If you’ve got kids, chances are the nights of champagne-filled romantic meals at a fancy restaurant in honor of Valentine’s Day are probably over. If not, lucky you - keep the romance going. Even if you do get a chance to duck out for an adults-only Valentine’s Day with your sweetie, don’t forget to do something special with your kids. Kids get excited about every holiday (my son is even trying to institute a celebration of half-birthdays - oh my) and I have found that the smallest gestures are where family traditions are born. Typically it’s the little things that your kids will remember, not the grand efforts (which would explain why my daughters struggle to remember our trip to Disneyland a few years back when really they were too young to appreciate it, yet they love to recall the night they had ice cream sundaes for dinner when my husband was out of town - go figure).
Here are some fun quick ideas for ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids:
Sweets for the sweets: When I was growing up, on Valentine’s Day my mom would always secretly leave a little chocolate on my pillow for me to find after school with a note - sometimes it would just would say love, Mom. I do the same with my kids and they love it. Sometimes if I have an extra minute I will write a few things I love about my son or daughters in their note - or if not, a heart with Mom in the middle is just as effective.
Get crafty: Forget the commercial character-themed valentines from the store - the cutest valentines are home made. Pink or red hearts cut out of construction paper and decorated are fun and easy for kids. If your kids are too little to cut by themselves, you can be in charge of cutting and they can handle decorating duties. You can mail or give the hearts to grandparents, aunts and uncles, special friends, etc. Help your child come up with a top ten list for mom or dad or special person to include with the valentine (i.e. the top ten things I love about Mom).
Creative cooking:
Whip up a batch of heart-shaped pancakes (spray a heart shaped cookie cutter and place on greased griddle - pour your favorite pancake batter in and once bubbles show on the pancake surface, remove cutter and flip. Alternately, you can cook regular pancakes and cut out the hearts with a cookie cutter after they are cooked and off the griddle).
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Baking something sweet is a sure way to anyone’s heart. Heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink icing and sprinkles (try this recipe submitted by a rachaelray.com reader), heart-shaped rice crispie treats dipped in chocolate (try this method from Joy the Baker), or red velvet cupcakes (again a great Joy the Baker recipe) are fun and and a delicious way to commemorate the day.
Try a red-themed dinner with your favorite pasta with red sauce or pizza. Here are just some of Rachael’s red recipes:
Mini Deep Dish Pizzas (extra fun - made with refrigerated biscuit dough!)
The Ultimate Spaghetti and Meatballs Supper
What are your family’s Valentine’s Day traditions? Share them here!
02.05.10 @ 2:50 pm
I truly love your show. I’ve been a fan of yours since $40 a day and 30 minute meals. I’ve also subscribed to your magazine. Rachael, I need to tell you though, the animal segments are boring. They are just not my thing. I’m an educated woman and I value variety in your show, but just because other talk shows have animals (ie. almost everyone… the Today show, Oprah, ect) doesn’t mean you have to endure this torture. You’re clearly afraid of some of those creatures.
You’re a fabulous cook! You give people confidence in the kitchen with your explanations, insight, and friendly demeanor. You’re a great asset to the Harpo corp.. That’s owned by Oprah isn’t it? Who cares, you still don’t have to have animal segments.
Bring on the fashion, celebrities, healthy living, human labs, I love the mystery guest taster, and don’t stop cooking!
Keepin’ it real,
Kerri
Minnesota
02.05.10 @ 5:31 pm
Thanks, Plan B Mom, for sharing these tips. We are huge fans of staying in on Valentine’s Day, even before the little one came along. We use it as an excuse to make a dinner that is more expensive than usual! Loved Rach’s recipe for Scallops and Steak with Manhattan Sauce.
02.07.10 @ 12:00 pm
dear rachael
you have a great show and you are a great cook with a wonderful sense of humor. my kids also love your kids segment so they always watch out for it but they sometimes get dissappionted when there is nothing for the kids. pls it will be lovely to always include something for the kids so that d entire family(mom, dad and kids)get to have thier own time on d show.by d way.thanks
zaynab,
nigeria.
02.08.10 @ 5:38 pm
racheal i for one love your shows with the aminals on them you make me laugh when you are afraid of them keep up the good work and cheers to you
02.09.10 @ 3:16 pm
I have watched you forever. You have a wonderful, honest quality about you that I think people really relate to. My son likes watching you too. He is 9 now but has been watching since he was just a little guy. I think you would be great on a show cooking with kids! I can’t think of a show like this. Have guests(everyday kids mostly, not always celebs) and help them learn basic cooking techniques and simple recipes.
02.09.10 @ 9:48 pm
RACHEAL, I LOVE YOUR SHOW, AND I ALSO LOVE THE ANIMALS ESPECIALLY WHEN U ARE SCARED OF THEM. U JUST KEEP ME LAUGHING. U ARE THE BEST THING TO TV IN A LONG TIME. I LOVE THE MAKEOVERS, WHICH I COULD GET ONE. I LOVE GRETA AND WHAT SHE DOES WITH THESE MAKEOVERS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK RACHEAL, WITH ALL THE BAD SHOWS ON TV, YOURS IS A BLESSING TO SEE.KEEP COOKING AND SHOWING US ALL THOSE TIPS. YOU ARE SUCH A LOVELY WOMAN. JOHN IS A LUCKY MAN.
02.11.10 @ 11:19 am
RACHAEL, I LOVE YOUR SHOW I WATCH IT EVERYDAY WHETHER IM AT HOME OR AT WORK. (LOL) I AM JUST TOUCHED AT HOW CARING YOU ARE. YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY JUST TO TOUCH PEOPLES HEARTS. ANYWAYS I THINK YOUR GREAT AS WELL AS YOUR RECIPES. I REALLY ENJOY COOKING THE RECIPES FROM YOUR BOOK. MY MOTHER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SHOW EVERY MORNING. MY BIRTHDAY’S ON THE 18TH OF THIS MONTH AND WHAT I HAD ASKED FOR IS TO COME ON YOUR SHOW. I HOPE IT HAPPENS!
BEVERLY
NEW JERSEY
02.13.10 @ 6:23 am
Hi Rachael,
Just thought I would share another idea for Valentines Day meal. For my childern when they were young (that turned out to be a tradition) was hamburger and fries. Make hamberger patties using a heart shaped cookie cutter, and for the fries, slice potaotes diagonal and use the cutter to make heart shaped fries. What kid doesn’t like that combo?