Valentines Cookies

Our Valentines Day traditions are always the same.

...avoid people and crowds.

so "LOVE"-ly right?
but seriously, from the very beginning when Garrison and I were celebrating our one month anniversary on valentines day, we just wanted to be homebodies and keep it simple. Chinese take out, a movie, and falling asleep early are our only traditions.

we kept with that same tradition this year and enjoyed some take out from Rice King on center in provo, and watched a very non-romantic movie "Get On Up" because it was the only one left in the redbox, pulled out the hide-a-bed and i fell asleep in-between contractions halfway through the show. Bayli stayed home with us, as finding a babysitter is just as difficult as finding a table in the nicest restaurant on V-Day.

a few days prior to Valentines day Bayli and I decided to make cookies because along with our semi-lame traditions, I figured making cookies with the kids would be simple enough to keep up through the years.

our all time favorite recipe for sugar cookies is below, as well as a link to my favorite icing, and some adorable pictures of Bayli and cookie dough. yeah. enjoy!

Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe

-2 Cups Sugar

-3 Eggs

-1 Cup Milk

-1 Cup Shortening

-5 Cups Flour

-3 tsp Baking Powder

-1 tsp Salt

-1 tsp Almond Extract

cream shortening and sugar. add eggs and beat until fluffy. add milk and almond extract, blend. mix in dry ingredients and blend until mixed, it will be sticky. roll out on heavily floured counter. roll until about 1/4"-1/2" think depending on preference, and how many cookies you want to make. cut into desired shapes using floured cookie cutters, place on cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees. cool, and either frost, or ice. our favorite icing recipe/technique is here. (except, we prefer the taste of dark karo syrup, unless your wanting the color of the icing to be a pastel or white, then you need to use light karo syrup.)