Easy Valentine's Day Cookies

You can't go wrong with sugar cookies. When you have a great base recipe, you can add your own embellishments and decorations to personalize your treats. Try this recipe from AllRecipes.com.

You'll Need:
* 7 cups flour
* 2 cups white granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 ½ cups shortening
* 3 teaspoons almond extract (substitute vanilla, lemon or peppermint extract, if you want)
* 1 cup milk
* 3 eggs

To Make:

1. Preheat your oven to 375º and grease a baking sheet.
2. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Mix in the shortening and blend well.
3. Stir in almond extract and milk and stir.
4. Mix in eggs.
5. Roll out your dough on a floured work surface. If the dough sticks, add flour to the rolling pin and to your hands. Tip: for best results, roll the dough thick. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters for a special V-Day touch.
6. Cut your cookies and arrange on your baking sheet.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the bottoms are golden.

Now, the fun part. You can decorate your Valentine cookies with sanding sugar, luster dust, icing, edible markers (on white icing), drizzled chocolate, Hershey's Kisses and Hugs, or other festive treats. You could also pipe letters on to each cookie, writing out a message like "I Love You!" or "Be Mine."

Cookie Icing Recipe

You'll Need:

* 1 cup confectioners' sugar
* 2 teaspoons milk
* 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
* 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
* assorted food coloring

To Make:

1. In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth.

2. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

3. Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

This oft-neglected treat is perfect for Valentine's Day and offers a chance for you to hone your decorating skills. This recipe is courtesy of MyRecipes.com.

You'll Need:

* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 large egg
* 2 ¼ flour
* ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa
* ¼ teaspoon salt

To Make:

1. Preheat your oven to 350º and grease cookie sheet.
2. Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the egg.
4. Combine flour, salt, and cocoa, and gradually add to the butter mixture, blending well.
5. Divide the dough into two equal portions and flatten each into a disk. Cover and chill for 10 minutes.
6. Working with one portion on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/8-inch thickness.
7. Use your favorite cookie cutters and place the cookies on your baking sheet.
8. Repeat with the other portion.
9. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
10. Let cool.

When cool, add a special touch with marbling. To do this, flood, or ice, the cookie top with white royal icing. Working quickly, use a decorating bag to pipe red or pink dots onto the cookie. Drag a toothpick through the center of the dot to create a heart shape. You can, of course, use any color you like but the white and red or pink combination looks great for the occasion.

Now that you have your basic sugar cookie recipe, try making a bouquet of beautiful, edible goodies for your loved ones.

To Make Cookie Bouquets:
* Roll your dough out thick, between a ¼ and ½ inch so the "stem" is secure.

* To make sure your cookie dough does not spread too much when baked, refrigerate it before shaping your cookies and again before you bake them or do not grease your cookie sheet.

* Use heart shape cookie cutters to shape your dough.

* Insert a lollipop stick (available online and in baking and craft stores) or skewer. Make sure that the stick is completely covered in dough.

* Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (or more if they seem to be done on the bottom and not the middle because of the thickness).

* Let cool and remove from pan with spatula. Don't use the sticks to move them until they are completely cool.

* Decorate with sanding sugar, icing, or drizzled chocolate. When they're done, wrap them in cellophane and add a ribbon.

Cookies are an excellent, and easy, way to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Whether you're looking for something to give your special sweetie, a cherished friend or a whole group of people, cookies make a great choice with an extra special touch!

With a few good recipes, supplies, and imagination, you have all the ingredients you need for delicious, thoughtful treats.