brownpaperpackages blog Valentine Day ideas

{a "heart"y lunch}

I love to sprinkle in a few fun "heart" lunches the week or so before Valentine's Day. Anything is cuter when cut into shapes, and I routinely use them to make lunch. Somehow when a sandwich looks like a star, or a gingerbread man, it's much more appealing. Well, this is no different! This week I made an easy, but darling meal, and it would not only be perfect for your little ones at home, but even for a party or other get together.

MENU:

• mini heart pizzas
• xoxo veggies & dip
• pie crust hearts with cinnamon & sugar cream cheese

Mini Heart Pizzas---

• 1 tube crescent rolls
• pizza sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• toppings of choice
• heart cookie cutter

Place two crescent rolls side-by-side, and pinch the seams together. Cut out heart-shaped pieces of dough, and carefully use a spatula to place them on a sprayed cookie sheet. Top with pizza sauce, cheese, and other items. (I have cheese-only girls!) Bake according to directions on can, but lessen the time by a few minutes. Bake until the bottoms are brown. Serve warm.




XOXO Veggies--

• baby carrots
• sliced cucumbers

As you can see, this is super easy, but how fun!! Serve with ranch dip, or dip of choice.


Pie Crust Hearts with Cinnamon & Sugar Cream Cheese:

Who doesn't love taking all those extra bits of pie crust, sprinkling them with cinnamon & sugar, and baking them in the oven? This is a take on that, Valentine-style. To serve them, I stacked them on a place with a dollop of cream cheese on top, but how fun would this be to serve like chips & dip?

• unbaked pie crust--as much as you need (I used Pillsbury, but homemade would be wonderful too.)
• cinnamon & sugar
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. white sugar
• 1-8 oz. package cream cheese

Lay your crust out on the counter, and cut out as many hearts as you need. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. Bake according to crust directions, but lessen the amount of time. Bake until golden brown, then let cool.
With a mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugars together, then add some cinnamon & sugar. Mix well. Serve with pie crust hearts, and sprinkle even more cinnamon & sugar on top!