Valentine's Day Lunch

Happy Valentine's Day to you!  This photo is an example of the type of menu and table setting my Mother would set -- this time for Valentine's Day.  She was instrumental in the start of this holiday in her homeland when she returned as a goodwill Ambassador later in her life.  It's called Friendship Day there.  Today on Valentine's Day or Friendship Day we will receive the public to honor her life as she passed away earlier this week.  Happy Valentine's Day Mommy.  I love you always and forever.

Quick Sugar Cookies

Over at our house tonight we have the 12 and 13 year old Young Women over making Valentine sugar cookies.  They have decided to give them to the family of our ward member who died in an avalanche.

Peggy's "quick" sugar cookie recipe

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

cream together

2 tsp baking powder

3 c flour -- add 1 cup at a time

400 10-12 minutes

Derek's Frosting

A ton of powdered sugar (like a cup and a half)

A capful of vanilla
While stirring, add 2 tablespoons or caps full of milk at a time until consistency
Add 2 drops of food coloring to get a light color.

Fudge Brownies

My Dad bought that new brownie pan that separates your brownies for you.  So, I'm trying this basic brownie recipe my brother liked so much when we were growing up.  They aren't fancy and we not frost them.  They are simple.  

Fudge Brownies
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 squares chocolate
2 cups flour
1 cup nuts, optional
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs

Melt the margarine and cocoa together.  Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla.  Mix with cocoa and margarine.  Beat thoroughly, but don't over beat because brownies aren't as good then.  Add flour and nuts.  Mix well.  Bake in jelly roll pan or in this case the "new brownie pan"  Bake at 350 for 15-30 minutes depending on which pan you  use.

Lion House Wassail is the Best

We served this at our daughter's birthday party because she tasted Wassail and loves it!  If you make one, make this one.  Lion House Wassail

Rated: Submitted By: Audrey Wariner Photo By: Juno Suks At Cooking But Eats Servings: 36

"This recipe is Great! to have with or after Christmas dinner. It's one of our Christmas traditions."

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/4 cups white sugar 4 cups water 2 cinnamon sticks 1 slice fresh ginger root 4 cups orange juice

2 cups lemon juice 8 cups apple juice 8 whole allspice berries 1 tablespoon whole cloves

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large saucepan, combine sugar and water. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and add cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cloves, and ginger. Cover and let stand in warm place for 1 hour.
2.	Strain liquid into a large pot. Just before serving, add juices and cider and quickly bring to boil. Remove from heat and serve.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 1/8/2010

Cardamom is the secret in these gingerbread cookies

Title: Piparkakut (Finnish Christmas Gingerbread Cookies)

Description:
My Mother says, "The aroma of these cookies baking takes me back to my childhood in Finland." We make various large to small sizes of these in heart shape and hang them in the kitchen window during Christmas. Heart is the symbol of Christmas in Finland. We also had plenty of other shapes to eat as well.

Ingredients:
3/4 c margarine or butter
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
2 T dark Karo syrup
1 t cinnamon
1 t cloves
1 t ground cardamom
1/2 t baking soda
2 1/2 c flour

Directions:
Cream margarine and sugar. Add egg, spices and syrup. Then add flour and soda sifted together. Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough overnight in the refrigerator. Roll out on floured surface very thin and cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake on a very lightly greased cookie sheet about 5 min at 375 degrees. Do not overbake! Store in an airtight tin and they will keep "forever".