As far as I'm concerned, CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES are the BEST Valentine's Day Dessert!!!     Y*U*M*M*Y!!

Here's an easy recipe:

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

12 large strawberries
1 6 ounce package semi sweet chocolate chips

Rinse and thoroughly drain strawberries. Chill for 20 minutes. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Meanwhile, transfer chocolate chips to a zippered sandwich bag and place in a bowl of very hot water until chips have melted. Dry bag carefully and set into a small bowl. Spread open top of bag. Hold leaves and stem and dip strawberries, one at a time, into chocolate to coat to within about 1/4-inch of leaves. Allow any excess chocolate to drain back into bag, then place strawberry on baking sheet. Any remaining chocolate may be refrigerated in the same bag for another use. For best appearance, set berries aside in a cool place until chocolate is firm and serve immediately. Refrigerate for longer storage, but this may cause condensation to form on chocolate.

Yummy Valentine's Cookies for your Sweetie Pie!!  These PUFFED HEART LEMON COOKIES are so pretty. They're easy to make.    Pat ****************************

Prep: 45 minutes
Bake: 8 minutes per batch
Cool: 2 minutes
Stand: 2 minutes

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
• Royal Icing or Lemon Glaze (recipe below)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat 3-inch heart shape pans* or 3-1/2-inch muffin top pans with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

2. In small bowl stir together flour and baking powder; set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture. Stir in lemon peel.

4. Using about 2 tablespoons batter, spread into the prepared heart shape pans or muffin top pans. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack; cool completely.

5. Spread half the cookie tops with white Lemon Glaze and the other half with pink Lemon Glaze, or frost all one color. Let stand on wire rack until icing is dry. Transfer some of the icing to a pastry bag fitted with a writing tip or a small self-sealing plastic bag with a small corner snipped off to pipe initials, if desired. Makes about 20 cookies.

Lemon Glaze: In a large bowl stir together 3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice and 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar. Spoon half the mixture into another bowl. One drop at a time, add red food coloring; stir thoroughly between each addition to reach desired shade of pink.

Royal Icing: In a large mixing bowl combine one 16-ounce package powdered sugar (3-1/4 cups), 2 tablespoons meringue powder (with cake decorating supplies at crafts stores), 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar. Add 1/2 cup warm water. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined; beat on high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until sugar mixture is very stiff. Add 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel. Cover bowl with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap; refrigerate up to 2 days. Makes about 5 cups.

My very first valentines day with my (now) Husband. I was working and a huge vase of flowers arrived at my work place. They were addressed to me, but had no sender attached. I called Lysandros right away and said "Thank you, I Love the flowers". He said "What Flowers?" I knew they were from him. After my work shift, We met for a romantic dinner at our favorite restaurant. He handed me a box of candy and a bouquet of flowers. All during dinner he kept saying they were not from him and I am thinking now,,,"Who were they from" because he handed me flowers at dinner.

The entire evening he insisted they were not from him. Now I was scared and wanted to know who my admire was. But to test him,, after we returned to my house, I placed the flowers in my favorite spot in my dinning room and the flowers he handed me at the restaurant in the kitchen.

Now we are watching TV and he says to me.."Why did you put those flowers there and mine in the kitchen. I said to him,,, "Because they are from a secret admire and I want to admire them. Arent they just Beautiful?". Then he grabbed me and kissed me and said "You are just to smart for me" Will you marry me? (But I did not say yes right then...;) It was 6 months later that I said yes. (after the gold arrived...;-) just kidding about the gold,,,it was a diamond..;-)

Happy Valentines day Everyone!!

Peace, Sharon

Happy Valentine's Day LaNell...You're a wonderful friend!!  Hugs, Pat