Colors of Colleen

One of my favorite recipes from my family is my Mom’s tried and true cut out cookies. They’re more of an almond shortbread cookie than sugar cookie, and basically melt in your mouth. So good and sweet! Before reading any further, this is definitely not one of my healthy recipe shares, but it is one that will dance on anyone’s heart or tastebuds. I frost them with my mom’s wedding cake frosting!

These cutouts make for a sweet treat for your Gal-entine’s Day gathering (or Valentines Day dessert with your other half). The recipe makes a ton, so I always end up giving a bunch to friends & family for Valentine’s Day. I’ve also linked all of my baking essentials and table top details below. By far my favorite kitchen tool is our Kitchenaid electric mixer. It was a gift from my mama from our wedding registry and it is so easy to use and efficient! We even have all of the pasta making, veggie slicing, and food processor attachments to use so it doesn’t have to be just for baking! We have the azure blue which adds the perfect pop to our white kitchen.

Dough

4 1/2 c. flour

2/3 c. confectioner’s sugar

1/3 c. light brown sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

2 cups butter, softened

Directions

1. Mix together sugars, butter, and almond extract with electric mixer for two minutes until mixed.

2. Gradually add in flour & mix. Save the 1/2 cup of flour to roll out dough & for cookie cutter.

3. Once dough is mixed & softened roll into 2 large balls.

4. Sprinkle counter, rolling pin with flour, and cookie cutter with extra flour.

5. Roll out dough to 1/2” thick then press cut out into dough.

6. Place cookies on parchment paper 1/2” apart & bake 10-12 minutes at 300 F.

7. Let fully cool before frosting. Yields 24 cookies.

Frosting

1/2 bag confectioner’s sugar

1 tsp Crisco (if no crisco add more milk)

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

Directions

1. Add milk & vanilla extract to the confectionary sugar . Continue mixing until smooth & creamy like yogurt.

2. Section into bowls if adding food coloring and frost!

My Baking Essentials

Salt & Pepper Shakers
Heart Placemats Opalhouse
Great White Dishes Pottery Barn
Heart Cookie Cutters
Martha Stewart Apron (mine is unavailable) love this heart one!
Spatula
Berry Bowls with words
Heart Cupcake Toppers
Wooden Rolling Pin
Heart Plates

At the end of January it can feel like the winter is never ending. The cold weather in New York City this past week had me craving a getaway to some place warm ! This weekend we’re making a getaway to Seattle to visit my cousin and her husband. I’ve never been so looking forward to exploring and having some great food in good company. I’ve been beyond ready to say goodbye to the January blues and am looking forward to all the pops of red and pink that February brings! I’ve been adding some little pops of red & pink to freshen up our space.

For this more Valentine’s themed bar cart I kept it winter related and just added a few extra hearts. I found the adorable backdrop from Target to create a temporary wall hanging, while I still figure out what to do with the white space over the cart. Anyone else have a hard time committing to what will hang on their walls to flow with the rest of the space? Commitment issues right there I guess!

Valentine’s Day Bar Cart

I found many of the details at Target and TJMaxx, Homegoods, Kohl’s. I just grabbed a few things here or there to also add some love to our table setting. I’m still rearranging a few things but this pitcher is the perfect for year round. I also added the Valentine’s Day heart stems from Target with the eucalyptus ones and fresh flowers.. These are the most adorable placemats from the Opalhouse line at Target and they’re really affordable and washable. I don’t ever splurge on any holiday pieces but an artificial tree, and it all gets marked down end of season anyway. That’s the best time to snag a few pieces and save for the next year.

Linking everything in the widgets below with some other pieces that were too cute to not share.