Valentine Cookies

Valentine cookies I made this year using the Sugar Cookie recipe I put in the cookbook. My mentee from church came over and helped decorate them.  This is from the Mennonite Country Style Recipe cookbook.

1 c. butter

2 c. sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp. lemon flavoring (I use a couple drops (to taste) Lemon Oil)

5 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. salt

1 c. sour cream or thick sour milk (I use sour cream)

Cream shortening & sugar together thoroughly.  Add eggs & lemon flavoring, beating until fluffy.  Add dry ingredients alternately with sour cream or milk.  Mix together.  Chill dough in refrigerator overnight.  Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness & cut into desired shapes.  Place on greased baking sheet (I don’t grease it & it works fine).  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Do not over-bake!  Cool and frost.  Yield:  8 or 9 dozen

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter

4 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. lemon flavoring (again I use a couple drops of Lemon Oil, to taste)

Approximately 6 T. milk

Heat butter just until softened & beginning to melt.  Do not overheat. Beat until smooth. Color as desired.

Rustic torte with greens on a snowy Michigan evening

I'll start this blog with a recipe by Italian American chef Mario Batali. Representative of the cultural diversity in the tastebuds of this family, if not the Swiss German or Mennonite background of the grandparents.

I had packs of frozen kale left over from our summer CSA bin. I've been puttering around all day, feeling the need to bake something since the weather forecast was dire -- heavy snow.  So I scouted online for a recipe similar to a gratin or something savory and pie-like, appropriate for a snowy evening.  This popped up:  Swiss Chard Tart.  Close enough!  The chard would no doubt be a tad less distinct in flavor, but the kale worked well.  Maybe 3/4 cup bread crumbs would be sufficient too.  A half cup "dusted" on top was a little too dusty.  But the crust is a miracle of simplicity. The flavor is savory and nutty, and just what I was hoping for.  I paired this with pan-fried thin pork chops. Rustic and simple and very tasty as we watched the snow fall outside.