Be Mine!

Window to Your Heart Cookies
Sweetheart Toast
Cinnamon Pretzel Hearts

We’ve all heard the adage that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I suspect that it’s the way to our kids’ hearts, too. Delightful heart-shaped edibles will make your entire Valentine’s feel special this time of year.

Window to Your Heart Cookies

Refrigerated cookie dough makes quick work of these adorable treats.
Ingredients:
1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
Red or pink hard candies such as Life Savers® or Jolly Ranchers®

Directions:
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; lightly coat with cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2: Make Cookies
Roll out cookie dough on a lightly floured work surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a large heart shaped cookie cutter. Take a second heart shaped cookie cutter, about 1 inch smaller diameter than the first one, and cut out an additional heart from the center of the cookie to make a heart shaped frame. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Place 1 or 2 candies in the middle of the cookie cutout. Continue making cookies. Combine scraps and small hearts into a ball and roll and cut out. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until candy is melted and cookie “frame” is golden. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet; transfer with a spatula to a cooling rack.

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Sweetheart Toast

This makes a simple and delicious start to the day. Serve with eggs prepared their favorite way and fruit for a complete breakfast.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh strawberries, washed, patted dry and hulls removed
1 pound butter at room temperature
bread, 2 slices per person

Directions:
Step 1: Make Butter
Coarsely chop strawberries; place in a mixing bowl. Place butter into mixing bowl along with strawberries. Whip with hand mixer until fluffy and well mixed. Using an offset spatula, pread butter onto a wax paper covered baking sheet to a thickness of about 1/4 of an inch. Refrigerate until hardened, about 15 minutes. Cut butter into small heart shapes using 1 inch heart shaped cookie cutters; set aside.
Step 2: Make Toast
Toast bread to desired doneness; cut into heart shapes using large heart shaped cookie cutters. Place a heart shaped butter pat on the center of each piece of toast; serve warm.

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Cinnamon Pretzel Hearts

These soft pretzels are similar to the one’s found at the mall. Shaped into hearts, they make a terrific Valentine’s Day snack.
Ingredients:
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit
5 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups hot water
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:
Step 1: Proof Yeast
Mix yeast, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and water into a small bowl. Let stand in a draft free place until creamy looking, about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Make Dough
Mix together the flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the dough hook, mix in the oil and yeast mixture until dough forms a ball. If the mixture is too dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes.
Step 3: Let Dough Rise
Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Step 4: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 5: Make Dipping Liquid
Mix together 1/2 cup baking soda and water in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
When dough has doubled, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 12 inches long, and form into a heart shape, pinching to close the ends. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on the prepared baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.
Step 7: Dip in Cinnamon Sugar
Place melted butter in a shallow dish. Set aside. Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Dip baked pretzels into melted butter then coat with cinnamon sugar. Enjoy while warm.

Besides her two favorite jobs of wife and mom, Michelle Ann Anderson homeschools her children, is a freelance writer, enjoys public speaking, writing cookbooks and having fun in the kitchen with her  sweethearts. Her blog can be found at www.MichelleAnnAnderson.com