Looking Ahead to Valentine's Day

Valentine treat ideas for the younger crowd.  

I was happy to find these Valentine Peeps at Michaels Craft Store. I noted their supply was low so glad I shopped early. I thought this Valentine idea quite clever. The treat can be fixed in microwave just like a smore with a peep, piece of chocolate and a graham cracker. 

Valentine Puppy Chow

Recipe idea from Betty Crocker Kitchens 

Ingredients:

• 4-1/2 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 1/2 cup vanilla baking chips
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 TB. butter
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
•  1/3 cup red, pink, white M and M's
• 2 TB. red or pink jimmies sprinkles

Directions:

• Place cereal in a bowl-microwave vanilla chips, peanut butter and butter on High 1 minute and 30 seconds,stir every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth
• Pour peanut butter over cereal until evenly coated
• Place 1/2 of cereal mixture in a large plastic bag, add powdered sugar, seal bag and shake to coat
• Spread on wax paper and cool 15 minutes
• Stir candies and sprinkles into rest of cereal mixture and then combine both cereal mixtures
• Store in an airtight container

Serving Suggestion: Divide puppy chow into decorative cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon

Valentine Cookie Tucked into a Paper Doily Decorated Bag Tied with Twine

Valentine Melon Hearts Created with a Cookie Cutter

Valentine Rice Krispy Treats 

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Revisiting Room 13

We declared the bird seed project a success on Day 2.

Birds will love their valentine treat especially this time of the year with food supply scarce. Some last minute observations which I went back and included in the original directions from posting February 3, 2014. 

1.Plastic cookie cutters do not work for this project. We placed birdseed in plastic cutter and it would not hold its shape. 

2. Make sure straw goes all the way through birdseed mixture for hole to use for threading twine

3. Thick twine from a craft store was used for the hanger. To thread twine easily through hole add a little scotch tape at one end and twist tight (like you might do for an end of a shoelace).  

4. After 24 hours gently press shape out of cutter and then turn over to air dry several more hours.

My cookie cutter (a Minnesota shape) is currently in the freezer. Check back tomorrow for posting observation.