Cinnamon Heart Cookies

This Valentine’s Day, show everyone just how much you care with a giant heart-shaped cookie. The perfect small gift for a co-worker or a scrumptious alternative to paper valentines for your children’s classmates.

DIRECTIONS;

All-purpose flour 3 cups /750 mL
Ground cinnamon 1 tbsp. /15 mL
Salt 1/2 tsp. /2 mL
Butter (or hard margarine), 1 cup /250 mL
softened
Brown sugar, packed 1 cup/ 250 mL
Large eggs, fork-beaten 2
Vanilla extract 1 tsp. /5 mL

ROYAL ICING
Icing (confectioner’s) sugar 7 1/3 cups /1.8 L
Water 1 cup/ 250 mL
Meringue (egg white) powder 1/4 cup/ 60 mL
(see Note)
Red paste food colouring 1/8 tsp./ 0.5 mL
(see Tip, this page)
Red paste food colouring 1/8 tsp./ 0.5 mL
(see Tip, this page)

Cinnamon Cookies: Combine first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, beating well after each addition until no dry flour remains. Shape into flattened disc. Wrap with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Remove dough from refrigerator. Let stand for 10 minutes. Discard plastic wrap.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness. Cut out shapes with lightly floured 5 inch (12.5 cm) heart-shaped cookie cutter. Roll out scraps to cut more heart shapes.

Arrange cookies, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart, on greased cookie sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, in 350°F (175°C) oven for about 12 minutes until golden.

Let stand on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Cool cookie sheets between batches.

Royal Icing: Combine first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Add first amount of food colouring. Beat for about 8 minutes until soft peaks form. Spoon icing into piping bag fitted with small plain tip or small resealable freezer bag with tiny piece snipped off 1 corner. Pipe border around each cookie. Pipe icing to fill (see photo). Let stand overnight until set. Cover remaining icing with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature.

Add second amount of food colouring to remaining icing. Stir well. Spoon icing into same piping or freezer bag. Pipe decorative patterns on cookies. Makes about 12 cookies.

1 cookie: 622 Calories; 16.0 g Total Fat (4.0 g Mono, 0.6 g Poly, 9.9 g Sat); 76 mg Cholesterol; 114 g Carbohydrate; 1 g Fibre; 8 g Protein; 223 mg Sodium

Note: Meringue powder is available at kitchen stores or cake decorating suppliers.

Tip: The advantage to using paste food colouring is that it allows for more vibrant colours than does liquid food colouring. If you try to substitute liquid food colouring for paste food colouring, the addition of the additional liquid may affect the success of the recipe.

Reprinted from All Occasion Gifts From Your Kitchen © Company's Coming Publishing Limited

How to Have a Frugal Valentine's Day

By Ellen Christian

Ah Valentine’s Day, the day to declare our undying devotion and love to the special someone in our lives. The media would have us believe that the only way we can show our love is by emptying our pocket books as we purchase diamond rings, dozens of roses and expensive Belgian chocolates. What’s a frugal Romeo or Juliet to do? Here are some ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank.

Wow your sweetheart with a special dinner – their favorite meal prepared by you. Cover the table with a table cloth (a solid colored sheet will work in an emergency). Add a few candles to the table and a single rose or carnation as a centerpiece. Put on some soft, romantic music in the background and you’ll feel as though you are being serenaded in a fancy restaurant for a fraction of the cost. You can go all out with your Valentine dinner or keep it simple. Only you know what your true love really appreciates. For those of you in the warmer areas, pack a picnic lunch instead of a special dinner. Spread a blanket on the ground and share a romantic picnic lunch in your backyard or a public park. Pack some romantic finger foods like grapes, cheese & crackers, strawberries dipped in chocolate, etc. and declare your undying love while feeding her these delicacies.

Speaking of delicacies, what Valentine’s Day would be complete without some sinfully rich chocolate treats? Don’t give your money to your local chocolate shop when you can whip up some fancy treats in your own kitchen.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
1 or 2 dark chocolate or milk chocolate candy bars
(enough strawberries to satisfy that sweet tooth)

Bring a pan of water to boil on the stove. Break up the candy bar into small pieces and put them in a glass bowl. Set the glass bowl into the pan of water being careful that it does not tip and gently stir the chocolate until it is melted. Dip each strawberry into the chocolate and put on wax paper. Refrigerate until the chocolate sets and then enjoy!

Make your sweetheart a coupon book good for a special service you can provide. Some coupon ideas include home baked cookies, I’ll do your chores for a week, a special massage, etc. Let your imagination be your guide and he’ll remember this Valentine’s Day each time he redeems one of your coupons.

Create your own special Valentine’s Day card. Using a few sheets of red paper and a doily you can find at your local craft or dollar store, you can give a Valentine’s Day card that is all you. Why not write a special poem or a heartfelt sentiment on the inside of the card.

If your Valentine’s Day includes some quiet alone time with your special someone, don’t forget to schedule a massage and a sensuous bubble bath. Add some soft romantic music and some scented candles, dim the lights and set the mood.

Make this a Valentine’s Day your love will never forget.

Tips by Ellen Christian (VT) http://confessionsofanover-workedmom.blogspot.com/