Adventures in Eating: 35-40 Valentine Cookies

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to cook and bake. I think I was the only person in home eco­nomics who took it seriously. It seemed so magical that one could mix together sugar, flour, butter and eggs and create cookies and cakes. I must say, I had a sweet tooth then, and still do! Seeing that

I am the successor to my aunt Rosemarie’s column, you will be first hand witnesses to my obses­sion with anything sweet. That is not to say I do not enjoy the simple joys of roasting a garlic stuffed chicken, peeling potatoes or creat­ing a savory beef stew. I love the kitchen, and am happiest clad in an apron and oven mitts.

I look forward to writing this column because that means more time in my kitchen; my husband will be the first to tell you “the shoeman’s son has no shoes”

I went from working in a cook­ing store, to food styling and writ­ing recipes cards for a large mail order company, and then on to cook for various people in their homes! After a long day at work, all my husband got was a descrip­tion of what I had created that day for someone else.

February is a month for love. Happy Valentines Day! Here is a wonderful, and pretty cookie reci­pe specially suited for the four­teenth.

35-40 Valentine cookies

2 1/2″ round cookie cutter
A small heart cardboard cutout
1 pound butter
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
Grated rind of two lemons
2 tsp. vanilla
5 1/3 cups flour
Raspberry Jam
Powdered sugar

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon rind and vanilla. Blend in 4 cups of the flour, 1 cup at a time. Transfer the mixture to a lightly floured board and knead in the remaining flour. Wrap dough in waxed paper and ‘ chill for an hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, Roll out the chilled dough to 1/4″ thick and cut circles with a 2 1/2″ cookie cutter. Take half the rounds and cut a small heart in each center. Bake until lightly browned. When cool, spread raspberry jam on one solid round and sandwich with the other round with heart cut out. Dust with powdered sugar and love!

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