Hearts Delight Food

HEART'S DELIGHT

Steps:

• In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat 1 cup butter or margarine with 1/2 cup sugar, almond extract, and food coloring until light and fluffy. With wooden spoon, stir in 2 1/2 cups flour until smooth and well combined. Divide dough into 2 parts. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• On lightly sugared surface, roll out dough, one part at a time, about 1/4- inch thick. Using heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Place, one inch apart, on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 20 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack. Frost when cool.
• To Make Frosting: Cook 5 Tablespoons flour and milk until thick, stirring constantly. Let cool. Cream together 1 cup sugar, 1 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour/milk mixture. Beat until consistency to spread. When finished it looks like whipped cream. Spread on cookies.

HEARTS DELIGHT ECLAIR - MADE WITH PUFF PASTRY SHEETS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll each puff pastry sheet into a 12 inch square.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
• (Original recipe calls for: "Using an 11 inch heart pattern, cut each pastry into a heart shape" - either way works well).
• Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. (Do not underbake - it's a good idea to check your oven temperature. If underbaked, the pastry will fall.).
• Remove to wire rack to cool.
• Meanwhile, whisk milk and pudding mix until thickened, 1-2 minutes.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream and 1/2 t vanilla until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold into pudding until consistent color but do not over stir.
• Split puff pastry sheets horizontally with a serrated knife.
• Place one layer on a serving plate and top with 1/3 of the pudding mixture.
• Repeat twice.
• Top with remaining pastry.
• In a small bowl combine confectioners sugar, water, almond extract and remaining vanilla and stir until smooth. (If necessary you can use a few drops more water if you find it difficult to spread but do not thin too much or you lose the white color which adds to its appearance).
• Carefully spread over top of dessert.
• Melt chocolate chips and shortening. Pipe in diagonal lines in one direction over frosting (if you don't have tips for piping, place in a plastic zip lock baggie,seal the bag and cut a small piece off the corner of the baggie to do the piping).
• Refrigerate until set - (remove from fridge about 15-20 minutes before serving to soften the top for easy cutting)
• This holds well overnight but we never seem to have any leftovers to keep any longer than that!