Activity Calendar

Things to do

Monday, February 10, 2014

Valentine's Day with the Kids

  1. Valentine’s Day — a romantic night under the stars "Stargazers of all ages enjoy an evening of astronomy at the Museum’s Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory. Weather permitting, visitors can look through the historic 15-inch telescope at the stars, the planets, and the Moon.This program is free with donation. Dress warmly — all presentations take place outdoors!" Evening starts at 8pm.
  2. Join Midway for a Special Valentine's Day Youth Dance, Friday February 14th from 8pm till 11pm, ages 12 - 16.Just $10 in advance. Enjoy unlimited play on Bumper Cars and Black Light Mini Golf for a special price.FREE Parent's Lounge with a complimentary beverage.Call Midway for details on advance tickets!
  3. Take a skate on the Canal or the Rink of Dreams.
  4. Sleigh Rides
  • Pinto Valley Ranch offers hour-long wagon rides for $100 (groups of up to 20). There is a hill nearby and a pond onsite, so consider bringing a toboggan or skates to prolong your visit
  • On the Quebec side, Captiva Farms offers 90-minute bobsleigh rides for up to 17 adults for $200, plus hot chocolate or hot apple cider on request for an extra $2 per person
  • Happy Trails Riding Stables offers hour-long sleigh rides for up to 15 adults (or 20 people if some are children) for $90.
  • Stanley's Olde Maple Lane. Our horse-drawn sleighs are approximately one hour long and accommodate up to 20 guests. Once you get back after your hour ride you can visit the farm animals in the barn, go to the Stone House gift shop and enjoy a cup of Hot Chocolate and a fresh-baked cookie.The whole experience will last about 2 hours.For example: Arrival 1:45pm, Sleigh Ride 2pm, Cookie & Hot Chocolate 3pm, & Departure before 4pm.Total Cost $245 (plus tax)
  • Fallowfield Tree Farm. Afterwards, you can enjoy roasting marshmallows and warming up with hot chocolate around the bonfire.  

Valentine's Day Breakfast

Whole Wheat Heart Pancakes

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour (I used white whole wheat)
  • 4 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups + 2 tbsp fat free milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • cooking spray
  • strawberries
  • Maple Syrup

Directions:
  1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. 
  2. Add wet ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix well with a spoon until there are no more dry spots.
  3. Fry in a frying pan lightly greased. 
  4. When pancake begins to bubble, it is time to flip. 
  5. Use a cookie cutter to cut into heart shapes. 
  6. Top with strawberries and maple syrup.
  7. Serve with a strawberry banana smoothie.

Valentine's Day Dinner

Ingredients
  • Your favorite pizza sauce
  • 1 lb of your favorite pizza dough
  • Fresh mozzarella cheese, grated or goat cheese
  • All-natural pepperoni slices
  • Basil for garnish
Materials
  • 1 small heart cookie cutter for pepperoni
  • 1 large heart cookie cutter for pizza
  • Pizza stone or cookie sheet
  • Parchment paper
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 550 degrees F, Place a pizza stone or cookie sheet on the top middle rack during the preheat. 
  2. Use the small cookie cutter to cut out hearts from the pepperoni slices and set aside.
  3. Roll out a piece of parchment paper large enough to roll the pizza dough out on. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into 1/4″ to 1/8″ thickness Using the large cookie cutter, cut out 4-6 individual-sized pizza crusts from the dough. 
  4. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of sauce on top of each crust. Then sprinkle with cheese and top with pepperoni hearts.
  5. Transfer the entire sheet of parchment with the crusts on it onto your pizza stone or cookie sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and your favorite dipping sauce.

Sangria Mocktail
http://jensfavoritecookies.com/2013/04/05/sangria-mocktail/
 
Ingredients
  • 4 cups black cherry grape juice
  • 1 plum
  • 1 peach
  • 2 clementines
  • 6-8 strawberries
  • 2 cups ginger ale
Instructions
  1. Quarter plum and peach, and remove pits. Place fruit in a large pitcher.
  2. Remove peel from clementines, halve, and place in pitcher.
  3. Remove greens from berries, halve, and place in pitcher.
  4. Cover with grape juice. Stir well, and let sit in fridge for 1-2 hours (or more).
  5. Mix with ginger ale just before serving.
Dessert

Chocolate Fondue

Kid-friendly dippers:
  • Heart shaped watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe 
  • Brownie bites
  • Strawberries
  • Pitted cherries
  • Rasberries,  grapes and apple, cut into bite-sized cubes
  • Jumbo marshmallows
Ingredients:
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • Vanilla
Directions:

In a double boiler, melt chocolate, stir in half and half until smooth. Transfer to a fondue pot or slowcooker and serve with dippers.

Here is a recipe from Ree Drummonds (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/02/chocolate-cookies-with-toppings/) I love her! These cookies would be a great idea for a valentines day gift for the kids to give to their friends along with their cards:)


Chocolate Cookies with Toppings

Prep Time:
 
 
Cook Time:
 
 
Difficulty:
 Easy
 
Servings:
 16

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks Salted Butter, Slightly Softened
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 whole Egg
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 2-1/2 cups Flour
  • 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
  • 3/4 teaspoons Salt
  • 4 ounces, weight White Almond Bark
  • 4 ounces, weight Chocolate Almond Bark
  •  DIPPING BAR
  •  Pistachios, Finely Chopped
  •  M & M's, Slightly Chopped
  •  Toffee Bars, Chopped
  •  Assorted Nuts, Sprinkles, Candies

Preparation Instructions

For the cookies: Cream the butter with the powdered sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and mix to combine. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt, and mix together until the dough comes together. Place plastic wrap on the surface of the dough and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with baking mats or parchment.
Roll out the cookie dough and cut out the cookies using a rectangular cookie cutter, re-rolling the scraps in order to use as much of the dough as possible. Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, in batches if necessary, being careful not to burn. Cookies will remain the same general size and shape after they bake.
Remove from the oven and place the cookies on a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely.
Melt the almond barks in separate bowls in the microwave. Dip half of each cookie into the white almond bark and half into the chocolate bark. Immediately sprinkle or press toppings from the dipping bar over both sides of the cookies.
Gently set on parchment paper or another nonstick surface and allow to cool before serving.

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