Valentine's Day Recipes for Children

Want an easy way to make something to show your family how much you love them on Valentine's Day? Here are some suggestions to get you started! :D Valentine meals are so much fun to make and share that I've written down ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts that we like to create! The recipes are written so older children can make the foods on their own, and younger children will be able to do with an adult helper.

Children, if you are reading this alone, please always check with your parents first to make sure it is okay that you create something in the kitchen. Gather your ingredients together before starting to make it go smoother. You will also know if you have all of the ingredients on hand before you start. It's frustrating when you start to cook something, then find out you are out of one ingredient! :)

Cleanup! ~ Sorry kids, but as a mom I have to remind you to clean up and put away all the supplies you use in your cooking fun when you are done. Trust me, if you do, it will be a great Valentine's present for your Mom and Dad, and they may allow you to cook more often when they see how responsible you are!

Happy Valentine's Day 2015!!

Special Thanks to Steve (tagsforkids) for the awesome graphic!

A Lovely Pink Drink

This is an easy one! Either make strawberry milk (Nesquik has a powder and syrup to add to milk) or add a few drops of red food coloring to the milk and stir. ~ If you prefer juice in the morning, pour a glass of cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, or other type of a fruit blend juice!

Frozen Fruity Fun!

Pour red fruit juice into a popsicle mold to make a cool snack for later in the day! ~ Use a heart or regular shaped ice cube tray to make frozen fruity juice-cubes to put into drinks or as a snack.

Cupid's True Love Salad

See the lunch section below for directions. :)

Heart Toast

Simply toast a couple pieces of bread, butter them, shake on some red or pink sprinkles, and cut out the center of the toast with a heart shaped cookie cutter!

Valentine Eggs

*With any stove cooking, please have your adult helper near by! :) Using a heart shape mold (see below) or metal cookie cutter, make your favorite types of eggs!

Sunny-Side-Up Eggs: Place the mold or cutter on a frying pan and preheat the pan. Crack open your egg and drop it into the mold. Cook until desired firmness. Carefully use a spatula to lift the egg out and onto the plate. Tip: I find it easier to cook and remove eggs when the mold has been sprayed with cooking oil.

Omlet: Place the mold or cutter on a frying pan and preheat the pan. Mix 1 cup milk and 1 egg per person in a large mixing bowl. Optional: add cheese, chopped vegetables, salt, pepper, or other seasonings in the mixture to suit your tastes. Pour some of the mixture into the heart shaped mold. When edges are a little dry, carefully remove the mold and use your spatula to flip the omlet over to cook the other side.

Layers of Love Breakfast Sandwich

With your heart shaped toast and eggs from above, create a yummy breakfast sandwich! Start with a piece of toast on a plate, place a heart shaped egg on the bread, layer a piece of heart shaped cheese, and top it off with another piece of toast! Optional: add a layer of bacon or sausage to your sandwich.

Cupidcakes

Mix pancake batter as labeled on a box of Bisquik or other complete pancake mix brand. You may use a heart-shaped mold or cookie cutter to help shape it, or make regular circular shapes. Place cooked pancakes on a plate. Spray whipped cream on top in a heart shape. Fill the center of the 'heart' with strawberries.

Twisted Heart Bread

This is a little harder to make, but looks tasty! Watch the video and follow the directions below to make some yummy cinnamon bread for breakfast or as a dessert for later in the day.

Consider neatly setting them on a plate or tray to serve breakfast in bed to your family.

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Want an easy way to make something to show your family how much you love them on Valentine's Day? Here are some suggestions to get you started! :D Valentine ...

A Lovely Pink Drink

Pour a glass of cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, or other type of a fruit blend juice! Add some heart shaped ice you made this morning!

Cupid's True Love Salad

Cut about 1 cup of your favorite red fruits into small pieces and place them into a bowl. Please ask an adult helper to assist you in cutting. Add a 32 ounce container of vanilla yogurt to the bowl and mix thoroughly. If you would like your yogurt to be pink, add a couple drops of red food coloring and mix. Serves 4-5 people. Add more fruit or yogurt to your taste. Suggested "red" fruits would be strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, red apples, and cranberries.

Layers of Love Lunch Sandwich

Cut out two pieces of bread with a heart cookie cutter or other Valentine shape. Spread butter or margarine on one side of each piece of bread. Have your adult helper at the stove with you, please. On a pre-heated frying pan, place the layers:

* one piece of bread butter side down,

* one slice of your favorite cheese,

* a slice or two of your favorite lunch meat - ham, bologna, turkey, or whatever you like,

* a few thin slices of tomato,

* and another piece of bread butter side up.

