Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie Recipe

Take the time to bake delicious cookies as a sweet gift for Valentine’s Day this year. They are quick and easy to make and, most importantly, from the heart!

Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, and mix well. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl; gradually add to the creamed mixture.
Divide the dough in half and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for two hours. Roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Leave one inch of space between cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cool for one hour before frosting.

Icing Glaze

4 cups of powdered sugar
4-6 tablespoons of milk
Stir until smooth (the icing should not be too runny)
Add more powdered sugar if necessary to thicken the glaze
Tint with food coloring
Use a separate bowl for each color needed

Frost the cookie with the icing. Smooth the top with a spatula dipped in water. Use the edge of the spatula to scrape off any icing that has run over the edge of the cookie. 

The icing glaze hardens in a couple of hours.
Enjoy!

Written and photographed by Jacqueline deMontravel
Produced by Diane Sedo

Top Ten: Sentimental Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Unlike assorted chocolates that are a gamble as to what you will get, these gift ideas remove the guesswork and will delight everyone.

1. A handwritten letter.

2. Flowers (but not the home-delivery kind).

3. A gift that we’ve slyly hinted at.

4. Dinner at home.

5. Something handmade.

6. A night out (anytime but Valentine’s Day!)

7. Photographs.

8. A beauty treat in the form of a trained professional fussing over us.

9. A weekend getaway (even if it is at the local hotel).

10. A book you think we’d enjoy.

Repurpose Dainty Doilies

Reuse what you have in romantic ways.



While perennially charming paper doilies always do a bit to boost the presentation factor for treats on a plate, this Valentine’s Day consider decorating your home with doilies in a fresh new way. Check out a few of our favorite ideas:

1) Wrap glass votive holders in the paper pretties to impart a little extra romance to the table. They add dimension to the setting, and when lit they cast drama on the table with glowing shadows.

2) Use doilies as mats underneath tall candlestick holders in order to draw attention to the romantic touches of your dining table.

3) Create place cards out of a small doily, or cut one in half and fold to prop up at each place setting.