Tools of the Trade

Last week I invested in the most expensive and important item for my new enterprise so far.  It is a most beautious! yes, beautious! KitchenAid Mixer!!! OMG! I can not write enough superlatives!  I can only gush!!!!!  It is not only very attractive to look at . . . Pistashio

but soooo functional as well!

Within the first few hours of unpacking and washing my utensils I produced 4 batches of cookies, and a double batch of tart dough, plus the filling for the walnut tarts that I have on my Facebook Page.  Wow! that would have taken me the better part of a morning and afternoon previously.  The new mixer helped me to streamline my baking without compromising the personal hands on approach that I desire.

The KitchenAid is just one of the many investments that I've made inorder to launch my new enterprise.  I've had to investigate packaging, labeling, logo, presentation and pricing, not to mention figuring out how to target more than one market and seeing if this thing really has a chance to take off and grow.  I've promoted myself with a few small ventures in the past, but previously I've alway's had a partner who could shoulder part of the load.  Not so this time! I am a one WOMAN show!

To conclude my thoughts on this subject ~ when I say tools of the trade obviously I'm not just talking about the tangible elements involved in my new endeavor ~ there is so much that goes into creating something new and trying to launch a venture!  So let me just say that the material items that go into any new enterprise are VERY IMPORTANT! but the most important TOOL of any TRADE is your NOODLE!

KMC Holiday Specials

KMC's Holiday Specials!!!!

It's Time To Offer Some Holiday Cheer! 

From My Kitchen To Your Tummy!

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!

&

Happy Hanukkah!

Cleaning the Dry Porch

December 4, 2o12

I know you're probably wondering what cleaning my old dry porch has to do with Shortbread.  Well, in one way nothing in another everything.  The dry porch is full of memories . . . when my husband Jim died 7 years ago it remained functional, but you know the old story it started COLLECTING!  You could say the porch was a lot like me.  It served a purpose but sort of held on to things, because they might prove useful some time in the future.  Not anymore!  It is time to sort through and evaluate what still serves a purpose and what must be discarded.  

   

I want you to know that I am going back and forth as I write this passage . . . cleaning for a few and then returning to this task.  It's easier that way.  I've actually been working on re-organizing and cleaning this area for a couple of weeks.  I think that when I first started I was afraid of what I might find if I looked too hard.  The porch is not large ~ maybe 12'x24', but it packs a wallop in what it contains!  Food Products, Serving Containers, A Full Size Frig, Chest Freezer, Gardening Supplies you catch my drift.  And of course everything is too important to part with (yeah right!)  

I filled the big garbage can up and had to pile my bagged garbage and old paint cans next to the darn thing!  Thank God tomorrow is garbage day!  Six hours into today's project and although I'm not completely finished at least I can look at my dry porch and feel a sense of accomplishment!  BTW for anyone with any sense it is also the cocktail hour!  Red wine and a box pizza anyone?

December 5, 2012

The garbage man came and collected yesterday's trash ~ but guess what I've already filled the darned trash can up again.  I've been assessing the dry porch today trying to figure out where to put my packaging supplies for my shortbread, tarts and cookies.  It'll probably take a few more days of strategizing before I get this part of the equation figured out but boy does it feel AND look so much better!

In conclusion of today's blog I just want to say that now I feel like I can get back to the thing I really love to do which is cook & bake!  Today, although I haven't managed any cookies or tarts yet I have made a Killer Hungarian Goulash and an Amazing Phuket Pork Curry! Nummy!

 

The Pillar & the 'Post'

Trying to put together today's blog post & I feel like I'm stuck between ~ the pillar & the 'post'!

Have you ever felt just stuck?  That was me yesterday.  I sat down to write about my latest adventure in baking and then I went blank!  I pondered what I wanted to say about Shortbread and Tarts, but nothing that I put down on paper seemed to fit!  Then a thought came to me, what if I let everyone know why I decided to do what I'm doing.

All of my life I've been a bit of an adventurer~ it doesn't matter if it involves travel, food, gardening or crafting.  I can conform to the mainstream, but I always feel better and more secure within myself embarking on a journey that is my own!  Trust me I love help & I enjoy the camaraderie of the people that surround me, but there is nothing more exhilarating than to jump off that high dive and hit the water with a splash!  