After it has browned a little on one side, carefully flip the sandwich over with a spatula to brown the other side and melt the cheese. Voila!

Rose Petal Soup

Don't worry, you are not going to cook any flowers! Rose Petal Soup is just my silly name for tomato soup! Follow the directions on a can of tomato soup. Most condensed soups ask you to add one canful of water or milk to the tomato paste. Milk tastes better and is more healthy, though. For the "petal" part, add small slices of pepperoni. (My children call this "Pizza Soup"!) You may also like to add seasonings such as oregano, parsley, pepper, and garlic to your preferences. When cooking tomato soup, keep the stove temperature at low or simmer. It will stick to the pan if it gets too high. Stir frequently. Once it is done, pour some into a bowl. Optional: Sprinkle grated mozzerella cheese on top. Grilled cheese sandwiches taste great dipped into tomato soup! Enjoy! :)

Dessert ~ Fruity Frozen Fun!

Enjoy a popsicle you made from the breakfast menu! :)

3 Choices ~ Pick Your Favorite!

Cupid's Bow Strings & Arrows

Salad ~ Ask your adult helper to be with you during veggie cutting. If you want really easy, you may use one of those pre-cut bags of salad. Some even contain salad dressing and croutons. If you want to cut fresh vegatables, start with a head of lettuce. Carefully cut into 1 inch sized pieces and place in your serving bowl. Slice a variety of your other favorite vegatables to put in the salad. Options: carrots, tomato, cuccumber, onion, broccoli, etcetera. Fun things to add on top: shredded cheese, craisins (cranberry raisins), almonds, croutons, bacon, sunflower seeds. Just have fun creating your salad! Pick out a bottle of salad dressing for your salad.

Arrow Bread Sticks ~ Use canned refrigerator biscuit to make the bread stick. The dough may be shaped anyway that you want with a little imagination. Cut off a section of each biscuit to be the triangle part of the arrow. Stretch and form the remainder of the biscuit into a long stick. Attach the triangle to the stick to make it look like Cupid's arrows. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in the microwave oven for 1 minute. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon paprika to the butter and mix thoroughly. Spread the mixture on top of each arrow. Bake as directed on the can. Mine says bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. These may be baking at the same time your spaghetti is boiling unless you want to make them prior to that.

Spaghetti ~ otherwise known as Bowstring! ~ Fill a large pan half way with water, set on the stove, and heat to boiling. Don't forget to have your adult helper near by. :) Read the box to tell you how much spaghetti per person to cook. Add the spaghetti into the water (please be careful, boiling water hurts). Boil the spaghetti for about 10-15 minutes until desired tenderness. While it is cooking, pour a jar of spaghetti sauce into a pan and cook on simmer. Stir both pans frequently to prevent sticking. Set a strainer in the sink. Have your adult helper help pour the spaghetti and hot water into the strainer to drain the water out. Place the spaghetti in a serving bowl and pour the sauce on top. Sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on the top. Serve your meal!

Loving Pot Pie

Heart Biscuits ~ You will need a some canned refrigerator biscuits (like Pillsbury). Shape each one into a heart. Optional Idea: Slice the biscuit in half (horizontally) and place a slice of cheese between the two pieces. Bake as directed on the can.

Sauce ~ Pour a can of cream of mushroom soup and a canful of milk into a saucepan. Start to cook the soup on simmer. Open up a can of tuna fish or chicken and pour out any juices. Add the can of meat into the soup and stir. Add 1/3 cup each of peas and carrots (either canned or frozen). When cooked thoroughly, pour over your biscuit.

"Heart"y Pizza

If you would like to make a homemade crust, there are over 40 pizza crust recipes at cdkitchen. If not, Pillsbury Pizza Crust may be used. Place the dough on a rectangular or circular baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and shape into a heart. Form an edge by pinching it up on the ends. Pour an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce over the crust and spread with a spoon. Place your favorite topping on top of the sauce such as pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, etcetera. Sprinkle parmesan and mozzerella cheeses over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 - 20 minutes until lightly brown.

Give some sugar to your Sweethearts!

There are many wonderful variations of sugar cookie recipes, but this is one that we enjoy.

Prepare

Dry Ingredients ~ 2 - 3/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda

Wet Ingredients ~ 1 cup softened butter (or margarine, but butter tastes better!), 1 - 1/2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 egg

Preheat ~ After getting permission from your parents, set the oven to 375 degrees Farenheit (190 degrees Celcius) to preheat.

