Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    L is for the way you look at me

    O is for the only one I see

    V is very very extraordinary

    E is even more than anyone that you adore

Did you have singing valentines (aka members of the choir) when you were in high school? They sang songs like "Wind beneath my wings" and other classic things. I wonder if high school choirs still do this and if they sing songs by Taylor Swift, One Direction and Rihanna.

Even better were those giant lip suckers that came in just about every flavor and turned your tongue and lips strange colors that you could send to your friends and crushes. I think it was only 50 cents to send one. Probably these days with inflation and all, they would cost at least $2.00. Would kids do that anyone? Or would they just text lovu lomy etc. Hmm... now I want a giant lip sucker.

Now, if you don't want to, or don't have the opportunity to, send a singing valentine or lip sucker, you could make your loved ones heart shaped cookies! May I suggest oatmeal raisin? That's my valentine's favorite! To tell you the truth, I wasn't really sure if my quest of making a drop cookie into a heart would work. It is very easy to cut out hearts using a cookie cutter from rolled dough, but I was prepared to fail on the oatmeal raisin. I learned a few things-- 1. You can make hearts! 2. You should definitely roll them into deep v (like a deep enough v that if it was a sweater you better be wearing a cami under it) 3. They will spread a lot during the baking process so it doesn't matter how sharp your edges are, your hearts will be rounded.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook)
Ingredients:
3/4 unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 F.

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter on medium high speed for about 30 seconds. Add the sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Beat until combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in the flour. Stir in the oats and raisins.

To make heart shaped cookies-- roll about 1-2 rounded tsp of dough into a rod, fold over into a deep v and place on a cookie sheet. Makes about 3 dozen heart shaped cookies.

To make round cookies-- roll about 1 rounded tsp of dough into a ball and place on cookie sheet. Makes 4-5 dozen round cookies.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until bottoms are light brown. Cool on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.