My Own Splash!

KMC's Shortbread Specialties is a bit like that splash.  When I found myself without a job a few weeks ago I thought ~ OK ~ I know I'm not ready to take it to the HOUSE!  I'm only 62yr. and I know that life has a whole lot more to offer before I check out.  I'd been toying with the notion of maybe getting back into a little personal chef work, then I hit upon the idea of doing Shortbread & maybe some Pastries for the holidays and the idea just grew from there.

I've been making shortbread for years in 'Brown Bag Cookie Art' pans.  Everyone in my circle of family and friends who received a pan of Shortbread over the holidays made such a fuss about how good the Shortbread tasted and how enchanting the design of the Shortbread was that I thought it was time to share. Voila! KMC's Shortbread Specialties was thus conceived!  

Well, I am at the beginning of my journey and I know that there is a long road ahead of me, but I also know that I just jumped off that high dive again & that I am no longer between the pillar and the 'post'!  My Blog has been written & I live to write another day!

Cyber Monday vs Nostalgia

 vs 

Cyber Monday vs Nostalgia

When I woke up this morning the world was singing to the tune of hurry up grab that cup of java and get to the new God that so many of us unconsciously bow to ~ Our Computer!   It's Cyber Monday and the 'deals' are only here for a brief moment!

I started to think about all of the deals that I simply 'must' have in order to make my life more complete and/or the Christmas presents that need to be purchased and sent in short order so that everyone gets something special.  

Wait what is this?  This is just Crazy!

I started thinking back to a simpler time when the holidays meant making gifts for family and friends.  It meant going and buying a or even cutting your own 'Real' Christmas Tree, making homemade baked goods, caroling, drinking mulled cider, gathering together and sharing conversation, traditions and each others company!

Wait a minute!! What world do I live in? 

The truth is that we all probably have lived in a world that has offered a bit of both craziness & tradition.

Let me offer you the best of both worlds . . . .

 

Let me help you start a new tradition!

Use the convenience of shopping from your home or office and still enjoy the 

Old World Tradition of Exquisite Shortbread

Start a new Tradition 

Create your own Nostalgia!

The Origin of Shortbread

Shortbread originated in the twelfth century in Scotland, but didn't reach it's first claim to fame until the reign of Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century~a popular version called petticoat tails found it's way to France around the same time. 

Because of the expense of ingredients ~ butter, flour, and sugar ~ Shortbread was mainly presented @ Christmas or other special holidays. Shortbread has also become popular in the rest of the rest of the British Isles & also Denmark & Sweden. 

Types Shortbread:

Classic~ Simplicity is the only way to describe the luscious combination of butter, flour, sugar & vanilla ~ Heavenly!

Chocolate ~ Modify a classic recipe by pumping it up with 2 heaping tablespoons of Coco! Yum!

Orange Spice~ If there is any way to improve on Classic Shortbread it definitely would begin with a combination of ground orange peel, ginger, cinnamon! Fantastic!!

Pecan~ In Europe a nut shortbread actually would have been made with hazelnuts~but America can claim the mighty Pecan our nut if choice! Yay!

Rosemary~ I will declare this a KMC  Signature Shortbread!  My Rosemary Shortbread is a cross between sweet & savory. Let your mouth savor the the bold statement of rosemary complimented with sweet/salty combination that's wonderful when paired with with coffee, tea or even a glass of white wine.  This Shortbread works as a dessert eaten by it's self or paired with a nibble of chocolate & fruit & as an appetizer served with a nice cheese, hard salami or just let your imagination flow.  Indescribable!

Cracked Pepper ~ This is the 'perfect' savory Shortbread!  Let essence of Pepper fill the palette & dance in your mouth.  Use this Shortbread to accompany a winter soup or sala, Or switch gears and pair it with cheese & fruit. Perfecto!

Both of my Savory Shortbreads are offered as a Pan (thicker) or Cracker (thinner).  The Pan usually yields 8-9 pieces and the Cracker usually yields 15-20 pieces.  

Hi KMC here,

Before I start really applying myself to this venture I would like initiate a sample blog to help me work out some of the kinks or maybe I should say chinks in my armor ~ I have  composed 2 different blogging ideas ~ one involves plant taxonomy and the other involves my interest in plants