Valentine dinner + chocolate shortbread recipe

Thanks for the sweet words about our valentine story! It was fun to think back about that time and the newness of it all. What a whirlwind the next two years turned out to be! I'm thankful we took a chance on that first date :)

In honor of our first Valentine, our tradition is for Chris to make dinner while I make something for dessert. We eat at home instead of braving the crowds, and it usually takes place on a day other than Valentines because I have a habit of deserting my hubby on Love day :) For the first couple of years after we had kids, we put them to bed early and ate a nice meal together - a romantic date in the comfort of home. But as the kids grew we decided to make it a family celebration and now the kids help set the table and make things fancy while Chris is cooking. And then they ask that Daddy cook all the meals from now on because it ends up being so delicious!

making chocolate shortbread hearts with the kiddos

For dessert we used one of Chris's favorite recipes for shortbread cookies. The recipe is from the Kutsch Family Cookbook, but just in case you're not a cookbook carrying member of our family, I'll share it right here, at the end of this post :) They're easy and scrumptious and I bet you can't eat just one!

A sweet friend gave us the best Christmas gift EVER when she gave us a box of things to open each month for the next year. Part of February's surprise were these place-mats which we decorated with things we love about each other. It is so much fun adding to our traditions each year! And I'll have to do a blog post all about her clever gift soon :)

hard at work on the place-mats.

Candle-lit dinner for four with homemade chicken Alfredo and bruschetta. Mmmm...

Totally out of focus photo in which I chopped off my hubby's head, but doesn't he have a sweet smile?? Someone please teach me how to take low light indoor photos in weird lighting cause I need help :)

Carol's Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder                      2 cups flour
1 cup confectioner's (powdered) sugar                  1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter                                            1 tsp vanilla

Using a food processor, pulse all dry ingredients in the bowl until mixed. Cut cold butter into small slices over dry ingredients. Add the vanilla. Process until it holds together in a clump. Form the dough into a ball and flatten slightly. Roll out on a floured surface until it is 1/2 inch thick (don't go too thin!). Use a cookie cutter dipped in flour to cut out circles or shapes, and place them 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

The dough is just as yummy as the rich, buttery cookies - just ask Chris :)