A Day Filled With Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

I've made thousands of Valentine cookies in my lifetime. First for my little ones...when they were home and then when they started going to school. When ever cookies were needed for parties...my kids would have their hands in the air saying, "My Mom will make some." My youngest son offered my cookies as well as my time to be room mother. I was room mother so many times. I could almost make a sugar cookie with my eyes closed. My little ones liked to help out. My daughter had a tiny rolling pin and would stand on a chair and roll her little ball of dough...she was very independent, even in those days, and never wanted help. She had an easy bake oven and she would make little layer cakes for her older brother. I think secretly it was his favorite toy....he loved to eat and talked her into making layer after layer of little cakes.. My youngest liked to help in the kitchen too...I can remember him sitting on the table with a big kettle full of fruitcake mixture and a wooden spoon....trying to mix that heavy batter. So, as you can see...my kids were often in the kitchen with me and Valentine cookies were the favorites to make. I used to use a very fragile sugar cookie recipe that was difficult to roll out. It was a very tasty cookie, however. Just last year, I found a shortbread cookie that I liked...no refrigeration required, it rolls out like a dream, has better flavor than some shortbreads I've tried...all in all now a favorite of mine. Here is the recipe.

Scottish Shortbread 4 dozen

2 cups butter softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 3 3/4 cups flour  and mix well.
Turn onto a floured board. Knead for a few minutes, adding enough flour to form soft dough.
Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into shapes. If I'm in a hurry, I just form into a rectangular shape and cut into strips then into small bars. Put on ungreased sheets and bake 325 for 20 minutes....or till cookie is lightly browned.The traditional shortbread is pricked with a fork. I made some heart shaped ones this year and following the shape of the cookie...pricked with a skewer all around the cookie and frosted the middle only. Some others were shaped into bars, and then when cooled...dipped into chocolate.Here's the recipe for dipping chocolate.

2 cups choc. chips melted in microwave with 4 tsp of shortening. 

These cookies keep so well. I just put them in tupperware containers and refrigerate. I only refrigerate if I'm keeping them a long time. I just got an idea in my head....a large heart shaped cookie, pricked with a skewer all around. A larger hole at the top of the cookie with a tiny red ribbon. Very cute for decorating.

We began this day with chocolates, and pearls....a musical card for Joe that pictured Lady and the Tramp and a button to push that played Dean Martin singing That's Amore.The day will end with dinner at a favorite restaurant. I believe in celebrating all the holidays. It makes life more interesting and fun. So, in my old age...you will find me celebrating my heart out throughout the year.
While I'm typing this a pretty pair of red finches are outside my window, on the feeder. He is feeding his lady this morning. A wonderful day of love around the world.
Balisha