Somewhere around 40 or more years ago, my dad made a heart shaped cookie cutter out of a tuna can for my mother and, I’m told, an aunt or two.  It has always been my favorite cookie cutter and though I have looked, I’ve never been able to find a store bought one that I liked as well. We lost my dad 32 years ago but his cookie cutter is still in use today and it is these little things that bring back the sweet memories of the good man who was my father.

When I was around 10, my sister Gloria made for me, two recipe “books” of family recipes that she hand wrote in her neat hand writing in a book of index cards and gave them to me for Christmas.  She shaded the edges of the first page of each section (cookies, candy, main courses, cakes, bread, etc.) for easy reference.I loved them!  Of course, I always did think Gloria was the cat’s pajamas and I still do, so she probably couldn’t have gone wrong, regardless.

I have made many cookies over the years but rarely have I made a sugar cookie.  Maybe once or twice ever.  This year I decided to dig out those treasured recipe books and make some heart shaped valentine cookies using that old recipe and my favorite cookie cutter and if I do say so myself, they turned out pretty decent.  It was as I was frosting them that I realized all the love and effort that went into the making cookies, even after all these years.  How fortunate I am to have such a wonderful family and all this love!

Happy Valentines Day to all with much love from my family to yours!