• 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 sticks softened butter
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Approximately 5 cups unbleached all-purpose sifted flour

When I was a young girl, both my grammar and high schools sold single carnations of different colors throughout the holidays. For one dollar you could purchase a carnation for someone. A faculty member or older student would enter each classroom with flowers and notes attached either from an admirer or friend. Having had a terrible speech impediment and the biggest coke bottle glasses you ever saw, I was definitely not the popular girl nor did I have boys lining up to talk to me. :) I was happy when the other children received carnations, but sometimes the sadness would creep in when I realized that I did not receive one. One year it hit me particularly hard, but when I arrived home, my mother had purchased a wonderfully thoughtful collection of Valentine’s goodies and placed them strategically in the bedroom my sister, April, and I shared. How special and loved we felt knowing how loved we were! Thank you, Mom!

Years later in high school, a faculty member came by to deliver the flowers to the students. I thought, “Oh boy, not this again!” This time I received a green carnation on St. Patrick’s Day! My dear Irish friend Laura Burke had sent one to me. I’ll never forget that!

I hope you make these delicious soft cookies for or with your kids and remember that an act of kindness, no matter how small, is never forgotten.

Cream the first six ingredients very well. Add baking soda and powder. Add flour slowly until dough forms. Chill. Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut out shapes as desired.

Cut-Out Cookie Frosting

3 tbsp. softened butter
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2.5 to 3.5 tbsp. milk (to desired spreading consistency)
Red Liquid or paste food coloring
1 1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar or so

Cream the ingredients together until smooth; makes enough to frost one batch of cookies. Frost cookies and add any special touches you’d like. Get teh kids into the kitcehn. What a great way to show love on Valentine’s Day!