That sneaky little Cupid has been here, and early at that.
I can feel it, I can sense it, I have seen the proof…
I am not sure who Cupid's arrow got first, me or Mister Lovee? All I know is that I was busy working on a project yesterday, when this super happy bug hit me, and I willingly and happily (that is the sign it was cupid) took everything out of a closet to get to my food processor (that I keep in the box), so I could make Mister his yearly treats…
Mister Lovee and I like to do nice things for each other on a regular basis. He is a really nice guy, and knows me well. He brings me wild flowers, rusty things, found treasures and thrifted things all the time. So, we don't make too huge a deal of holidays in the way of going out to dinner and over the top gifts etc. Usually for Christmas or Valentine's day he paints little heart shaped rocks for me and dates them. I have one for every year (and even two for some years) I have known him.
However, I do like to go out of my way to bake him little goodies that have become part of "our" own tradition.
These wicked little treats are a labor of love. No joke, this has to be the most difficult dough to work with on earth. However, I made a few changes to it this year, and found it easier to work with.
But, I have to admit, the crazy dough is beyond worth it. These are so delicious, I can't even tell you…
Here are some tips as to what I do when I make mine.
1) I double my ingredients, and this time I used 3 egg yolks instead of two.
2) I use "salted" butter for everything, even the butter-cream filling. If you don't do this, the entire cookie is yucky sweet.
3) I use a lot of flour for dusting the counter, my rolling pin and the top of the dough while I am rolling it out because of the extra egg yolk moistness.
4) I make sure to use a thin edge metal spatula for lifting the heart shaped dough off of the counter and onto the baking sheet. And, I am very careful with the dough as it falls apart very easily.
5) I use raspberry jam, not strawberry 🙂
Below is the recipe I have used for the last 7 years or so (with the changes shared above).
Now, I should tell you, you can follow the recipe below, as shown, with success. Although, I would suggest you use salted butter. Oh and, I use regular granulated sugar for the cookie dough, when I don't have super fine on hand. (printable pdf in ps: at the end of this post)
I also like to dust some of my cookies with powdered sugar. To do this, I take the small heart cookie cutter I used for the center, and I trace it out on piece of card stock. Then I cut it out, and lay it on the jam section during the dusting. I then lift off the card stock piece with toothpicks.
And, voila…
As Mister was getting home last night, I surprised him with a clean kitchen (well, sort of clean) and all the ready made cookies.
Then I said, now Lovee, if you don't get me any flowers or anything for Valentine's day, that is a-okay because, you are super lovely all the time, and you do such nice things on a regular basis.
He smiled and said (with a sheepish look on his face) "well then, because you are so sweet, why don't you run and get a few vases…"
Cupid got him too!!! ;) That crazy cupid! As I was putting all those glorious flowers in my room, I heard a familiar bouncing sound on the ceiling outside my bedroom door.
Balloons!
I had to jump on my bed with glee.
The unexpected is always so exciting.
I feel so spoiled. And slightly rotten. But ever so girlie giddy too.
Mister Lovee.
What a guy…
Even though all the hoopla of flowers and balloons isn't necessary, I must admit, I am a little over the moon about the whole thing.
Oh and, I would like to take a very important moment to admire my beloved friend Laura's chocolate cameos. She made them. She is amazing. She can do anything and is beautiful and kind too. She is, she is!
I also want to send oooooodles of love to the 4 people in my life who I adore beyond words. My brother and sister (I love these childhood photos of my brother and sister), and my awesome Mom and Dad. LOVE YOU 4!!!!
(My uncle Frank is hilarious as Hook, I had forgotten about that)
I just got word that my Grandma and Grandpa got the treats I sent, and not 5 minutes after receiving them, my grandpa was in his swing chair in the garden, gobbling them up (chocolates). I tell ya, I can't think of any adult in my world who doesn't have a childlike vibe. I love those characters!!
Well, I best have my own cookie. Wouldn't want to waste them now, would we?
