Cleaning Out The Closet

Today I took on a project that has been a long time coming but for many reasons just hasn't been started & definitely not completed!

My husband Jim passed away 7 1/2 years ago.  I was 55 yr. and only working part time because of his illness.  I took a week to get things in order and then plunged into my part time job that eventually became my fulltime everything.  It took several months for me to be able to go to fulltime so in my free time I cleaned out SOME drawers and PART of the closet, but I never completed the task!  

Today while I was cleaning out some of my (lots) clothing I started going through Jim's things as well . . .

3 hours later I was still at it ~ I texted my boys to ask if they wanted any of dad's old coats.  I wondered if they wanted any of his old PanAm stuff, his cowboy boots the only 2 ball caps that ever fit his bushy head each step of the way memories started flooding back ~ remember where we went or did in this how he looked when he was casual or decked out ~ Jeez ~ it's been a day!  A day that should have happened a long time ago and yet a day that almost didn't happen even today!  I know some people put things in order very quickly on the outside, but never resolve the inner turmoil that death brings.  Obviously, I hold on to THINGS for a long time ~ FLIP I gave away a cape that I had gotten when I was 15 yr old today!!! 

It really isn't about the THINGS ~ It's about the memories I promise!  I just wanted to share these thoughts with someone, anyone really because sometimes it feels like I am the only one who still remembers!  I know it's not true, but as we go through life we gather our special moments that we only shared with that special someone & now it's only a memory!

Edible Flowers

Daylily

Rose

Violet

How many of you have ever thought about using flowers in your cooking adventures?  Flowers have been used by many cultures for thousands of years to add a special taste or flare to a meal.  There are some obvious flowers that almost anyone would recognize as being edible such as rose petals, violets, marigolds, but you may be surprised at some of the blooms in your garden that can add a whole new dimension to your food experience!  

Let me show you some examples of edibles that you may not be as familiar with~

Petunia

Nigella

Nasturtium

That's right Petunias! Nigella! Nasturtiums! 

Petunias are such a delight to add to a summer salad of mixed greens from the garden ~ gather your lettuce, fresh lemon basil, fennel leaf and whatever fresh veggies are emerging from the garden. Toss the greens together top with your petunias & serve with your favorite dressing.
Nigella will not only turn heads but lend an exotic aire to your room temperature pasta dishes, it will impart a flavor of subtle wild onion to the meal.  The flower is used along with it's seed to flavor many Middle Eastern & Indian dishes.
Nasturtium is probably the most versatile of the three flowers!  It can be used in salads, pasta & as a decorative addition to summer drinks.  Nasturtium has peppery taste and the buds are actually used as a caper substitute. 

I hope that I've piqued your interest in edible flowers if so drop me a comment and we'll revisit the subject some time in the future, because today we didn't even begin to explore the many uses of Edible Flowers! 

Shortbread, Tarts and Cookie Bags!

January 9, 2013


Cheers and Happy New Year one and all!  I've taken a little break the last few weeks partly because of the holidays and partly because this winter flu had it's way with me for the last couple of weeks.  Thank goodness I finally feel as though I am on the mend and ready to join the real world again!

So what you ask do I have in store for you as we begin the New Year?  Let me tell you!  I am going to continue to make the best Shortbread you ever tasted!  There was a real interest in Tarts and Cookie Bags during the holidays and I see no reason for that to discontinue as we go into this New Year so I will continue to hone and improve production and try to find new avenues for continued and improved sales.  

I'm already looking for new venues to promote my products as well a few new additions to my Shortbread Menu and Product Line.  One thing that I know needs work is finding a way to ship my product both safely and economically.  Once I get a handle on this particular obstacle I believe I will do nothing but move forward.  I'm reaching out to all of you if you have any suggestions I would love your feedback! Just attach it to the comment section of my blog! 

Thanks

KMC

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!