz marshmallow fluff
1/4 cup white sugar
12 cup rice krispies
1 tablespoon red sprinkles
Pinch of flaked sea salt
12 oz white chocolate (chips are fine)
1/4 teaspoon red dye (plus more for writing, amount may vary by quality of dye)

Directions:

In a dutch oven, melt your butter on medium-high, allow it to cook until brown and slightly nutty
Immediately add your marshmallow fluff and begin stirring
Add sugar and continue to melt your marshmallow down
When completely melted, take off heat and stir in your cereal, sprinkles, and salt
On a parchment-lined baking sheet, press down with slightly oiled hands
Allow to cool and harden slightly and cut into hearts with a cookie cutter
While these finish cooling, melt your chocolate in a large bowl
Divide your treats in half. For the first half dip into the white chocolate and return to parchment to cool
When you've done your first half, now mix red dye into the remaining white chocolate and mix to create a pale pink
Dip remaining treats into the chocolate
Finally, using a toothpick, paint with more dye saying on the hearts and enjoy!

Valentine's Day used to be a tit for tat affair, early on when I was 19 and 20. It was made for show, occasion, the performance. You get older, you grow with your partner. One year I asked Nolan to pay my car insurance as a present, another we went to the spa in my hometown. This year, we bought a house and are going to Cancun on Friday. We grew older, we stopped making it harder on each other.

I try to make it easy. I get the coffee ready and wake up with our three dogs at six in the morning. I keep the TV off so he doesn't wake. I turn the heater on in the bathroom, so the tile isn't cold when he gets a shower before work. I try to make it easy for him, easier than I used to make it. When I would demand idolatry and independence and everything in between.

We always have Sundays off together. Since we'll be gone next weekend, I made something for him to wake up to. Breakfast in bed, like I do from time to time. Warm oatmeal in our cold house. We sat in the quiet morning frost, in our wood paneled room, under the faux-fur blanket my mother got us for Christmas, and realized how far we've come in six years.

Roasted Sweet Potato Topped Oatmeal

This recipe can be easily adapted to your tastes and quantities, but the sesame against the rosemary, the roasted and caramelized sweet potato against the soft and sweet oatmeal is definitely something to try before you make adaptations.

Ingredients for Roasted Sweet Potatoes:

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 TB olive oil
1 TB brown sugar
Pinch of salt and pepper

Directions for Roasted Sweet Potatoes:

Preheat oven to 400*F
On a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, mix all ingredients
Bake for 25 minutes or until caramelized and tender
Allow to cool before assembling oatmeal (see below)

Assembly: Make your quick cooking oats to box direction for 2 people, substituting the water for almond milk. Mix in 1/2 TB of peanut butter per 1 cup of oatmeal. Top with desired amount of sweet potato, sprinkle each bowl with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon chopped rosemary, 2 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of sesame seeds. Eat immediately with a bit of maple syrup on top.

This post was made in partnership with Le Creuset, making some of my absolute favorite and most envied pieces around. To find out more, visit their website, like their Facebook, or follow them on Instagram!