Best Valentine's Day Cookie Recipe

Valentine's Day is probably not the holiday that conjures up the most childhood memories for people. But for me, it always reminds me of the special Valentine's Day cookies that my mom used to bake. They're still my favorite cookies, and if you feeling like baking a love-filled treat for your kids, give this recipe a try!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon McCormick's pure peppermint extract
red food coloring
1 cup rolled oats (long-cooking type)
powdered sugar
7 to 9 Hershey's milk chocolate bars (no nuts)
1 ½" Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter

DIRECTIONS:

Beat together butter and sugar.
Blend in egg and vanilla extract.
Sift flour and salt together and add to creamed mixture, mixing well.
Add peppermint and food coloring, creating a pink dough.
Stir in oats and mix well.
Divide dough in ½ and wrap in plastic wrap to chill in refrigerator a few hours.
Roll out dough on surface sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Cut with floured 1 ½ inch heart-shaped cookie cutter.
Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until lightly browned.
When removed from oven, immediately place 1 ½ to 2 rectangles of chocolate bar on a hot cookie and press another cookie lightly onto the chocolate to create a sandwich cookie. Cool.

Makes about 40 cookies. Freezes well.

Chicago Spring Break Camps

Spring break is right around the corner for most Chicago area kids, and I've highlighted some great spring break camp ideas from my ChicagoKids.com listings. These are just a few of the spring break camps going on, so check out www.ChicagoKids.com/calendar for even more ideas.

Chicago Botanic Garden
Mon - Fri, March 29 - April 9
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe.
This weeklong camp connects nature to a range of themes including art, cuisine, and conservation. Children will have the opportunity to dissect and plant seeds, explore fragrant herbs and flowers, search for birds and early spring plants on nature hikes, take a trolley ride around the Garden, create take-home science-themed projects, and much more. Learn more.

Christian Youth Theater
Mon - Fri, March 29 - April 2
Locations in Naperville, Cary and Gurnee
CYT has camps for Juniors ages 5 & 6, and for kids ages 7-12. Campers will all have a blast with highlights from Disney's Beauty & the Beast, and will have a chance to sing, dance and act. Camp days are structured in short sections to keep the fun going. Junior campers will play a lot of games and do crafts, while older campers will learn to dance, sing and act with songs and dance from the story. All campers will perform together for a showcase at the end of the week. Learn more.

Eating a Rainbow
Mon - Fri, March 29 - April 9
2337 W. North Ave., Chicago
The Kids' Table is cooking up a different color of the rainbow every day during Spring Break. These special 2-hour classes for 4-10 year olds will keep with an "Eating a Rainbow" theme, and each day will focus on a different color and food. Learn more.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Mon - Fri, March 29 - April 2
1147 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago
Kids can discover dance through improvisation and structured choreographic activities. Dancers-in-the-making will gain an understanding of how their bodies move and communicate through dance. The week will conclude with a showcase of students’ work. Classes for ages 3-5 and 6–9. Learn more.

Wishcraft
Mon - Fri, March 29 - April 2
2312 W. Roscoe St., Chicago
Wishcraft offers spring break camp with different camps every day. Enjoy different activities during Creative Day Camp Sewing Boot Camp and Ecosew camps, and pick the days that works best for you. Camp dates are March 29-April 2 and April 5-9. For ages 7-12. Learn more.

Chicago Storm Soccer Camp
March 20 - April 2
Several locations, Chicago
Chicago Storm is offering several soccer camp options over the next 2 weeks in Downers Grove, Aurora and Buffalo Grove. These camps offer children the opportunity to train and play with Chicago Storm players and coahces. Children of all levels will work on technical skills and decision making in a educational and fun environment. Learn more.