February 14^th is a special day. It goes without saying that we show our love to those in our lives throughout the year but on that day we like to do something extra special. Start of the morning with a breakfast that screams, “I love you.”

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides us with the nutrition we need to make it until lunch time without passing out. There are plenty of suggestions for Valentine’s Day breakfast meals that kids can make for parents or one spouse can make for the other (women do make breakfast for their husbands, too).

Let’s start with casseroles. These are man-friendly breakfast dishes that don’t require too many steps. Most casseroles can be put together ahead of time and baked on demand in the morning.

Most breakfast casseroles contain eggs. They hold the entire meal together. If your sweetie doesn’t like them or doesn’t eat them, you can choose something else to make. Some popular add-ins for casseroles include: sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, chopped peppers, chopped onions, ham, and cheese. Yum!

How about breakfast in bed? We’ve all heard about it and probably thought it was some type of urban legend, but it does happen and Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion. Keep it simple so there’s room on the tray for a rose or a beautiful card.

The centerpiece of that breakfast place can be pancakes or French toast. Metal cookie cutters are placed in the pan and batter poured in to make heart-shaped pancakes. For French toast, it’s easier to cook the toast and then use the heart-shaped cutter to create your loving masterpiece.

Some people don’t like to eat too much in the morning. For them, try a simple breakfast of fruit and toast. Cube their favorite fruit and top with yogurt. Some toast and jam adds substance to the meal. This is a Valentine’s breakfast that would satisfy that vegetarian in your life.

The season is still winter when Valentine’s Day rolls around. If it happens to be a particularly cold morning where you are, try a bit of hot cereal like oatmeal or cream of wheat for that special day. Use honey or syrup to drizzle a sweet “I love you” on the top.

Valentine’s Day is that time when we show the folks we love an extra special good time. This year, start with an invigorating meal that comes from the heart to show them how we feel.

Peanut Butter Cranberry Breakfast Sandwiches

What You Need:

• 1 (15.6 oz) box Cranberry Quick Bread mix
• 1 C water
• 2 T canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 3 T creamy peanut butter
• 1 banana, peeled and slice

How to Make It:

1. Place the oven temperature on 375 and allow the oven to heat up.
2. Spray a loaf pan with a non stick cooking spray and flour being sure to tap out the excess flour.
3. Place the quick bread mix into a mixing bowl.
4. Add the water, oil and egg and whisk until completely.
5. Bake for the amount of time directed on the box.
6. Remove and cool in the pan for 15 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling for 1 hour.
7. Cut 8 slices from the cooled loaf.
8. Spread the peanut butter on 4 slices of the bread.
9. Layer the bananas on top of the peanut butter.
10. Lay the remaining slices of bread on top of the sandwich.

Serving Size: 4

These make a quick little breakfast sandwich that can be eaten on the run. What better way to show your family how much they are appreciated on Valentine's Day morning.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, most people go out for dinner. If you have a family this can get expensive. Try a few easy recipes to prepare a nice dinner for your loving family in no time.

Crock Pot

Get those slow cookers working. We often use it when we know we’ll be late getting home so dinner will be ready. The slow cooker is an asset on Valentine’s Day also. Most of the crock pots on the market today have a removable inner pot that is fashionable enough to serve at the table.

Cooking with a crock pot will free you up to do other fun Valentine’s Day things instead of standing in the kitchen. Some meal ideas for the slow cooker: beef roast with vegetables, chicken cacciatore, roasted chicken with vegetables, Swedish meatballs. The crock pot can be set to cook slowly (ten hours) or a bit faster (4 hours).

Cook-ahead meals

Dinner can be harried even on Valentine’s Day. Watching boiling pots and hot skillets not to mention something in the oven can absolutely fry your brain. Free your mind to enjoy this day of love by trying a dish that is easy to prepare ahead of time and just needs to be baked on Valentine’s Day.

