A look back at our Valentine's Day

I managed to find the time to bake and mail out quite a few Valentine's sugar cookies (lemon & almond) just before Valentine's Day. I sent them out as DIY gifts to friends and family back home. I miss them all so much.

Here are a few photos of my beginner's endeavours.

I used the sugar cookie recipe from Sweetopia, as well as her Royal Icing recipe. The icing works like a charm, and although I did experience some spreading with the cookies, I'm fairly sure that it's due to the higher elevation where we live.

White Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Cookies

White Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients

·    3/4 cup butter-at room temperature

·    3/4 cup white sugar

·    3/4 cup brown sugar

·    2 eggs

·    2 teaspoons pure Vanilla

·    2 tablespoons dark Rum

·    2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

·    1 teaspoon baking soda

·    1 teaspoon Salt

·    1 cup Macadamia nuts

·    2 cups white Chocolate or good quality Vanilla baking chips

Directions

In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs, rum and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

Lastly add in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips. Chill dough in freezer for about 15-20 minutes. Using a tablespoon measure out a large rounded size spoonful, and place onto a greased baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes. Cook on pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Bag-O-Cookies

I made the previous recipe - Cranberry-White Chocolate cookies for my hubby's office. I used three types of ribbon,and candy canes, tied around clear confection bags to store the cookies.

Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

·    3/4 cup butter-at room temperature  

·    3/4 cup white sugar

·    1/2 cup brown sugar

·    2 eggs

·    2 teaspoons pure Vanilla

·    2 tablespoons Cointreau

·    2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

·    1 teaspoon baking soda

·    1 teaspoon Salt

·    ½ teaspoon Nutmeg

·    1 cup dried cranberries

·    2 cups white Chocolate or good quality Vanilla baking chips

Instructions:

In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs, Cointreau and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, nutmeg, salt and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

Lastly add in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. Using a tablespoon measure out a large rounded size spoonful, and place onto a greased baking sheet.

 Then.....Lick the scraper or whisk attachment, close your eyes, then savor the moment! (Then worry about salmonella poisoning)! Eek!

Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes. Cook on pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Then............take a bite!