I’m a little obsessed with cookie cutters...ok, maybe more than a little. You can’t have too many as far as I’m concerned. My family, however, definitely does not understand this obsession so I’ve stopped talking about it! The shapes alone can inspire me to create something unique. I don’t see any harm in getting just one or two more, do you?

Cookies can say a lot in just one bite. Each of these heart-shaped cookies says “I love you” ... “Be my Valentine” ... “You are special to me.” I am fortunate to have many people in my life that are important to me and every Valentine’s Day I go crazy making sure they know it. While decorating these pretty bites, I think of each one of my special people and can’t wait to let them know that they have a place in my heart, not only on February 14th, but every day of the year.

“Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough.” William Shakespeare

As a child, I was never very fond of gingerbread and when I started making Christmas cookies all those years ago, I didn’t give a thought to making gingerbread men — or women for that matter. Everything changed when I found out that my great nephew loved gingerbread! Who knew? So I set about finding the best recipe I could. Not having much experience with how they should taste, I just decided to experiment until I found one that I liked. And what do you know...I ended up liking gingerbread!