Casseroles are the easiest make-ahead dishes. They can feature beef, chicken, or pork. Even fish like salmon or tilapia can be marinated and dressed the day before and wrapped in foil to bake on Valentine’s Day. Avoid adding milk or eggs before you are ready to cook the meal. If the dish calls for cooked meat, cook and cube the meat the day before and combine all ingredients in the casserole dish when you are ready to pop it in the oven.

Five or Fewer Ingredients

Another alternative to the slow cooker or cooking ahead is using a recipe that has five or fewer ingredients. When you have fewer ingredients, prep time is cut dramatically. While the food is baking you can occupy yourself with spending time with the family.

With so few ingredients, kids can even help with dinner. To further cut preparation time, if anything such as vegetables need to be cubed, diced, or sliced so that the day before and refrigerate them.

Pasta dishes fall into this category. Besides the pasta, you usually have sauce and some sort of meat or seafood. The pasta, sauce, and meat can all cook at the same time which saves time.

On Valentine’s Day, you want to be occupied with family and/or your sweetie. Slaving in the kitchen is not in the game plan. With a little pre-planning, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time having fun.

Mom Loves You Drumsticks

What You Need:

• 1 T ginger juice
• 1 T honey
• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 2 C canola oil
• 4 T corn flour
• 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 4 T breadcrumbs

How to Make It:

1. Place the ginger juice into a sealable plastic bag big enough to hold all the drumsticks.
2. Add the honey to the bag and seal.
3. Shake the bag until the ingredients are mixed together well.
4. Add the drumsticks, seal and refrigerate 4 hours.
5. Place the canola oil into a deep fryer or large heavy sauce pan and bring the temperature to 365 degrees.
6. Remove the drumsticks from the bag and throw away the bag.
7. Roll each drumstick through the corn flour.
8. Dip them into the egg and then roll them through the breadcrumbs being sure to completely cover the drum stick.
9. Place 2 drumsticks into the fryer at a time and fry 5 minutes or until a golden crispy brown on the outside.
10. Allow the heat of the oil to come back to 365 degrees before adding any more drumsticks.
11. Drain on a paper towel and allow them to cool before serving.

Serving Size: 4

What child doesn't enjoy a good chicken leg? Give them these for lunch or dinner with a little honey and brown sugar dipping sauce and watch them eat every bite.

Kids like to celebrate Valentine’s Day just like adults. Even if you have ideas about romantic plans for the evening, consider having dinner with the kids. Here are some ideas for a great dinner with the entire family.

Kids love to cook. It is an opportunity for them to make a mess and not get in trouble for it. Let them help with the dinner on Valentine’s Day. They probably have a few ideas for the meal.

Don’t expect a full seven course meal. Besides the fact that it takes too long to prepare, kids have simpler tastes than that. And, if you want to get them to bed at a decent hour so you still have time to spend together, choose a dish with minimal preparation.

Italians are known for love. Try an Italian dish for Valentine’s Day. Instead of ordering from Domino’s, create a pizza at home. Using a store-bought crust, roll it out and cut it into the shape of a heart. The heart will have to be exaggerated because once the dough rises the pizza will spread out and not look like a heart anymore.

Italians are also big on spaghetti. It takes about thirty minutes at the most to put together a spaghetti dinner. Add a salad for a filling meal to celebrate the holiday.

Burgers and fries are a simple meal but one that kids and the entire family can enjoy. Get the grill going or a grill pan. After the burgers are done, place them on a bun and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to turn those ordinary burgers into lovin’ from the grill.

When it comes to family, the meal will be special because it involves everyone celebrating their love together. For parents, a dinner complete with some of your child’s favorite dishes will make them smile. Family dinners on Valentine’s Day can be eclectic-the meal doesn’t have to have one theme but can be a combination.

Allow each person in the family to make a dish for the dinner. They can come up with their own idea of what to surprise everyone with for dinner. The kids will need your help shopping for what they need and using the stove, but you can still act surprised when they bring their finished creation to the table.

Valentine’s Day dinner for the family offers an opportunity to express sentiments of love to each member of your family. With busy schedules, making time to celebrate love together is a rare treat.

