Each Valentine's Day our house is full of hearts, teddy bears having tea, straw hats with big red bows, and more homemade Valentine's cards than I can count. We start decorating in January soon after I take down the Christmas decorations. It's a month of love and laughter in our family.

A few years ago we started a tradition of having a Valentine's tea party. Sometimes we keep it simple with chocolate hearts, dainty cookies and tea. Other times it's more elaborate. Today I am sharing a menu I put together that will serve many friends and grandma too! I hope it will inspire you to become whimsical this month!

The Menu

This is a simple menu, which can be made ahead of time. The sandwiches should be fresh, but making them the morning of the tea is fine. The spread can even be prepared the night before.

The Tea

Earl Grey or Lady Grey Tea is a perfect match for this menu. Remember, for your little guests add cream and sugar to the tea in generous amounts. Alternative teas would be a strawberry or raspberry flavored tea.

Shrimp Butter Tea Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup minced cooked shrimp

1/4 tsp. salt

dash paprika

3 tablespoons lemon juice

lettuce (I like Romaine for crunch)

thinly sliced country style white bread, crusts removed

Cream butter shrimp, salt, lemon and paprika to a paste or leave a little more texture if you wish. Spread a small slice bread with the shrimp butter, add a piece of lettuce and top it with another slice of bread. This is also good on a cracker with a tiny sprig of fresh dill topping it off.

Mini Herb Crescents

Ingredients:

1 8 ounce can refrigerated crescent roll dough

Butter, melted

dried basil leaves, crushed

Parmesan Cheese

Separate the dough into triangles. Cut each one in half lengthwise. Brush with butter; sprinkle with basil and Parmesan Cheese. Roll up from the wide end and press gently into crescent shape. Place on ungreased baking sheet and brush with more butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Chocolate Tea Bread

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

Cream butter, sugar and egg in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add alternately with buttermilk to creamed mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into greased 8-1/2x4-1/2x2-1/2 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack and slice.

Raspberry Crumb Squares

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 2/3 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 cups quick oats, uncooked

1 12 ounce jar of raspberry preserves

Cream butter, beat in brown sugar, gradually beat in flour, salt, baking soda and mix well. Stir in oats. Pack 1/2 the mixture into bottom of greased 9x12 pan. Spread the preserves over bottom of crust--not quite to the edges. Spread remaining crust mixture over preserves. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until browned. Remove from oven and cool in pan placed on rack. When cool, trim off 1/2" around sides if the edges are too crisp and cut into small squares.

French Chocolates

Ingredients:

8 squares unsweetened chocolate

4 ounces German sweet chocolate

1 can sweetened condensed milk (15 ounces)

1 cup crushed nuts

Melt chocolates together in saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Add condensed milk and mix until smooth and well blended. Cool a few minutes. Shape into balls, using about 1 tsp. for each. Roll in nuts. Makes about 6 dozen.

Note: Since this recipe is so large you can place one platter of chocolates on the table and there will be plenty leftover to send home a special package for each guest. You can buy small plastic theme bags at most gift stores or small boxes that can be lined with tissue paper or colored plastic wrap. We've also decorated white lunch bags ahead of time and put the name of each guest on a bag to bring home.

Activities and Crafts

Reading books aloud is our favorite thing to do at a tea party. For your Valentine's Day tea choose books with a love theme. Here are several titles we always enjoy: The Runaway Bunny By Margaret Wise Brown, Guess how Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, and I Love You the Purplest by Barbara M. Joosse.

A Poem of Love

The following poem can be read aloud and discussed during your tea. Ask the following questions: Why is home special? Do you feel loved and safe at home? What does love mean to you?

Home Is Where There's One To Love Us

Home's not mearly roof and room-

It needs something to endear it;

Home is where the heart can bloom,

Where there's some kind lip to cheer it!

What is home with none to meet,

None to welcome, none to greet us?

Home is sweet-and only sweet-

When there's one we love to meet us!

~Charles Swain

Valentine's Day Activities

These pages can be printed out for guests to color!

-Valentine Heart Bookmarks

-A Big Heart to Color

-Two smaller Valentine Hearts-cut them apart after printing

- Two Valentine's Elves with Heart (has room to write a message!)