VALENTINE HEART COOKIES

It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone. Soon Valentine's Day will be here. This is a nice little cookie to make for those special someone's in your life. It is a recipe that I got from the Land O'Lakes website. They are easy to make and taste so good. Your little ones might want to help with the chocolate dipping.

Cookie
1 c. butter, softened
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. peppermint extract
1 lg. egg
3 c. all-purpose flour

Glaze
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 T. vegetable shortening

Combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar and peppermint extract in a large mixing bowl and beat with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until well combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour. Continue beating until well mixed. Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate dough 2 hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough, one-half at a time (keep remaining dough refrigerated), on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets; cool completely.

Melt chocolate and shortening in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Dip half of each heart into chocolate. Place onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheets; re3frigerate until chocolate is firm. Store refrigerated.