Sinister Pork Chops in a Snap

What You Need:

• 1 t cumin

• 1 t chili powder

• 4 boneless pork chops

• 1 T canola oil

• 1 1/4 C mild salsa

• 1 t baking cocoa

• 1/8 t cinnamon

• 2 T cilantro, minced

• 1 green onion, chopped

How to Make It:

1. Place the cumin and chili powder together in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

2. Rub the pork chops with the mixture on both sides.

3. Place the canola oil into a large skillet over medium heat and allow it to heat up.

4. Place the pork chops into the hot oil and brown 4 minutes.

5. Turn and continue browning 3 minutes.

6. Place the salsa, cocoa and cinnamon into another small bowl and whisk to combine.

7. Pour over the chops in the skillet and bring the mixture to a brisk boil.

8. Reduce the heat to low and cook 10 minutes or until the meat is fork tender.

9. Be sure to turn the chops once and stir the mixture a couple of times during cooking.

10. Remove the chops to a serving plate and sprinkle the cilantro and green onion over the tops.

Serving Size:  4

This recipe works for a fast Valentine's Day dinner.  They only take about 20 minutes to prepare and cook. They are also a spicy touch to your Valentine's Day dinner.  Leave off the rub if you believe they are too spicy. 

Romance Me Lemon Broccoli

What You Need:

• 1 bunch broccoli, cut into spears

• 1/2 C sour cream

• 3 T milk

• 1 t lemon juice

• 1/2 t lemon peel, grated

How to Make It:

1. Place the broccoli into a steamer basket and place the basket over a saucepan filled with 1 inch of water.

2. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the water to a brisk boil.

3. Cover the basket and steam the broccoli 6 minutes or until crisp tender.

4. Place the sour cream into a small microwavable bowl.

5. Add the milk and lemon juice and whisk to combine.

6. Place the lemon peel into the mixture and stir to incorporate.

7. Microwave uncovered on 50% power for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until the mixture is heated through.

8. Transfer the broccoli to a serving bowl and pour the sauce over the top.

Serving Size:  4

This is a quick but scrumptious vegetable you can make for your Valentine’s Day dinner.  Sprinkle a little paprika over the sauce for that Valentine touch. 

Cupid's Paprika Potato Wedges

What You Need:

• 3 large baking potatoes

• 1/4 C canola oil

• 2 t paprika

• 1 t salt

• 1/2 t pepper

• 2 T Parmesan cheese, grated

How to Make It:

1. Place the oven temperature on 425 degrees and allow the oven to heat while preparing the potatoes.

2. Line a baking pan with foil then spray the foil with a non stick cooking spray.

3. Wash the potatoes under cold water then pat dry.

4. Cut each potato into 8 even size wedges.

5. Place the oil, paprika, salt and pepper into a sealable plastic bag.

6. Seal and shake to mix the ingredients together.

7. Add the potatoes and reseal.

8. Shake until all the potatoes are covered well.

9. Remove the potatoes and place skin side down in the prepared baking pan.

10. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over all the potatoes.

11. Bake 35 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

Serving Size:  6

These potato wedges make a great side dish for any Valentine's Day meal.  Serve them with a little sour cream or salsa and your loved ones will be in seventh heaven. 

Bacon Laced Fruit Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

What You Need:

1. 3 T butter, room temperature

2. 2 T sugar

3. 1 1/2 t cinnamon, divided

4. 1/2 t red pepper, divided

5. 4 slices whole wheat bread, remove the crust

6. 1/2 C canola oil

7. 2 green onions, chopped fine

8. ½ C raisins

9. 1/4 C apple cider

10. 2 T apple cider vinegar

11. 1/2 t salt

12. 1/4 t pepper

13. 1 (10 oz) salad greens

14. 1 pear, cored and sliced thin

15. 1 apple, cored and sliced thin

16. 4 pieces of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

17. 1/4 C walnuts, toasted

18. 1/4 C Swiss cheese, shredded

How to Cook It:

