in February thoughts turn to love...

...and nothing says love like something from the kitchen, right?

Every year my Valentine's Day cookies are a huge hit. The kids all know I'm going to make batches for them, and these are their favorites. I often have enough to take a tray to a booksigning. They freeze really well.

Many years ago I got the recipe from my husband's grandmother who called them Aunt Myra's Cookies. Since none of us know who Aunt Myra was, we call them Grandma Violet's Cookies. I'm sure that one day they'll be known as Bama's Cookies. (I don't think I've ever mentioned this before, but my grandchildren all call me Bama. It started with #1 and never changed. Sometimes I'm The Bomb. Perhaps I never mentioned grandchiildren before either. It gives me a whole wrong image, doesn't it? Forget I said anything.)

Make sure your soda and spices are fresh. I always sift my flour before adding.

CHERYL's VALENTINE SPICE COOKIES

Cream together:
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, lard or margarine

add 1 cup molasses
2 egg yolks (save the whites for frosting)
1 tsp soda dissolved in 2/3 cup boiling water
flour for stiff batter: about 5 cups

Mix and chill dough for several hours.
Roll out thin and cut with cookier cutter. Grandma claimed that the rectangles cut from a Spam can made for less re-rolling of the dough. I use heart shapes, of course.

Bake in 375 degree oven about 5 minutes.
Watch closely because they will burn easily.
Frost when cool.

FROSTING:
1 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water, boiled together to soft-ball stage
Pour slowly over beaten egg whites and beat until stiff
Add a pinch of soda and 1 tsp vanilla
Add 3 - 4 marshmallows after adding the syrup

The frosting sets up firm and shiny and so pretty!