♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

♥ Tea on Tuesday: Walnut Chocolate Hearts ♥

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
• TOPPING:
• 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1/2 cup ground walnuts

Directions

• In a large saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until butter is melted. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cool for 15 minutes. Stir in egg.
• Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; add to butter mixture. Fold in walnuts. Cover and chill for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake at 350° for 9-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.
• For topping, in a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip half of each heart into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Dip edges of dipped side into ground walnuts. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. 
• Yield: about 4 dozen.

~~yummy recipe and photo from: Taste of Home's holiday and celebrations cookbook, Annual 2006~~