Throw a Valentine's Day Party

Sentimental, sometimes silly, but always sweet, Valentine's Day is a welcome celebration in the midst of winter doldrums. Despite a murky history surrounding the identity of St. Valentine, people have honored the patron saint of love on February 14th since 496 BC by giving flowers, candy, hugs, kisses, and in more recent history, cards.

Since kids love celebrations, favors, and fun foods, why not honor the love in our lives by throwing a Red Hearts Party? Be sure to involve your child in the planning: Ask her to brainstorm food ideas in keeping with the theme. How many red fruits or veggies can you think of? What sandwich combos have red in them? The possibilities are endless. To get this party started, check out our recipes. They're simple, pretty, and tasty enough to fall in love with.

• Party Games & Activites 
• Recipes:
  • Big Heart Tea Sandwiches
  • Jazzy Raspberry Yogurt Hearts
  • Code Red Fruit Salad

Party Tips, Games, and Activities

• Play "how do I love thee?" by asking partygoers to name one thing that they love about each other.
  
  
• Enhance your party with innovative party favor and decoration sets. We love the Valentine Party Box, complete with cups, plates, cutlery, napkins, and balloons, $24.99 (for 10 guests); Neon Heart Bracelet Kits, $5.99 (5 pack); and Valentine Fortune Teller games, $1.29 (12 pack).
  
  
• Serve up some "In the Pink" Punch. Make this beverage sparkle — without adding more sugar — by adding a splash of seltzer to pink lemonade and topping off with Maraschino cherries.
  
  
• See recipes below, or give these other red-infused food combos a try: Add red beans to a salad; serve up tomato soup with baked, heart-shaped tortillas; or create a pesto dip with red peppers. Or try these hearty recipes.
  
  
• Create Valentine crafts: Help kids make mailboxes or puzzles.
  
  
• Read a love-and-kisses picture book.

Recipe: Big Heart Tea Sandwiches

What you need:

• 12 slices sandwich bread (at least 2 per guest)
• Heart-shaped cookie cutters
• Sandwich fillings such as: turkey and cranberry, red pepper hummus, tomato and cheese, strawberry and banana, cream cheese and jelly, pink egg salad (add a little beet juice or food coloring), or apples and white Cheddar cheese

What to do:

1. Set out the ingredients so that everyone can create their own sandwiches.
2. Assemble the sandwiches.
3. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create mini masterpieces!

Recipe: Jazzy Raspberry Yogurt Hearts

What you need:

• 6 containers of raspberry yogurt (this recipe works best with yogurt that has "fruit on the bottom" rather than the smooth and creamy variety)
• fresh raspberries
• chocolate syrup for garnish

What to do:

1. Rinse a double layer of cheese cloth in cold water and wring dry. Line a strainer with the cheese cloth and place over a bowl.
2. Drain the liquid (the whey) from each container of yogurt and stir to incorporate fruit.
3. Pour the yogurt into the strainer and allow to drain overnight or up to 24 hours.
4. Scoop thickened yogurt into heart-shaped molds and refrigerate or freeze.
5. Unmold and serve with raspberries and chocolate drizzle-yum!

Recipe: Code Red Fruit Salad

What you need:

• 1½ cups red grapes, halved
• 1½ cups raspberries
• 1½ cups strawberries, rinsed and quartered
• 1½ cups seedless watermelon, cut into bite-sized cubes
• ½ cup whole-grain heart-shaped breakfast cereal (such as Kashi Heart to Heart)

What to do:

1. In a large bowl, combine the cut fruit.
2. Just before serving, sprinkle with heart cereal for fun and crunch. Garnish with chopped fresh mint if desired. Serves 6.