Sweet desserts for Valentines Day

Valentines Day always make me think of chocolate and cherries. Maybe the cherries are George Washington, but its all February. And a good combination. The magazines, Pinterest, and Facebook are full of sweet recipes for February, so I know I'm not the only one. We show love of family and friends with food and these two recipes are simple treats to make this week or anytime. The S'More Bars were fun in a cast iron skillet, that would be a good dessert for summer picnics and camping as well.

Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies                                

Ingredients:

 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons Maraschino Cherry liquid

red food coloring

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

6 oz jar Maraschino cherries, drained and chopped

3 tablespoons white sugar (or red, or a mixture)

Hershey’s Kisses (about 36), unwrapped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Drain cherries of the liquid, reserving 2 teaspoons of the juice.

Cream butter with a mixer. Gradually stir in powdered sugar.

Stir in cherry juice, red food coloring, and vanilla.

Gradually stir in flour. Mix until just combined.

Fold in chopped cherries.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Gently flatten using a small juice glass dipped in sugar.

Bake 12-15 minutes or until the sides are just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and immediately press a kiss into the middle of each cookie.

S’Mores Bars                                                            

 Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup graham cracker crumbs

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large milk chocolate Hershey Bars, broken into sections

2 cups mini marshmallows

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar, beating with an electric mixer until cream. Add egg and vanilla extract.

Beating on low, slowly add flour mixture and mix until combined.

Press mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x9-inch baking dish, or a greased 10-inch cast iron skillet.

Place chocolate pieces over the top of dough, and then sprinkle with marshmallows. 

Bake, uncovered, on center rack 23-25 minutes or until puffed and golden.

Let bars cool slightly, cut into squares before marshmallows cool completely.