Valentine Wishes from Nany

I can almost smell them! Valentine cookies, I mean. When I was a little girl, Valentine’s Day was a special day at school. Our teacher would have decorated a rather large cardboard box in red or white paper graced with hearts, bows, flowers, and of course, lacy white paper doilies. We would either make our own or buy valentines to send to our classmates. There might be a special one to send to a secret crush. These we would carefully (and with giggles) drop into that delightful box. There would always be a special valentine from each of us to our teacher. Now many years later as an educator, I have learned to cherish those valentines from my little ones. That box held such expectations for all of us!

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On the big day, we would choose two mail carriers, a boy and a girl, to pass the valentines out. We excitedly glanced at each card and then dropped it into our own delightfully decorated white paper bag, graciously donated from the local bakery. We then took them home to read in private that evening!

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After the valentines were passed out, our teacher would read a fun or happy story or poem. Then and only then, did we get served our “Dixie Cups” of vanilla ice cream and those delicious sugar cookies baked by our loving mothers. These cookies were shaped into hearts and decorated with red or pink sprinkles or yummy frosting.

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This was a fun day, but it represented much more than paper valentines or delicious cookies. It represented what each of us needs to receive, and more importantly, what each of us needs to GIVE and to SHARE.  That of course is LOVE.

God bless and much love to all of you,

Nany

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Below is a great sugar cookie recipe given to me by a dear friend.  Perhaps you as a family could bake them together and share them lovingly with someone needing love.

1 cup of butter—-1 cup of powdered sugar—-1 cup of granulated sugar—-1 cup of vegetable oil—-2 eggs beaten—-2 teaspoons of vanilla—-5 cups of flour—-1 teaspoon of baking soda—-1 teaspoon of cream of tarter—-1 teaspoon of salt

Directions:

Cream soft butter and sugar together.  Beat or mash this well.  Add oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Combine the flour with remaining ingredients and beat into the batter – mixing well.  Roll into balls and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet.  Press the balls of batter with a glass or shape them into hearts.  Sprinkle on colored sugar or sprinkles or leave it plain to frost.  Bake at 350 degrees or until done about 10 to 12 minutes.  Makes 6 or 7 dozen.  ENJOY!