Valentine's Day at CatholicMom.com

Valentine's Day Menu for Kids of All Ages

by Christy Camburn
© 2004 Child Care Finders
http://www.ChildCareFinders.org

Make this Valentine's Day memorable for kids young and old. Surprise your littlest Valentines or your entire family with these easy to make meals and treats on Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

Breakfast

Heart Shaped Pink Pancakes

Just add red food coloring to your regular pancake batter and pour mixture from a squeeze bottle to make heart or pour into a metal heart shaped cooking cutter directly on to your griddle. Variations include adding white chocolate chips, strawberries or both to the batter. Top with whip cream for a delicious breakfast surprise.

Serve with fresh strawberries and strawberry flavored milk.

Other easy breakfast ideas include:

Strawberry Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal Topped with Cool Whip and red sprinkles served with fresh berries.

Strawberry Waffles
Whether you make these from scratch or out of the freezer, use your imagination. You can add a little extra special Valentine's Day touch simply with strawberries and whipped cream. Mmmmm

Lunch

Valentine Roll-Ups

ingredients:
Flour Tortillas
strawberry cream cheese
thin sliced lunch meat (honey ham is best)
finely shredded Monterey jack cheese
Lettuce (optional)

This is an easy treat to make. Simply add one layer of each ingredient to the tortilla, roll up and slice. Enjoy!

Another easy Valentine's Day Lunch idea is a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut out with a heart shaped cookie cutter.

Dinner

Heart Shaped Homemade Pizza

Ingredients:
Pizza or biscuit dough (sold in tubes the refrigerator section)
Pizza, spaghetti sauce
mozzarella cheese
your favorite toppings

Shape your dough into a heart shape, add sauce, cheese and toppings and bake.

Dessert

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients:
2 dozen large strawberries with stems
12-oz bag of white or milk chocolate chips

Two dozen large strawberries (cleaned with stems)
In a microwave on the defrost setting or ten percent power, melt one 12-oz. bag of chocolate chips (white or milk chocolate). Stir well every minute or so until completely smooth. Dip strawberries into the chocolate by holding the stems. Cover about ¾ of each berry and let excess chocolate drip off. (If you want to add miniature chocolate chips or candies as decoration, add them immediately after dipping) Place the strawberries on waxed paper in the refrigerator to allow chocolate to set. Additionally you may want to melt a contrasting color chocolate chip and drizzle diagonally onto the already made and set chocolate covered strawberries for an added touch of elegance. Refrigerate and serve the same day they are made for best results.

Treats

Valentine Rice Crispy Pops

Ingredients:
1/2 cups Butter
Red food coloring
10 cups Crispy rice cereal
9 cups miniature marshmallows
popsicle sticks
Candy Hearts with messages
12 oz bag of miniature white chocolate chips (optional)

Melt butter and marshmallows and stir until smooth adding small amounts of red food coloring until the desired shade is apparent. In a large bowl combine marshmallow mixture and rice cereal. While warm roll mixture into several balls with buttered hands, shape each into a heart shape, insert popsicle stick at bottom and press on candy hearts. Refrigerate.

Optional:
Dip one corner of each pop into melted white chocolate chips, place on wax paper until set.
Wrap each pop in red cellophane or fold top sandwich baggies and tie with a pink ribbon to serve as Valentine treats to your child's class.

Christy Camburn is a busy mom of three and the editor of ChildCareFinders.org- A website dedicated to parents and child care professionals. For information, ideas, resources, and support Visit Child Care Finders at http://www.ChildCareFinders.org

This article provided by the Family Content Archives at: http://www.Family-Content.com

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