Measure & Mix Dry Ingredients ~ Using your small bowl, carefully measure and mix the flour, baking powder, and baking soda together. Set the bowl aside.

Measure & Mix Wet Ingredients ~ Measure your sugar and butter and place them in your large bowl. "Cream" them together - that means mix them until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and continue to blend. Please ask an adult to help you if you use an electric mixer. You may mix it by hand if you prefer.

Combine Wet & Dry ~ Blend the dry ingredients into the wet ones a little at a time. (Too much at once makes it get clumpy and hard to mix.)

Freeze It!! ~ Roll the dough into one large ball, wrap it in plastic wrap or wax paper, and place it in the freezer for about an hour. Freezing it makes it easier to work with later. ~ While you are waiting for your dough to harden, why not give your parents a nice surprise by cleaning up all the supplies you have used so far?

Roll & Cut ~ Place a piece of waxed paper on an open, flat area. Lightly sprinkle flour over the papered work area. Roll the dough out until you have an even flatness. If you want a crispier cookie, roll thin. If you want a chewier cookie, keep it a little thicker. Dip your cookie cutters in flour to help prevent sticking, then cut out your cookie shapes! Using a spatula, place them onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Leave some space between them or they will stick together when baking!

Bake ~ Children ~ Ask your adult helper to place the cookie sheets in and out of the oven for you. Bake your cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until they look a light golden color. *Thin cookies usually take a shorter amount of time to cook than thicker ones, so, keep an eye on them. Use the spatula to carefully take them of the sheet and place on a cooling rack or location. ~ While you are waiting for cookies to bake, roll the extra dough you had from step 8 into a new ball, roll flat, and cut out more cookies. You may have to do this several times depending on the size of your cookies and the amount of cookie sheets you have.

Decorate ~ The best part comes after the cookies have cooled!! Use your creativity to decorate personal cookies for your loved ones! We usually use a container of pre-made icing, but you may make your own if you prefer. (See the links below.) We add a few drops of food coloring to the icing to create the colors we want. There are endless possibilities for decorating: colored sprinkles of all sorts, heart-shaped sprinkles, Valentine's colored M-n-M's, candy hearts, and many other ideas! Just have fun and be creative!

Presentation ~ Present your cookies to your friends and family. They may be simply placed on a tray or plate for a party. To give individually, place a few in a plastic sandwich bag and tie on a Valentine card with ribbon. Or, place cookies in a gift box to give to someone you love! :) Mirkwood Designs has templates for mini gift boxes and cards that you may want to use in your gift giving. ~ Don't forget to save a few for yourself to munch!

More Sweets for your Sweethearts!

Valentine Ice Cream Cookie Treats!

Let a container of ice cream soften a little bit to make it easier to work with. Pick two similar sized and shaped cookies from the above sugar cookie batch. Use a spoon to scoop and shape about an inch layer of your favorite ice cream onto one cookie. Place the other cookie on top. Wrap the cookie in plastic wrap and refreeze to harden until ready to eat!

Chocolate Kiss Surprise!

Make a batch of frozen sugar cookie dough as above. Scoop out golf ball size clumps. Flatten the dough. Place a "Hershey Kiss" or a few chocolate chips in the center and wrap the dough around it. Pour about 1 cup of chocolate milk mix or hot cocoa mix into a large bowl. Cover each cookie with a layer of the cocoa powder. Place the cookies on the cookie sheet and bake as normal.

Valentine Cupcakes & Cake

Valentine Cupcakes and Heart Cakes are always a hit at a party! Children may easily follow directions on any cake mix box to make the cake part. If you don't have a heart shaped pan, you may bake circle and square shaped ones. Cut the circle in half after it cools. Place one semi-circle flat side on a side of the square. Place the other on an adjacent side. When you spread the icing over it, it will look like a one piece heart!! Decorating is awesome! Use different color icings, sprinkles, and candies on your edible artwork!

Extra Recipes to Try

~ Martha Stewart shares her recipe for 'Ideal Sugar Cookies' and 'Royal Icing' in print and on video for those who prefer to watch as you cook.

~ Find almost 50 varities of Sugar Cookies at Cookie Recipes including ones for crispy or soft, lollipop, sour cream, lemon, and my favorite, chocolate mint!!

~ Another sugar cookie recipe with Step by Step Pictures is at Popular Cookie Recipes/

~ Sugar Cookie & Icing Recipes and Great Cookie Baking Tips are found at Moms Who Think.