1. Place the oven temperature on 400 degrees and allow it to heat while preparing thecroutons.

2. Place the butter in a mixing bowl.

3. Add the sugar, 1 t of cinnamon and 1/4 t of the red pepper.

4. Mix together until well blended.

5. Spread the slices of bread with the mixture.

6. Place the bread of a baking sheet and bake 8 minutes turning once or until the bread is toasted to your liking.

7. Remove the toasted bread and allow it to cool to room temperature then cut into bite size pieces.

8. Place the oil in a skillet over medium heat.

9. Add the green onions and stirring occasionally cook 3 minutes or until tender.

10. Put the raisins in the skillet and stir to incorporate with the onions.

11. Pour in the apple cider and vinegar.

12. Sprinkle in the salt, pepper, the remaining cinnamon and the remaining red pepper.

13. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and cook until heated through about 5 minutes.

14. Place the salad greens into a large salad bowl.

15. Add the sliced pears and apples and toss to combine.

16. Pour the warm dressing over the salad and toss to cover the salad well.

17. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon, walnuts, cheese and croutons over the top just before serving.

Serving Size:  4

This is a warm and loving salad that you can serve with your Valentine’s Day dinner. You can use grapes cut in half instead of the raisins just add them in with the pears and apples. The walnuts can also be replaced with pecans or almonds if you prefer.

Fun Printable Cards And Activities is a collection of:

    * Printable Baby Shower Invitations

    * Printable Birthday Cards

    * Printable Birthday Invitations

    * Printable Bridal Shower Invitations

    * Printable Calendars

    * Printable Christmas Cards

    * Printable Coloring Pages

    * Printable Father's Day Cards

    * Printable Games

    * Printable Get Well Cards

    * Printable Halloween Cards

    * Printable Special Occasion Cards

    * Printable Invitations

    * Printable Love Cards

    * Printable Party Invitations

    * Printable Puzzles

Go To Fun Printable Cards And Activities now and have a look

Everyone used to look forward to Valentine’s Day. They got to eat sweets from their sweetie. We are trying to be a bit more health conscious these days so that holidays won’t show in our bodies. If you want to indulge in a sweet treat on Valentine’s Day, make room for it with a healthier meal.

It is not too hard to sneak in a few healthy additions to the meal that your loved ones won’t mind at all. Whether it is a romantic dinner for two, family dinner, or a couples’ dinner party, employ some savvy to come up with a leaner meal.

 Start off with a healthy snack that everyone can eat while dinner is baking. Instead of cookies and candies, put out a tray of veggies and fruit. The vegetables can be jazzed up with a vegetable cream cheese or Ranch dressing. For the fruit, use flavored fruit dip. Yogurt flavors like strawberry, peach, or blueberry work well also as a dip.

Get rid of the hot wings for appetizers and opt instead for chicken chunks breaded with Shake-n-Bake or regular breadcrumbs. Cubing boneless, skinless chicken breasts and rolling them in batter saves a lot of calories. Serve them with hot pepper sauce or regular hot sauce and your metabolism will rev up from the heat.

Toss a salad to go with dinner. Instead of store bought croutons on the top, use cubed pieces of wheat bread. Wash them with a little butter or reduced fat margarine and pop them into the oven to bake. They still add crunch to the salad with less fat than regular croutons. Even better would be to sprinkle the salad with shelled sunflower seeds to add crunch.

Soups are a great way to hide lots of vegetables for those who don’t take a shine to them. for Valentine’s Day, serve a simple soup like potato, vegetable, chicken noodle, or tomato. What soup you serve will depend on the meal. The point is that soup helps to fill you up without eating a lot of it.

 Now for the meal. It is hard to eat healthy sometimes, especially if there is a holiday celebration going on. Well, Valentine’s Day is no different. Stick with recipes that use lean cuts of beef, pork, or chicken. Seafood can also be used.

Opt for lower fat ingredients in your recipes. If the main course recipe calls for heavy cream, substitute with half and half or light cream. Substitute margarine with butter. Avoid using too much salt. Use saltless seasonings to add flavor to the meal.

