Last Minute Valentine Ideas

Need something quick and easy this Valentine's Day? It doesn't get any easier than Rice Krispies. It's my stand-by. If you have butter, marshmallows, rice krispies, clear baggies and a few snippets of ribbon...there's not one holiday/event that you can't whip up something cute for. I had huge intentions of creating candy cane heart filled with chocolate and bought the supplies for them. But my hearts were a flop. I don't know what happened, but my candy would not mold around the sticks. So, I switched to plan b....and here's what I've got.

Heart Pops

Make the rice krispie treats as usual...super easy with the recipe right on the box. Press them tightly (TIGHTLY) into a casserole dish. Let them cool, them flip the treats over onto a large cutting board covered in wax paper. Meanwhile, melt chocolate (I use Wilton's candy chocolates, they taste the best). Drizzle the chocolate with a spoon onto the treats then sprinkle with nonpareils. Let cool completely. Take a 1" heart cookie cutter and start cutting, pressing tightly into the mold. Then, add a candy stick, bag it, tie it, and you're done. Really....that easy.

And you end up with this...

Because these are super yummy and the pops are "bite-sized", and I wanted something bigger for the "big kids"...and besides, I had the double heart cutter. So I cut out a few of these too and tied them up. I'll probably give them to hubby and the kiddos...maybe slip them into lunch boxes on V-day. I'll probably slip myself one too :o)


This can easily be done in less than an hour. I whipped them up while "cooking" dinner (aka watching it warm up for 20 minutes in the oven). I ended up with 6 double hearts bagged up, and about 25 heart pops. Hello...anyone else thinking teacher/class V-day gifts!?

Or....place them in a basket and keep it near the front door. I think it's a great idea to pass along a little love to the mailman, UPS guy, a neighbor you see grabbing their mail, or any other friend stopping by. I especially like the idea of taking the time to pass a few out to others who may not otherwise get a Valentine...like the elderly down the street, the "Mr. Wilson" of your street, the naughty kid nobody wants to play with at school, the teacher nobody likes, someone you dislike, disagree with at work, etc etc. For one day, you can show someone a little "goodness"...even if it's only for the sake of toleration.

Happy St. Valentine's!!! Now get busy...you've only got 2 more days!