Pink and Red Sugar Cookies

There are many times where I imagine what my 18-month-old son is saying.  Like when he’s walking around with his favorite car in his hand, saying, “Da dumm sweum shuew dadadum.”  And I respond, “Why, yes, your car can go really fast.”  Or when he asks a question, (which is easy to tell, because the inflection in his voice goes up at the end of his sentence and he looks at me expectantly), and I say, “Of course Daddy can give you another piggy-back ride.  As soon as he gets home.”

Today we went over to my friend’s house.  Both our boys are less than a week apart and it’s fun to see them grow and play together.  Today, Matthew got the opportunity to play with a pint-size kitchen.  He had a lot of fun sautéing vegetables and washing dishes, while talking all about it.  (Secretly, I want him to be a famous chef when he grows up.)

But no matter how many veggies, fruit, yogurt, or Cheerios he eats, his favorite food, by far, are sweets.  (It’s hard to blame him; it’s in his genes.)  While lying on the floor, desperately trying to eat a donut, he says something in a faint voice.  I interpret it to mean, “Mom, these plastic donuts are no substitution for the real thing.”

And he’s right.  There is no substitution for the real thing.  There’s something about homemade cookies–it evokes warm memories of childhood, and that deliciously sweet smell coming from the oven can not be compared.  These sugar cookies are made with lots of butter and sugar, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  (If you want to see what recipe I use for the cookies and the royal icing, click here.)  I made these Valentine cookies for the blog winner, (congrats again Kathy!), and for a friend whose husband died of cancer not too long ago.  Cookies comfort too.

I made some conversation hearts. (They were my favorite as a kid!)

And some lace cookies.

(And some more lace cookies.  They’re addicting to make!  This lace cookie is with some swirl hearts and lines cookies.)

Lastly, some heart swirls.

I hope these cookies give you some inspiration for your own Valentine cookie-making adventures.  Soon, I’ll show you how to make the swirl hearts.  In the meantime, feel free to drool over the cookie candy.  Enjoy! xoxo