Okay, you can have the one above. I'll get my own 😉
Don't forget, whether you have romance (I didn't always have cupid infused V-days) doesn't determine what sort of Valentine's day you have. I think, first and foremost, we should be our own Valentine. Not only that, but we should be our own best Valentine ever, in the history of good Valentine's.
Plus, the elves wanted me to tell you that they want to be your Valentine 😉
Much love from all of us over here at "A Fanciful Twist…"
See you super soon 😉
🖤 ,V
ps: Here is a printable pdf link I made you of that cookie recipe. Recipe from The Ultimate Cookie Book – Catherine Atkinson.
pss: I have a long night of finishing a project I need to ship out ahead of me. But, I am excited to listen to these two albums while I work. Have you listened to them? New Sade Album, and the new Lali Puna Album. I am also listening to Massive Attack, Paradise Circus, I think I love it…
pss: Oopsie, Mister Lovee said I should put this song in this blog post, and I forgot until just this moment, silly me…
Happy HAPPY Valentine’s DAy….
this post is so full of rich yummy love…
x..x
Happy Valentines……I gave some of your cards to a school with the wish cards attached and everyone swooned with joy.xoxoxox And Alessandra is surrounded with orchids,hearts, chocolate’s plus a few yellow tigers for Chinese New Year…
smooches to you and your gorgeous mister
xxooxxooxxooxxooxxooxxooxxooxxooxxooxxoo
You and Mr. Lovee are too sweet for words. Happy Valentine’s Day, dearest V! Those cookies look divine (not to mention the flowers and balloons)! xoxox
Oooooh – those cookies look delicious!! I did the same today – baked a little something for my one and only – a whole batch of very vanilla cupcakes – sooooooo good. 🙂
And balloons!! How fun…And of course I never tire of seeing your wonderful creations. 🙂
Wishing you and your Mister a very Happy Hearts Day!
🖤 Carolee
I love Massive Attack! And Cupid of course should visit you first! Where else would he get inspiration?
Love is.. not just looking at each other….but in the same direction…
And i think you and Mr Loveee do.
Xoxo
What a “lovely” post hehe. Those jammie dodgers look divine. Have a wonderful Valentines Day!!!
xoxo Emily @ Art-n-Sewl
Hello Vanessa… oooh, everything is so beautiful! A most Happy Valentines Day to you and your Lovee… I also adore all of your little elves and fairies… xoxo Julie Marie
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Vanessa
Those treats look divine!! And I can clearly see it is a labor of love to make them.
I shared your Valentine artwork on my blog today as part of my PiNk Saturday post…Everyone just loves your artwork. :0) I’m going to print out more to just have in my studio year around..everyday is worthy of magic and whimsy, right!?
Have a lovely day,
Stephanie
Sweet Happy Valentine’s to you, too! I love all of the fun you have and share with us! Have a beautiful day, sweet friend! 🖤
ah, vanessa, you’ve revealed yourself to be a totally unabashed and grateful romantic. there is no better combination.
thank you for lovely treats in every way.
but are you getting to know me?–i am never satisfied. now i want to know about mr. lovey. what do the neighbors think of him?
plus a huge smile and a still abit reserved hug 🙂
This is such a sweet post. Yummy & beautiful cookies! Wouldn’t I love to have one right now! Guess I’ll have to settle for an Oreo. : ) Your husband must feel very honored by you. And the little elves are so adorable. They make me smile. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Pink Saturday!
Tricia
And the fun, romance and magic continue at A Fanciful Twist! The cookies look divine and appear as though they take a lot of time ~ a gift from the heart. Mr Lovee did really good! 😉 The flowers are wonderful but balloons make me so happy ~ I bet they do the same for you! Thank you for sharing the fun & festive times with all of us.
What do you think of the new Sade album? I’ve heard some negatives…and that surprises me.
Have a beautiful Sunday!
xo
Oh girl I’m with you, I never use anything but salted butter! lol
Those cookies are delicious! Happy Valentine’s to you and your man! 😀
oh Yummy! Happy Valentines to you!! Mica
Wishing you and Mr. Lovee a lovely, happy Valentine’s Day. You two are made for each other. Remember Phoebe on Friends saying, “Oh….she found her lobster”? That’s the two of you! 😀
Those cookies are gifts from the heart and look absolutely tasty……and chocolate cameos? Wow!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Ms. V. !!!
