Valentines Day Ideas, 2011.

Pecan Linzer Cookies

These cookies are oh so very valentine.  They come from Martha Stewart Living, Feb. 2007.  I made them last year in Kenya for all my girls and they were a big hit.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 cup pecan halves, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup cherry jam, strained ( I prefer Raspberry Jam)
  1. Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl; set aside. Pulse pecans, confectioners’ sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor until finely ground (but not wet); transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachments
  2. Add butter and granulated sugar; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in vanilla and egg. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until combined. Halve dough; shape into disks. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Cut out squares with a 2-inch fluted cutter. Cut out centers of half the squares with a 1/2-inch heart cutter; reroll scraps. Space 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake squares and hearts until pale golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool.
  4. Meanwhile, heat jam in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced and thickened, about 7 minutes; let cool.
  5. Sprinkle cutout cookies with confectioners’ sugar. Spread jam onto uncut squares; top with cutout ones. Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.

Pear Tree Greetings has some adorable Valentines Day cards.  Check them out here. You do have to order quantities of 8 or more, but if you are sending them to a bunch of family and friends, it’s worth it.

If you ever wanted just the right type of heart cookie cutter, order yours from this site.  There are lots of great options.

Also, ever see the movie, “Bella“?  Check out the trailer here.  Sort of a heart-wrench-er, but still a beautiful film.

And, last but not least, don’t forget to head into D.C. over Valentines Day weekend for the International Wine and Food Festival! This event will take place at the Ronald Reagan building and is featuring over 100 international and domestic wineries and will give you the opportunity to sample from approximately 600 wines.  The event will run from Saturday the 12th through Sunday the 13th.

But, you say…isn’t Valentines Day all about CHOCOLATE?  Then go to Biagio Fine Chocolate on Twitter and follow them as one of the best chocolate shops in the District.  They often have free sample days!  I might add, though, that there really is nothing better than the Dark Chocolate Nibby Bar made by Scharffen Berger. If you’ve never tried a Nibby Bar, beware…you might become addicted.

Cookies.  Chocolate.

Cookie Cutters.  Cards.

Community.

How could I forget Cupids?

I can’t end this post without mentioning the absolute humor and sheer madness of the Cupid Undie Run that takes place every year in DC right around the 14th.  This is a unique charitable event in which participants run approx. 2 miles around the U.S. Capital Building in their Valentine themed…eh hem…undies to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.  Let me clarify why I am posting this on my blog – I have NEVER even heard about the Undie Run until this year, and believe me when I say, would never dare to participate.  However, it made me laugh out loud and I thought it might humor you, too.  So, have a good laugh 🙂

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