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