~Allie
Fantastic, fanciful cookies! Yum…I made chocolate cupcakes with red chocolate hearts on top…Abby and I played dress-ups and had a magical tea-party – come see, you and Mr Lovee are invited xxx
Happy V. Day, Miss Vanessa
My dad used to come home from a bakery years ago and surprise us with raspberry filled cookies and were they ever my favorite!
So…thank you ever so much for a recipe that may rival those cookies.
I have been at the OWOH giveaway blogs for the last three days ‘wishing my heart out’ for the wonderful giveaways everyone is posting…It’s a good thing you haven’t posted anything new in your Etsy yet, I probably would have missed out on your magical, mysterious creations…I think everybody and their brother and sister have entered the giveaways this year. So, I am glad you have waited to post anything until the excitement calms down after Feb 15th when the giveaways end. Then we can all come back here and concentrate on the whimsical side of life through the secret key hole. Maybe I can be like Alice and have a peek through…Oh! what do I see?
Cheerio! I am not telling…hee! hee!
dear sweet girl….happy Valentines day to you and your love…..
Happy Valentine Day, Vanessa!
Here we are again under the white snow coat… red flower hearts are so lovely just laying on the white path.
Thanks for your recipe, I’ll have a try.
I’m also listening Sade’s new album… I love this artist (have all her albums! lol)
Also love Mr Lovee’s song choice, it’s perfect for this special day!
I so enjoyed listening to the music you shared. And looking at your treats made me so hungry. I must make these for my honey! He loves raspberry filling very much! What a treat to get balloons and flowers!! woohoo!! I would jump on the bed too! I received several beautiful cards, fabulous perfume and some chocolate covered caramels–sugar free of course. My fav!! What a wonder he is!!
Have a wonderful day
Hugging you
SueAnn
Lovely & Wonderful as always! Happy Day!
Good morning letting my beautiful dreamer sleep. With all the little cupids in our house sleep is the best gift ever. 😉 I got to go to bed early, hee hee. We had big scrumptious chocolate cake last night to celebrate early. I don’t know how he does it, but he puts the frosting on sooo think and sinfully smooth. He says he has a secret with a wink. I just will have to take the cake and never know… not hard to do. Happy day Ms. Valencia and Mr. Lovee!
What a special Valentine treat! – I’m afraid my Valentine must be satisfied with a box of chocolates. I’m not going to tell that I know somebody who MAKES special Valentine treats! I would never live it down!
The photo of your flowers and balloons with all the marvelous curiosities around is just priceless!
OH! – and those cameo cookies! I want to eat, er, I mean SEE one up close!!! They’re just gorgeous.
It’s funny that Lovee wanted you to put that song on your blog – it was the one I posted t his morning on facebook for Valentine’s Day!
Great minds and all that!
Happy Valentine’s Day
Happy V-day V…a day created just for you 😉
Jamie 🙂
p.s. the cookies was DEEEEE-LISH!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Vanessa. Thanks for sharing all that yummy goodness and the recipe. I’ve been on a tear this week, too – brownie cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, and Valentine sugar cookies. My hubby has eaten most of them! 🙂 Those cameo chocolates are unbelievable~I can imagine the work that went into making them.
Love is all around today…have a bright and happy day.
🖤Theresa🖤
Vanessa,
Love your Blog..It always makes me smile. A big thank you to Mister Lovee for having you add the Cupid song. When I was a teenager around 14 or 15 I think and I wanted some “space” from the family I would offer to clean the kitchen after dinner. The radio was on the counter and I remember singing this song and I just listened and it was such a sweet walk down memory lane.Valentines Day was always special at my house.It was My Mom’s Birthday. Thanks for the smile today
Trish
i’m somhappy for you…it’s nice to have someone taking care of you!!!
i have a family, husband, children…but i think noone really cares for me…
What a delightful Valentine post. You and your Mister, Mister have a wonderful day! Thanks for all the pink frothiness. It was divine as always. – Kathy
Love to you and Mr Lovee on Valentines day Vanessa! xx
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your Mister. What a fabulously colorful and fun world you share with us.
