Love...

Happy Valentines Day! I still don't get much time using our computer because Jim continues to be a computer hog. I strongly suggested we get a laptop with some of our tax return money so I can stay connected to the world while he is locked in the den doing homework and regular work stuff. He only grunted at me. I'll take it for a yes. I've already started shopping...
On Valentine's Day when we were little, my mom always made us a huge heart-shaped sugar cookie and served it to us after dinner. We each got one that was decorated and had our name on it. I loved getting that cookie. I continued that tradition when my girls growing up. Now I send them holiday boxes, but don't add any cookies because I just know they will be stale and broken by the time they get there. I do, on the other hand, make the cookies for Jim and I because I still love having a pretty decorated cookie for Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day is all about love and there is so much I love. My family and friends, of course. I also love cookies, chocolate, raised donuts with chocolate icing, and roses with a scent. Actually I love all flowers, especially if they have a scent. I love the color green, books, lace and things that are sparkly. I love candles and prime rib and things that are miniature. I love warm summer days, the black lace dress I bought for Christmas and laughing hard. I love pina coladas, mashed potatoes and gravy and staying in nice hotels. I love vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, getting mani/pedi's and going to happy hour with friends. I love going to the beach, cute shoes and cookbooks.
Oh cookbooks... how I adore you! I read them like novels and have about 120 at last count. It's hard to describe how I feel when I get a new cookbook. It's like it's full of endless new possibilities and the excitement of trying new things. Do the things I make look like the picture in the cookbook? Sometimes not so much, but I love giving it try anyway. It's not a huge collection, but I have an emotional attachment to each and every one of those books. There are pieces of paper stuck in them as a reminder to try recipes, notes in margins about what to change next time and some are so well loved they are stained from food splashes and sticky fingers. I don't think I could name just one book as my favorite - I know which one has my favorite Snickerdoodle recipe, which one has my favorite beef stroganoff recipe, which one has the best general information and which one is for anything special or complicated. I have started giving my girls cookbooks for gifts and almost always give one to my friend, Lorie, for her birthday and Christmas because I know she loves them as much as I do.

My cookbook collection.

I hope on this Valentine's Day you are able to enjoy whatever it is you love. My cookie is a sugar cookie recipe that has been in my family since I can remember. It has simply always been in the recipe box. We use them every Christmas and anytime we are making cookies with shapes - Easter, Halloween, etc. They are called Edna's Sugar Cookies. I don't have the foggiest idea who Edna was, but the cookies are basic and crispy and yummy. I frosted them with a basic butter cream frosting but I also added a couple of drops of almond extract for just a little something extra. They aren't heart-shaped because I let Kellie take my heart cookie cutters back to school with her.  Happy Day of Love!

EDNA'S SUGAR COOKIES

1/2 Cup Shortening
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
2 T Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
2 Cups Flour
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Baking Powder

Mix wet ingredients, add dry ingredients and mix well. Chill for one hour. Roll out to 1/2 inch and bake for 10 min at 400 degrees.

BUTTER CREAM FROSTING

3 Cups Powdered Sugar
1/3 Cup Butter, softened
1 Tsp Vanilla
A couple drops of almond extract (optional)
Appx 2 T Milk

Mix powdered sugar and butter until smooth. Stir in vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth and spreadable.