Sweet On You

Valentine's Day is tomorrow and for those of you still searching for last minute sweets to send your sweetie look no further.  Plus who wants to pay so much for next day shipping on a box of prepackaged chocolate when you can buy make up with that money AND make an easy treat that they will never forget.  Something created out of love is so much better than anything store bought - and I promise theses are so easy to make Martha Stewart does it with her eyes closed.  Here's what you need:

1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup pecans
2 cups flour
1 cup organic raspberry preserves
powdered sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat together butter and sugar until fluffy, add vanilla extract.  Slowly pour in flour while mixing.  Add pecans and mix until even distributed.  Dough will roll out easier if placed in the refrigerator for a few hours, but this step is not necessary.  Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness and cut with large heart cookie cutter.  In the middle of 1/2 of the cut hearts cut out a smaller heart in the middle to serve as your 'window'.  You can take all of this extra dough to make more cookies or I like to cook them too for a smaller cookie snack.  Place large hearts on an ungreased cookie sheet in the oven for 10-12 minutes.  When they start to turn slightly dark on the edges they are done.  Let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes and then move to cooling rack, sprinkle tops with powdered sugar.  Once completely cool, spread the organic raspberry preserves on the whole hearts and top with the cut out hearts.  Find some extra cute packaging write a little love note and voila, Cupid you're done!  

Happy Valentines Day!

Love, A Pinhead