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Flowers and salt with butter and flair,
Berries in jam with sugar here and there.
Cookies with wings, landing in hands,
Sending the love to all those Grands.
Valentines wishes to you 2 and the woofs,
The elves, fairies and horses with hooves.
Here where we live the sun is shining bright
And in our home love’s fire is alight.
A silly poem for you… Happy V Day V… we all love you…
Happy Valentines Day to you both! The Cameo chocolates look wonderful…I thought they were actual cameos. And the cookies…oh yum!
Oh, and God bless your beautiful family! Thank you for the photos of your lovely siblings and dad and mom… = )
Mmm, the cookies look so yummy! And what lovely flowers and balloons! My love gave me my first bouquet of pink roses yesterday, it made me jump for joy! Hope you are having a lovely day 🙂 ~Lauren
This is news. I haven’t got that Massive Attack album! I have EVERY OTHER!!!! Love them. ox
oH those cookies…I can’t bake to save my life but I do enjoy looking at these. you are so creative!
Happy Valentine’s day to you and Lovee xoxo
Beautiful and yummy! What a combo!
Thank you for another magical creative inspiring post!
Happy Valentines Day!
Hi Miss “V”
I love the photos of your family~~~
What a blessing!
Your cookies look scrumptious!
Happy Sweetheart weekend!
xoxo
Kay Ellen
Hi
Love it all. I acn see this day was made especially for you!!! Thanks for all the wonderful creations and always inspirating us to see all the beauty. I’ve taken a few hints from you…if you get a chance come see what I’ve wipped up for my family.
http://cinnibonbon.blogspot.com/2010/02/love-for-dinner.html
Dear Vanessa, thank you for the joy and magic you bring to my life. I had so much fun turning your valentine art into cards and sending out wish tickets. Made me feel all silly happy. Not to mention your wish ticket couldn’t have come at a better time for my little brother.(he really needed it)
Hugs
Dawn
I am sorry I’m so late with Happy Valentine’s Day, but it’s so nice to find out that you had a mutual love society over there!
You are so right about those cookies. They are the hardest cookies I’ve ever made. But you are right that they are worth the time and care. THAT is a wonderful labor of love.
Aww, so wonderful to see pictures of your family.
Happy Valentine’s! x
Perfect song for Valentine’s Day. Your gifts for each other are so sweetly perfect. Balloons are the best. I had one of the best Valentine’s Day ever.
It is true we should always be our own Valentine’s.
My heart is so happy when I visit my fanciful friend! Hope your valentine’s day was filled with love! See you sweet girl. 😉
Happy Valentine Vanessa !
Seems a really joyous day you had. Enjoy your love together and savour every minute of it.
greetings from belgium
Inge
muy HERMOSO….muy INSPIRADOR!
OHHHH!! Happy, Happy (belated) Valentines Day Dearie!! Those cookies are making me drooooool! (How very un-Victorian-Lady-like of me) tee hee!! YUMMY!
Happy New Weekling, Miss! (And the cheery elves,too!)
Those cookies look beautiful and I bet they taste amazing. Speaking of amazing – the video for Massive Attack, “Paradise Circus”…breathtaking and tragic. See it in HD on my blog or you can youtube it. <3
Those chocolate cameos are fabulous. And your blog is magical.
Como estas mi linda amiga!!??? hermoso post!!! like always!!!
see you
xoxo
Dear Vanessa, I enjoy your blog, photos, etc. Do you sell the beautiful scarves???? I love those! Sandy.
This is so lovely adorable day,i like it so much good that you shared this. 🙂
vee
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So nice to read your blog! We are freezing here. Monday will be a balmy day if it hits the projected +1 degrees after so-o-o many days when we’ve not been above -12 feeling like -22 and some days -22 feeling like -40. Your lovely tales of early spring give me hope we’ll get through this awful winter.