February — the month of chocolates, roses, and lots of LOVE!
Let’s face it — before the kids, perhaps — you and your sweetie celebrated Valentine’s Day with a fancy dinner, wine, candlelight, and roses. After kids, the definition of “fancy dinner” expands to include anything that doesn’t involve pizza, pasta, or chicken fingers. Now, romantically dimmed lighting may just induce sleep in exhausted parents. Here are some ideas on how you can still make Feb. 14 a special day.
Some parents opt for a baby-sitter and make an effort for the holiday, because it’s important to take those opportunities to connect as a couple, especially after you have kids. I always say “Happy Parents = Happy Kids.” So, I like the idea of a family date. Have fun with it by getting dressed up in a special outfit (even if this means a superhero costume for your 5-year-old), bring flowers for everyone or a homemade card, pick somewhere special for dinner (it can be your favorite local restaurant), and just enjoy being together on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day can be a wonderful opportunity to remind all of our loved ones (not only our sweethearts) how glad we are that they’re in our lives. I try and take advantage of Valentine’s Day to create some fun, special traditions as a family that my boys will remember forever. I love starting the day off with a DeLysscious, yummy breakfast. I love making heart-shaped pancakes and waffles and serving them with strawberries on top and lots of whipped cream (or whiffed cream, as my 6-year-old says).
I also love to give the boys homemade Valentine’s Day cards in their lunchboxes if they have school that day (and yes, I make Valentine’s Day-themed lunches with sandwiches in the shapes of hearts) special hugs, and kiss-shaped cookies, and, of course, some chocolate in each lunch box. Have you ever made Rice Krispie treats in the shapes of hearts? That’s also a fun and easy idea. You can make them with the children, and they can bring them to school for a special class snack. (Teachers will also enjoy them.)
I love having my boys make homemade Valentine’s Day cards for their grandparents, dad, teachers, and friends. It gives us a change to get creative and use many of our fun arts-and-crafts materials. I love bringing out the glitter pens and puff-paint pens for the boys to decorate the cards with, and, of course, let’s not forget the fun stickers.
I also love baking together with them. Try making a “hearty” dessert together. What do you get when you mix graham cracker crumbs and chocolate morsels? Love at first bite. Earn brownie points this Valentine’s — or any other day — with this recipe for Sweetheart Brownies, which are fun and easy to make with the kids.
Sweetheart brownies
INGREDIENTS
Makes eight to 12 servings
36 2-inch graham crackers
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (don’t use evaporated milk)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
16-ounce package semisweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (325 for glassware). While you generously grease an 8-inch, square baking pan, put your kids to work crushing the graham crackers into fine crumbs. It’s especially easy and fun if you seal the crackers in a plastic bag and then use a rolling pin.
Stir together the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the chocolate morsels, pecans, and graham cracker crumbs and mix with a wooden spoon until well blended.
Spoon the batter (it will be very stiff) into the greased pan. Use the back of a wooden spoon (or clean hands) to pat the batter into an even layer. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan.
Use a cookie cutter or a butter knife to cut out small (these brownies are rich!) heart shapes. Serve alone or warm them and pair ‘em with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or raspberry sherbet. They’ll melt in your mouth!
Of course, nothing can melt your heart faster than a misspelled, gluey “Be My Valentine” card from your little one. Wishing you a happy and #FabULyss Valentine’s Day!
Lyss Stern is the founder of DivaLysscious Moms (www.divamoms.com).
