For dough:

* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened * 3/4 cup sugar * 1 large egg * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

For decorations:

* 1 cup prepared vanilla frosting (from a 16 oz. can) * Assorted colored sugars * Mini chocolate chips * Candy corn * Red fruit leather

Special aids:

* Hand-shaped template or cookie cutter * Small resealable plastic bag * Scissors

Making cookies:

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and beat for 1 minute longer. Beat in vanilla just until incorporated.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Using a wooden spoon, stir butter mixture, one-third at a time, into flour mixture until blended. (The mixture will be crumbly.)

Gather dough into a ball; flatten into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 2 baking sheets with vegetable cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a template made by cutting out a tracing of your hand or a hand-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies.

Transfer cutouts, 2 inches apart, to prepared baking sheets. Reroll scraps for additional cookies. Bake until lightly browned around edges, 8-10 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Decorating cookies:

Spoon frosting into a resealable plastic bag; snip off 1 corner. Pipe a feather design onto each finger.

Sprinkle "feathers" with colored sugar. Pipe a dot for "eye" on each thumb. Place a mini chocolate chip on each frosting "eye." Cut a candy corn for each nose and attach to thumb with a little frosting.

Using scissors, cut fruit leather on its backing paper into 2-inch pieces; cut out "wattles."

Remove paper from fruit leather. Using a dab of frosting, attach "wattles" to thumbs. Let stand until frosting is set, about 1 hour.

Bake at 350 F, occasionally basting with reserved marinade for an hour or until juices run clear. Meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh should reach 180 F.

--

If there was ever such a thing as a love potion, The Classic Cupid Cocktail would be it. Before you move on to dinner, how about a romantic cocktail hour?

--

The Classic Cupid Cocktail

• 3/4 oz. (20 mL) brandy
• 1 sugar cube
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 3 oz. (75 mL) chilled, Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut, or semi-dry, Freixenet Carta Nevada

In a champagne glass, combine sugar cube, bitters and brandy.

While stirring, add sparkling wine.

Garnish with orange slice and cherry.

--

Finally, a tiramisu made just for two of you. Prepare it just before serving, then sit back and savour each deliciously creamy spoonful with one you love.

--

Frozen Tiramisu for Two

• 8 to 10 small soft ladyfingers, halved 8 to 10
• 1/4 cup hot water 50 mL
• 2 tsp Instant Coffee granules 10 mL
• 1 bar (44 g) Nestle Crunch candy, chopped
• 1/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur or dark rum 50 mL
• 2 cups vanilla, coffee or chocolate Ice Cream, softened 500 mL
• Fresh berries (optional)

Line bottom and sides of two 1-cup (250 mL) dessert dishes with ladyfingers.

In small bowl, combine water and coffee granules until granules are dissolved; brush over ladyfingers. Divide half of chopped candy bar evenly between dishes.

In food processor or blender, blend together ice cream and liqueur until smooth; spoon into prepared dishes.

Top evenly with remaining chopped candy bar. Serve immediately, garnished with berries (if using).

--

Romance can be in air anytime of year so don't throw away these recipes, pull them out anytime!