Scouring the internet for ideas for a Valentine’s party? Valentine’s Day is not known for its dedication to superb nutrition, but it can be a great time to create lovely goodies for friends and family.
But first, what does cooking teach your kids? For one, it teaches them about nutrition. As they work with you to create meals or treats, they get to know what’s important about a meal. After many long discussions, my daughter now knows about carbohydrates, protein, fat, fruits and vegetables, and why each of them is important at different times.
Cooking is also a wonderful way to experiment. I’m a rather experimental cook myself, much to the occasional delight and occasional disappointment of my family, I’m sure! If you have a budding scientist on your hands, cooking is a great side skill. It involves following a recipe, much like chemistry. Then, it involves modifying until the ingredients do what you want!
If you’d like to share the Valentine’s Day love, here are some simple recipes to make with your kids:
Popcorn packages. Valentine’s Day is so focused on candy. These are sweet treats with a twist. Air pop some popcorn, and get clear bags for it. Mix in some red and pink treats like M and Ms or candy hearts. So sweet, and pretty healthy too!
Create red and white fruit pops for a Valentine’s Day party! Cut up a fruit that is white in the middle, such as an apple or a pear. Cut up a fruit that is red in the middle, like a watermelon. Place them on skewers in patterns.
If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, make some bread dough. When it’s just about ready to pop in the oven, create small balls out of the dough, then roll it between your hands to make long bread dough snakes. Take three long lines, and braid them together, sprinkling them with cinnamon, butter and sugar as you go. Turn the completed braid into a heart!
What do you make for Valentine’s Day?
Image Credit: [shannanin]