Ordinary French toast can be transformed into a heart-shaped holiday treat for Valentine's Day by adding one extra step.  Rather than frying the bread as a standard slice, heart-shaped French toast requires the bread to be cut into a heart shape before cooking.  Just like making standard French toast, the bread is then dipped in a mixture of egg, milk and spices then cooked in a skillet.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6FGmJgi1M

To go a step further, the breakfast food can be topped with a variety of red foods fitting of Valentine's Day.  Fresh strawberries can be sliced and adorned atop French toast slices or made into a puree to make a fresh strawberry sauce.  For a new twist on a classic treat, the old standby of maple syrup works well too.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6FGmJgi1M

• 6 slices bread
  
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Maple syrup or strawberries, if desiredhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6FGmJgi1M

• Sharp knife or heart-shaped cookie cutter
  
• Pizza cutter, optional
• Large, shallow mixing bowl
• Wire whisk
• Large skillet
• Spatulahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6FGmJgi1M

1. Use the cookie cutter to cut a heart shape from each slice of bread.  If a cookie cutter is not available, skip this step.
   
2. Make two cuts in each slice of bread to form a V shape.  The top of the V should meet the sides of the slice of bread where it curves at the top.  The bottom of the V should be centered along the bottom crust of the slice of bread.  
3. Use the knife of pizza cutter to form the top of the heart.  To remove the crust completely, cut just inside where the crust meets the bread.  To leave a bit of crust on each slice, simply cut a smaller V shape in the top of each slice.
4. Combine the eggs, milk and vanilla extract in the large mixing bowl.  Mix well using the wire whisk.
5. Heat the skillet over medium.  Melt the butter in the skillet to coat evenly, then remove the unmelted butter for later.
6. Dip both sides of the bread into the egg mixture several times to coat.  Shake to allow excess egg to drip off, the place in the heated skillet.  Repeat this process to fill the skillet.
7. Cook the bread until golden brown, then flip and cook the other side.  Press the center of each slice to make sure it's cooked all the way through.  Transfer to a serving plate.
8. Use the remaining butter to grease the pan again.  Repeat the coating and cooking steps until all of the slices have been cooked.
9. Garnish with strawberries and top with maple syrup, if desired.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l6FGmJgi1M