Sometimes love is a cookie

Hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day, and that you experienced at least one thing that made you feel loved.

And that you did at least one thing to make someone else feel loved.

I felt loved because I didn’t have to cook (heart-shaped pizza from Valentino’s), and also didn’t have to go out into the crowds to enjoy said meal (delivery of heart-shaped pizza to our door). Two of the things I love: not cooking, and not going out.

One of the things I did to love those around me was make sugar cookie cut-outs.

I have a terrific recipe from my sister, and one of the reasons that I love it is because there is no chilling of the dough necessary. None. So you can just get to rolling those babies out right away, cutting them out, baking, frosting, and eating.

It’s not immediate gratification, but it’s as close as you’ll usually get with sugar cookies.

Sugar Cookies

(recipe from Cindy Ruby)

3 c. flour

1 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

1 & 1/4 c. sugar

1 c. shortening

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

Directions: Sift/stir dry ingredients together; add shortening, mixing with a fork. Add unbeaten eggs and vanilla. Roll out on floured surface and cut with cookie cutter. Bake in 350 degree F. oven for 10 min. Makes 5-6 dozen.

Icing

A note about icing–I have not yet found an icing that I am totally, head over heels in love with. Most end up tasting too much like I’m just licking a butter stick, or eating powdered sugar straight out of the bag. I have been known to purchase canned frosting, and color with food coloring as desires (horrors! pre- made frosting). For this batch, I tried a version of my daughter-in-law‘s icing. It was pretty good; I added the milk to reach the desired consistency, which I have to admit is far superior to canned frosting (at least for cookies).

Kaylee’s (Adapted) Icing

1 egg white

2 c. powdered sugar

2 t. vanilla (more or less to your own taste)

a bit of milk to bring to desired thickness/runniness

Mix all together in a small bowl. Add desired food coloring, if any.