Heart Cakes

I hope everyone has a great day and knows they are loved!

 Confession - I love Necco Sweetheart candies.  I have tried these types of candy hearts by other companies - they just don't taste the same.  I especially love them when they are fresh and semi-soft. They have just enough flavor to match their color and they are fun to munch on. 

It was a busy weekend but very productive.  I love having my Mom here to visit and she is so much fun to hang with.  We ran errands on Saturday, as well as attend a gallery showing of some guys metal work (Ralph was attending an open house for a charter school - so Mom and I waited at the library and saw the art showing), grocery shopping, went to meetings (I bailed, but Ralph was good and faithful) and then prepped for sharing time on Sunday.

Ralph's family usually exchanges some kind of treat for Valentines day - I didn't want to be left hanging, so I made one of Ralph's favorite Valentine treats...Heart cakes.  The recipe comes from his Grandma White.  I will just preface that I don't really care for sugar cookies, unless the frosting is just amazing and even then, they are still not my favorites.  These cookies are just different enough - I love them!  Between the almond flavor and oats, the cookies are great by themselves.  The frosting just adds to an already yummy cookie.  Here is the picture of what was delivered to the family yesterday and the recipe.



Heart Cakes

1 Cup butter

1 Cup Sugar

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

2 1/2 C all purpose flour

2 C rolled oats (I used quick oats)

Cream butter and sugar - add eggs, vanilla and almond extract.  Add dry ingredients.  Chill the dough.  Roll out to about a 1/4 in thickness.  Using a heart cookie cutter, cut hearts and place them on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

After they have cooled - frost them with this recipe

3 C powdered sugar

1/3 butter - softened

2 T maraschino cherry juice  ( I used a little bit of cherry flavoring and red food coloring)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

( I used evaporated milk to bring the frosting to the consistency I wanted)

  Ralph's Mom will be coming over for dinner tonight.  We figured since my Mom was already here, we would have both Moms over to celebrate the day.  We will be having linguine with a light tomato cream sauce and scallops, salad, home made bread and turtle chocolate cheesecake for dessert.  The rest of the week will be carrots and celery sticks and lots of exercise.

Ta Ta for now