TRADITION!

Let's talk more about Valentine's Days of yore. I think the reason I like Valentine's Day so much is because my parents made it special by doing nice things for us. They snuck into our rooms while we were sleeping and left us valentine cards and little presents. Valentine's day was just a nice day to say "I love you" in a family kind of way. It wasn't just about romance.


And not just about the agony of deciding how to sign the Valentines I gave out to my classmates- should it be "from, Holly" or "Love, Holly"?

And another heavy thought for my first grade brain- what did it mean when that one boy gave me a real valentine- like a Hallmark card, not the kind with a picture of the Jetson's on it that came in a pack of 30?

Yes, I am grateful for my parents who made sure this day was about more than that.

It was about family. And sugar cookies. My mom always made the cakey kind with lots of piped frosting on top. They actually looked like valentines, and I thought they were so pretty. We decorated them with sprinkles and red hots.

This Valentine's Day I am lucky enough to be staying at my parent's house, enjoying cookies with excessive amounts of frosting.



These aren't as pretty as my mom decorates them, but they were delicious nonetheless!




Here is my Grandmother's recipe:

Nostalgic Valentine's Day Sugar
Cookies

1 C shortening
1 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 C milk
4 tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
4 1/2 C flour (about)

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add vanilla
and add eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients and add mix dry in
with the wet. Roll out, use heart shaped cookie cutters, and bake at 350 for 8
minutes. Frost with buttercream frosting.