Saturday, February 12, 2011

If you can't beat 'em, might as well join 'em

I actually had a full week of school! It was tiring...I was starting to get used to having short weeks.

Valentine's Day is on Monday. V-Day is one of the holidays that I appreciated when I was little for the school art projects, friend valentine cards, and gifts from my parents. It lost its muster in my teens and early 20s. This is the first year, however, that I am back in the cupid spirit. I owe this in part to my wonderful students and their excitement for EVERY holiday. I had one last week who was celebrating his favorite holiday, Groundhog's day! We have a school dance on Monday, which is always a wonderful time and the students are very excited to decorate and give their friends and parents gifts, so rather than fight it, I have decided to get in the spirit. If you can't beat 'em, might as well join 'em.

and might as well make Valentine's Day cookies. I found the PERFECT recipe in Mary's recipe box...

Heartthrob Cookie Dough
 (newspaper recipe taped onto recipe card)
  • 1  cup  shortening
  • 1  cup  granulated sugar
  • 1/2  teaspoon  baking powder
  • 1/8  teaspoon  salt
  • 1   egg
  • 1  teaspoon  vanilla
  • 1/4  teaspoon  peppermint extract
  • 2  cups  all-purpose flour
Beat shortening in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Roll dough on floured surface and cut into heart shapes. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Transfer to wire racks and cool. Makes 30 cookies. 




I used one of Mary's cookie cutters to make the hearts...


 ...you can tell that it has been used with love for many years!

I decorated the cookies with drizzles of pink royal icing (1 cup sifted powder sugar, 1 tsp milk, 1/4 tsp vanilla, and red food coloring). HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

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