Secret To Your Love's Heart: Valentine Day Sweets!!!

Valentines day is right around the corner. Have you thought what you were going to gift that special someone(s)? While a dinner or a card is always pleasant, sweeten up the day by baking some delectable edibles for loved ones, romantic and platonic alike! 

Sweets are definitely the way to anyone's heart: man or woman; friend or lover. Gift them to coworkers and let them know how much they are appreciated; to a best friend to let them know that they are your soul buds for life; to a family member to remind them that you are always thinking of them; or to a lover to let them know you are truly, madly, deeply.

Here is a delicious baking idea for a special valentines day, but don't let Valentines Day be the only day you bake. Sweeten up someone's day everyday if you can :) Plus baking is just good for the soul!

bake sweet nothings so they forget you not...

This great meringue recipe by Martha Stewart is perfect for leaving sweet notes for giftee.  Find the recipe and how to below. Total bake time is 2 hours, requiring only 20 minutes of prep time. The recipe makes (12) four inch letters and (16) one inch hearts. Need more cookies than just 12 letters? Multiply the recipe by the amount you need. Need 24? Double the recipe. 36? Triple it.

Ingredients: 

(3) large egg whites at room temperature; (3/4 cup) sugar; (large) pinch of coarse salt; (large) pinch of cream of tarter.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees, with racks in upper and lower third of oven. Combine egg whites and sugar in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water; stir until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm, about 3 minutes. Add salt and cream of tartar.
2. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and meringue is mostly cooled, about 7 minutes.Transfer meringue to a piping bag fitted with a ?-inch plain pastry tip (such as Ateco #805). Pipe the letters onto a parchment-lined baking sheet; each letter should be about 4 inches tall and spaced 1 inch apart. Pipe 16 hearts, 1 inch tall and 1 inch apart, onto another parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Bake meringues until crisp on the outside but still soft inside, about 1 hour for letters and 40 minutes for hearts. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 day.

And don't forget to leave a heart or two for yourself. Savor and enjoy since you should also give yourself some love, if not everyday, then on this day of endearment and care.