Valentine Dinner Ideas for Kids

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Getting away for a romantic dinner is a fine Valentine's tradition, but it's not the only way to celebrate. Youngsters enjoy February 14th just as much as grown-ups, and taking the time to put together a kid-friendly Valentine meal -- or even a Valentine's Day party -- can help you build a rich store of cherished family memories. Join in the fun, or step out afterwards for an adults-only dinner. Either way, everybody wins.

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Kids' (Heart) Pizza

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Things You'll Need

  • Pizza dough

  • Tomato sauce

  • Pizza toppings to taste

  • Cheese

  • Red bell pepper (optional)

It's a rare young diner who doesn't like pizza, and few foods are more Valentine's-ready. Divide homemade or store-bought pizza dough into individual portions, and shape each portion into a heart. Spread the personal pizzas with tomato sauce; then let the kids decorate their own with a selection of meats, vegetables and cheeses. Decorate the top of each with a heart made from curved strips of thinly sliced red bell pepper.

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Pocket Version

Things You'll Need

  • Pizza dough

  • Tomato sauce

  • Pizza toppings

  • Salad, or veggies and dip

If personalization is less important to you than keeping the meal streamlined, make individual heart-shaped pizza pockets instead. Stretch or roll the dough into a rough diamond shape; then spread the lower half with tomato sauce and your kids' favorite topping. Fold the diamond from top to bottom; then make a rough triangle. Indent the middle of the top edge to make a heart. Serve the baked pizza pockets with salad, or veggies and dip.

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Easy V-Burgers

Things You'll Need

  • Heart-shaped cutters

  • Slider buns

  • Ground beef

  • Ketchup

If hamburgers are a favorite with your kids, use heart-shaped cookie cutters to transform them into Valentine's Day sliders. Stamp out hearts from store-bought or homemade slider buns; then use a slightly larger cutter as a mold for your ground beef. The burgers will shrink as they cook, bringing them back to the size of the buns. Decorate each with a heart-shaped squeeze of ketchup, and serve them open-faced. Scrub the cutter carefully, when you're done, to remove any traces of beef.

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Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Things You'll Need

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breast

  • Flour

  • Milk

  • Breadcrumbs

  • Sheet pan

  • Oil

  • Sweet-and-sour sauce

Crisp, golden chicken nuggets are a favorite with most kids, and they're easy -- and healthier -- to make at home. Cut 1/4-inch slices from the thick part of chicken breasts, reserving the rest for another meal. Cut a deep notch in the wide top of each slice, giving it a rough heart shape. Dip the nuggets first into flour, then milk, and, finally, breadcrumbs to coat them. Arrange the pieces on a parchment-lined sheet pan; mist them lightly with oil, and bake until golden. Serve them with red sweet-and-sour sauce for that Valentine's touch.

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Sweetheart Pasta

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh pasta or par-cooked lasagna noodles

  • Heart-shaped cutter

  • Pasta sauce

Turn your kids' favorite pasta meal into a Valentine's dinner in just a few minutes, with your trusty heart-shaped cutter. Use fresh pasta sheets from the supermarket, or lasagna noodles par-cooked until they're leathery but still easy to handle. Cut the sheets of pasta into hearts; then boil them as you normally would on the stovetop. Toss them with white sauce, tomato sauce or cheese sauce, whichever your kids prefer.

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Easy Side Dishes

Things You'll Need

  • Heart-shaped cutters

  • Potatoes, carrots and other vegetables

  • Veggie dip or salad dressing

If you hadn't planned a special meal in advance, you can put a Valentine's spin on any meal with a heart-shaped cutter. Stamp out heart-shaped pieces of potato to make Valentine's fries, and serve them alongside whichever entree you'd planned. Carrots cut with a smaller cutter work well as a cooked Valentine's accent, or they can be served with your kids' favorite dip. Use heart-shaped pieces of carrot, cucumber, sweet bell pepper or other vegetables as garnishes for a green salad.

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V-Day Takes the Cake

Things You'll Need

  • Red velvet cake, or white cake tinted pink

  • Icing

  • Candy pieces

You can't go wrong bringing kids and cake together, and Valentine's Day is the perfect time to bring out your best red velvet cake recipe. Alternatively, turn a white cake pink with crushed strawberries or a drop or two of red food coloring. Bake it in a heart-shaped pan if you have one, or decorate an ordinary round or square cake with hearts drawn in icing or candy pieces.

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Other Desserts

The Valentine's Day canon is filled with sweet treats, so don't limit yourself to cake if you feel like stretching your wings. Instead, treat each kid to a personalized, heart-topped cupcake to make dessert more special. Chocolate-dipped strawberries are just as appealing to kids as to adults, and they have the added allure of being a "grown-up" treat. Dip cake balls in melted white chocolate; then roll them in red sprinkles or crushed cinnamon hearts. If your kids love apple pie, make individual apple tartlets and decorate them with the same cinnamon hearts.

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