 Let your healthy meals extend to Valentine’s Day. After all, we are supposed to show love to those who mean the world to us. Keep their heart healthy.

Kids love to cook. They especially love to cook sweet treats that they can gobble down later. Here are some ideas for Valentine’s Day desserts kids will enjoy making and eating.

Everybody loves chocolate or at least they should. Recent research shows that eating a little chocolate is good for you. Don’t tell your kids though, or they’ll never let you forget it.

Valentine’s Day was made for chocolate. Let the kids make some chocolate cupcakes. For most cake and cupcake recipes, it is easy to throw in a bit of melted chocolate for an extra sweet tasting dessert. Top them with icing fit for the occasion—red or pink.

Jell-O has been a kid favorite since it was introduced to the world. Turn the popular treat into a Valentine’s Day treat with some cookie cutters. Cookie cutters shaped like hearts, kissing lips, cupid, or letters create holiday cut-outs for the kids. Let the kids cut the shapes after the gelatin has set.

Kids love to decorate with icing and sprinkles and candy. If you make cupcakes, brownies, or cake for them this Valentine’s Day, let them decide how the finished confections will look. Put the icing in a bag designed for that purpose so the kids can pipe the icing through to create words or pictures on the dessert. A plastic storage bag with a small hole cut into the corner works just as well as a cake decorating bag.

Cookies go well with any holiday. For Valentine’s Day, use sugar cookies. With sugar cookies, they can be topped with icing, sugar, and sprinkles. Try to get sprinkles shaped like hearts. Our tried and true cookie cutters can be used again to cut the chilled dough into the same shapes as the gelatin treats.

How about a dessert pizza? Using cookie dough, roll it out to the shape and diameter of a large pizza. Follow package instructions for baking the cookie. Once it’s done and cooled, top with icing. White or vanilla icing can be tinted pink or darker with some red food coloring. Then, let the kids top the dessert pizza with their favorite candies. Plain M&M’s, candy sprinkles, and other chewy sweets can top the pizza.

Try a new twist on some dessert favorites. Add large candy hearts to the top of cupcakes.  Create a cake shaped like cupid. Use heart-shaped foil cups to bake brownies. All of these ideas are easy enough for your kids to help you create them.

Feed that sweet tooth with some great treat ideas this year. Your kids might have a few ideas of their own to add to the pot for more Valentine’s Day fun.

Valentine Red Cupcakes

What You Need:

• 3 eggs at room temperature for 30 minutes

• 3/4 C butter at room temperature for 30 minutes

• 3 C flour

• 2 t unsweetened cocoa powder

• 3/4 t salt

• 2 1/4 C sugar

• 1 1/2 t vanilla

• 2 T red food coloring

• 1 1/2 C buttermilk

• 1 1/2 t baking soda

• 1 1/2 t vinegar

• Powdered sugar

• Conversation heart candies

How to Make It:

• Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees and allow the oven to heat while making the batter.

• Spray two twelve cup muffin tins with a non stick cooking spray and sprinkle both with a little flour tapping out any excess.

• Place the flour, cocoa powder and the salt together in a mixing bowl and toss to combine.

• Place the butter in a separate mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. 

• Add the sugar and the vanilla and continue to beat until all the ingredients are incorporated together.

• Add the eggs one at a time beating after each egg addition until they are incorporated into the mixture.

• Add the food coloring and beat on the low speed until combined.

• Alternating back forth between the flour and buttermilk add them to the butter mixture beating on low speed after each addition until both have been added.

• Place the baking soda in a small bowl and stir in the vinegar.

• Add the mixture to the batter and beat on low speed until just combined.

• Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tins filling each cup 2/3 full.

• Bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle come out clean.

• Remove and cool to room temperature.

• Place a heart shaped cookie cutter on top of each cupcake.

• Sprinkle powdered sugar carefully inside each cutter.

• Remove the cutter and place 1 conversation heart candy in the middle of the powdered sugar heart. 

Serving Size:  24

You can make 12 jumbo cupcakes out of this batter if you prefer.  The baking time will change to 20 minutes but the rest of recipe remains the same.