French Surprise

The basic idea:
• Start with a loaf of French bread
• Slice a “lid” down the top and scoop out the inside
• In a large pot or bowl, combine:
• browned ground beef (Chef Janet says to use the drippings for extra flavor)
• one can of tomato soup
• cheddar cheese
• Mix it all together, then stuff the filling back into the bread

Once it’s packed, wrap the loaf in aluminum foil and bake at about 250 degrees for around 40 minutes, until it’s hot all the way through.

To finish it off, Chef Janet suggests topping it with a little parsley and adding Parmesan — or even mozzarella — before slicing and serving.

Make it a full Valentine’s Day dinner

Chef Janet says this is an easy meal to pair with a simple side like:
• a Caesar salad, or
• steamed veggies

She also recommends a little extra flavor boost: a dollop of sour cream on top of each slice.

Even better — you can prep it the night before, keep it in the fridge, and then just pop it in the oven before your Valentine arrives.

Don’t forget dessert: Brownies!

Of course, Valentine’s Day needs something sweet — and Chef Janet also brought brownies for dessert, calling it the perfect ending to a simple at-home date night.