Hello again my friend,

Are you ready for a busy week? If you've school-age kids or grandchildren you're probably bracing yourself for the half term break. But either way, it's also Valentines Day AND Pancake Day this week. I'm tired just thinking about it.

While Valentines and Pancake Day are not traditional Jewish festivities, they're now sufficiently widely celebrated that it almost seems rude not to join in. Besides, taking the opportunity to tell people that you love them, and then to eat some delicious pancakes, is an excellent way to brighten up a couple of grey February days, no?

PLUS, if you have got kids at home looking for something to do, setting them loose in the kitchen with some heart-shaped cookie cutters, or a whisk and a frying pan, is a terrific option. They have fun and learn valuable cooking skills, and everyone gets something tasty to eat. Hoorah!

If you're at a loss for ideas once the cookies are baked and the pancakes flipped, here's a list of over 70 fun school holiday activities to do at home, including games, puzzles, crafts, and ideas for things to make and do.

Keep reading for links to easy, delicious Valentines and pancake recipes - including my favourite Jewish pancakes! Yum!

Romantic recipes for Valentines Day 🥰

These scrumptious savoury and sweet recipes never fail to delight. Say I love you on a plate, whatever day it is!

• ​Love apple soup with cheesy toast hearts​
  This lightly spiced, smooth and delicious tomato soup is easy and quick to make. Top it with a cheesy toast heart for real romantic wow-factor!
• ​Crispy potato roses​
  A 'bouquet' of these gorgeous potato roses would certainly make a statement! These hot, crispy, delicious flowers are the most beautiful thing you can do with a potato.
• ​Sahlab​
  ​Sahlab is a rich, thick and creamy hot drink, traditionally topped with nuts and cinnamon. Regarded as an aphrodisiac by Maimonides, it's now enjoyed as a luxurious cold weather treat.
• ​Nutella shortbread hearts​
  These three-ingredient cookies couldn't be simpler to make and are crisp, chocolatey and delicious. Sandwich two together with more Nutella or enjoy them dunked into a mug of hot chocolate (or sahlab!)

Delicious Jewish Pancakes! 🥞

Grab your frying pan, and enjoy one or more of these delicious Jewish pancakes...

• ​Spiced apple blintzes​
  Thin, golden crepes are folded around a sweet, fragrant fruity filling. Delicious with cream, sour cream, or a dollop of yogurt.
• ​Cheese blintz crepe cake​
  All the wonderful sweet-tangy flavours of classic cheese blintzes, stacked into an impressive 'Mille Crêpes' cake.
• ​Savoury mushroom blintzes (gluten free)​
  Thin gluten-free pancakes, wrapped around earthy, savoury mushrooms in a delicious fresh dill sauce. These scrumptious blintzes are naturally vegetarian, filling and nutritious.
• ​Crispy, classic potato latkes​
  ​Hot from the pan, these classic potato pancakes are delicious as a savoury side dish, or served with applesauce and sour cream, "American style".
• ​Feta cheese latkes​
  ​Salty, savoury, cheesy, and incredibly moreish! Try dipping these glorious pancakes in sweet chilli sauce or drizzle with hot honey for a taste sensation.
• ​Romanian noodle latkes​
  ​Crunchy and sweet, these fabulous noodle fritters are like the best bits of a lokshen kugel, in pancake form.

Shabbat Shalom

Wishing you a positive and uplifting Shabbat. May we all receive blessings of peace, health, happiness and wellbeing this week and beyond.

Good Shabbos - Shabbat Shalom! - to you and yours.
With love, Helen x.

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