On our very first Valentine's Day together, my then-boyfriend bought a heart-shaped waffle maker. We made waffles for dinner in my dorm room. Yes, I know, we are complete rebels. Every year since then, we have been making these little heart waffles on Valentine's day. It so fun to get to share this tradition with our kids! This year, I made some simple and yummy strawberry syrup to put on top. It was the perfect pinkish-red touch for V-Day! Simple Strawberry Syrup
Ingredients:
3 cups cut strawberries (fresh or frozen, I've done both.)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 drops lemon essential oil (or tbsp(s) fresh lemon juice)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and very slowly bring to a boil. Then let simmer until your desired thickness.
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Notes: I love using lemon essential oil because I don't always have lemons on hand. I also prefer 2 drops because I love the bright, fresh, and tart flavor it adds. It seriously makes the syrup, I can't get enough of it. Did you know that one drop of lemon essential oil only costs between 0.0014 and 0.0017 cents? And it has so many wonderful and surprising uses outside of cooking! Let me know if you would like to learn more about it or get a bottle for yourself!