Sara Ella

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas

Plus Valentine Library Winner Announced!

Happy Heart Day, everyone! I know many of you may be getting ready to go out for a romantic evening tonight, but for us, Valentine’s Day has become more of a day for the whole family to enjoy. Our wedding anniversary is close to Valentine’s Day, so I don’t really mind making it more about the kids. If this sounds like you, I’ve put together a few easy, last minute, Valentine’s Day ideas, just in case you’re scrambling for something to do.

“Pretty in Pink” Heart Pancakes

What you’ll need:
Bisquick(or any pancake mix you have)
2 Eggs and 1 c. milk (called for on the box)
Red Food Coloring
Heart shaped cookie cutter
Vanilla Baking Chips
Optional Toppings:
Strawberries, Powdered Sugar, Syrup, Whipped Cream
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1. <!–[endif]–>Preheat griddle or pan. I just use a stove top griddle and set the temperature to medium.

2. Follow the directions on the back of the box of Bisquick for pancakes. I like to follow the recipe for Supreme, which includes sugar, baking powder, and vanilla. I think this makes for extra delicious pancakes,go the extra mile and follow the recipe for Supreme pancakes, which has you add but it’s totally up to you if you want to add this step.

 

3.  Add 2-3 drops of red food coloring to your pancake batter, Mix until pink.
4. Drop batter (I use an ice cream scoop) onto preheated griddle. Take the vanilla chips and sprinkle a few on each pancake before flipping. (I use this  method rather than mixing the chips in with the batter since not everyone in my house likes the chips in their pancakes).
<!–[if !supportLists]–>5.    <!–[endif]–>Flip pancakes once edges have set. (For me, each side

takes 2-3 minutes on medium heat)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>6.     <!–[endif]–>Remove pancakes from griddle and use your heart cutter to make heart shaped pancakes (note: I don’t like to waste the scraps so either my husband or I eat these. The heart shapes are really more for my daughter)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>7.     <!–[endif]–>Add desired toppings. My four-year-old loves when I make a smiley face out of her food.

 

This recipe is quick and easy and can be modified anyway you like. You can leave out the food coloring and just make heart shapes, exchange the vanilla chips for chocolate chips, or use a butter knife to cut the heart shapes if you don’t have a cookie cutter. Already had breakfast? Why not make pancakes for lunch or dinner as a special Valentine’s Day treat? Your kids will love it and it will give you a break from having to prepare something more time consuming.

Be My Valentine Banner

What you’ll need:
Scissors
Glue
Hole Punch
Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
Pink or Red Construction Paper
String or Curling Ribbon
Balloons (optional)
Banner Template (click the link)printed on white paper (if your kids are older or super creative you can use this Blank Template)

<!–[if !supportLists]–>1.      <!–[endif]–>Print the banner template. Depending on what you want your banner to say will determine on how many copies you will need. I needed 13 flags so I made
four copies (2 flags per page) for “Be My Valentine”.

5.  Punch a hole in each top corner of your flag, then thread your string or ribbon through the holes (making sure the ribbon goes across the back of each flag).

    2.  Have your kids color the flags using crayons, markers or colored pencils. Allow them time to be creative!

    3.  Once the flags are colored, cut them out. Take the pink or red construction paper and cut out enough hearts so there is one for each flag. The easiest way to cut a heart is to fold the paper in half, then cut out half a heart. When you unfold it, both sides of the heart will be equal. Glue a paper heart at the center of
each flag.

   4.  Write one letter of your banner on each heart. You could do “Be My Valentine” like we did, or you could do ‘I Love You” or “Happy Valentine’s Day”.
6.   To separate our 3 words I tied balloons between them. This is not necessary, but is an option if you have balloons lying around like I did.
  7. Hang your banner where

everyone can see it! Your kids will love

showing off their work, plus this activity will keep them occupied while you steal some kisses from your hubby.

 

Heart Pizza

What you’ll need:
1 Pkg. Pillsbury Pizza Dough (located where the biscuits and cresent rolls are in the dairy section)
Flour
2 Tbs. Butter
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Salt
½ c. Tomato Sauce
1-2 c. Mozzarella Cheese
Toppings: Pepperoni, Onion, Pineapple, Bacon, Sausage or anything else you like
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1.      <!–[endif]–>Preheat Oven to 400°
<!–[if !supportLists]–>2.     <!–[endif]–>Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. My husband happens to be a baker so we just used some leftover dough he brought home, but it will work them same with the Pillsbury dough.

3.  <!–[endif]–>Take a butter knife (or pizza cutter) and cut a large heart shape out of the rectangle of dough.

4. Take the excess dough and roll it into a “rope” of dough. Trim the edges of your heart with this for the crust so your toppings don’t fall off.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>5.    <!–[endif]–>Carefully move prepared dough to a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>6.     <!–[endif]–>Melt the butter in a microwave safe dish. Use a basting brush to “paint” the butter onto the edges of your pizza crust. Sprinkle with desired amount of Italian Seasoning and Garlic Salt.
7.     Spoon tomato sauce onto your heart. We don’t like a lot of sauce
(4-5 tablespoons) , but you can use however much you like.

8.     Add cheese. We like A LOT of cheese so I used the entire 2 cups. Use as much or as little as you like!

9. Add desired toppings. We did half a pineapple and Canadian bacon pizza, and half pepperoni and onion. If you have a large family you may want to double the recipe and do two different pizzas.

You can switch this up however you like! The great thing about pizza is you can modify according to what you have in your

fridge. Use cheddar cheese instead of mozzarella or substitute BBQ sauce
for the tomato and put chicken on top instead of pepperoni. Just have fun!

 

10. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Ours took 20 minutes. Depending on your altitude, it make take more or less time. I always say, set your timer for the least amount of time, then check it. You can always cook it a few minutes longer but you can’t un-burn something. Once it’s done, let it cool a few minutes, then slice, serve, and enjoy!

 
Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions you share with your family? If so, I’d love to hear all about them!

 

Also, congratulations to Ebmommy Marina.
You won the Valentine Library from Tommy Nelson!

 

It is my wish that you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, always remembering that Christ’s love is the greatest love of all.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (NIV)
Yours in Christ,

S

 

 

 

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