“Warm Fuzzies” & “Red Hot Flashes” ~~~Valentine’s Day Cookie Recipe~~~

"Happy Valentine's Day"!

"Warm Fuzzies" & "Red Hot Flashes"

This is a sugar cookie recipe that has been handed down through several generations of women in my family.  I have added my own twist when decorating these cookies for Valentine’s Day.  I cover them with melted white almond bark (or sometimes white chocolate) & sprinkle with shredded coconut or "Red Hot" candies.

 I’ve always called the coconut covered hearts “Warm Fuzzies”…’cuz that’s what you get when you taste them!  The newest addition was that of “Red Hots” and I’ve dubbed them “Red Hot Flashes”!  (I assure you this has nothing to do with my ever increasing age!) 

Make & share these with LoVe!

~Debbie~

***Gather ingredients.***

***Roll out your cookie dough!***

***My Favorite Ripple-edged Cutters***

***"Warm Fuzzy" Cutter***

***"Warm Fuzzy" Dough***

***"Red Hot Flashes" Cutter***

***"Red Hot Flashes" Dough***

***Gather decorating ingredients!***

***Heart-Shaped "Red Hots"
& Almond Bark***

***Bright White Shredded Coconut***

***Use red coloring to tint some of the coconut
a festive pink color!***

***Melt the almond bark (or white chocolate if you prefer) in the microwave for about 2 minutes.  You can use a double boiler on the stove top otherwise.***

***"Warm Fuzzies"***

***Heart-Shaped "Red Hots"***

***Pretty!***

***"Red Hot Flashes"***

***Mmmm...Happy Valentine's Day!***

 Recipe

1 ½ cup powdered sugar

1 cup soft unsalted butter

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

2 ½ cups unbleached flour

*Combine all ingredients in order given. (I usually double this recipe.)  Chill.  Roll out.  (I sprinkle powdered sugar on the counter rather than flour.  It tastes a lot better and doesn’t toughen the dough.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Enjoy these delicious treats!  

~Debbie~

~Handmade Pink Grapefruit Chamomile & Red Jasmine Glycerine Valentine Soaps~

Handmade
Pink Grapefruit Chamomile & Red Jasmine Soaps
I was cleaning out my craft drawers and came across some glycerine soap.  I was about to toss it in the trash thinking I would never use it.  I felt a twinge of guilt.  This was perfectly good soap.  All it needed was a little "love"!  How many times are we tempted to throw away something perfectly good...a friendship, a marriage, a job, a car, etc., when all it may need is a little more love!  Selfless love.  Love for the sake of loving.  I decided to turn that glycerine into something great..."trash" to "treasure" was my motivation.   Here's what I did!  Enjoy!

Pick a pretty pan!  

Look at the detail on this heart!  These soaps will be so fancy!

I have had these cupcake pans for years.
They are sooooo versatile!

Gather your goods!  You will need: glycerine (also spelled glycerin) soap, coloring, essential oils, molds  or cake pans, saucepan, wooden spoon, spray bottle, rubbing alcohol, apron

Don your most "love"-ly apron!
 (OK..you don't really need an apron...but I LoVe aprons...so there!)

I used unscented Chamomile Glycerine soap (on left) and unscented Glycerine soap (on right).  I prefer  pure vegetable Glycerine soaps with 1/3 humectant moisturizers...enriched with Aloe Vera, Coconut & Vitamin E.

"I'm melting...melting...melting..."

Glycerine soap is melted!  Cool slightly.

Add a few drops of coloring.  I used McCormick Red Food Color.  You can substitute water-based soap dye as well.

Just a few drops is all it takes!

Pretty!

Now to make this soap "scent"-sational!  I love using essential oils!  Add one drop at a time until you reach the desired fragrance.  

Waiting for a filling.

When using a cake pan like this one, make sure to fill at least to a 3/4 inch thickness.

I chose Jasmine for this batch. 

Beautiful jewels!!!

Now for the Chamomile Glycerine!  Here we go!  I will add just a bit of red coloring to tint this pink and then use Grapefruit Essential Oil for fragrance. YUM!

I ran out of room in my heart-shaped pans so  I found these cute little molds with my cookie cutters.  They look like flowers!

Spritz the surface of the glycerine with rubbing alcohol.  This will help to remove any air bubbles and keep the surface smooth!

Cool molds completely...for at least an hour.  You can put cooled molds into a freezer for about 2-5 minutes (no more) to help soap pop out of molds. (I just stuck mine outside the front door.  Here in MN it was -18 degrees at the time!)   Invert and release your soaps.

(You can use a plain cake pan if you like.  Simply pour all of your soap into one pan.  When it's cool, turn out and cut shapes with cookie cutters or a sharp knife!)  :)

Pink Grapefruit Chamomile Heart

Red Jasmine Heart

Pink Grapefruit Chamomile Flower

What a delightful gift to give this Valentine's Day
...or any day you'd like to share some love!  
                                           Have fun making your own handmade soaps!
 *~* Debbie *~*
"And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment." Mark 12:30