National Shortbread Day - January 7, 2022

DIANE'S CORNER .. 

Celebrate Nat'l Shortbread Day

There are very few foods in the world that can make a person think of Scotland quite so strongly as shortbread does. The only other close contender would be haggis–and that food tends to evoke rather mixed sentiments when mentioned to anyone outside of Scotland! Yeah, there are Scotch eggs too, but it seems an important reminder that while they are decidedly British in invention, it is somewhat harder to pin them particularly on Scotland.

Scotch whiskey is a beverage, after all, so it doesn’t really count when it comes to Scottish foods. While no Robert Burns Night observance would be complete without some shortbread, it seems that having a day dedicated to the making and eating of shortbread can’t really be a bad thing on its own.

After all, who doesn’t like shortbread? So now there are two different days where it is delightful (if not compulsory!) to enjoy shortbread. This is true, even though everyone knows that shortbread is good year round and no one really needs an excuse to make and enjoy shortbread on any day of the year!

Now it’s time to celebrate National Shortbread Day!

History of National Shortbread Day

For those who might be wondering about the history of shortbread itself, now is the time to learn a bit about it. As it turns out, shortbread has medieval origins and supposedly Mary, Queen of Scotland, invented modern shortbread in the 16th century by adding sugar to an existing recipe. Rumor has it that these were originally flavored with caraway seeds, but Queen Mary decided to sweeten it up a bit.

Of course, it can’t be verified whether or not that story is true, but it’s a fun idea to go along with. Honestly, that story sounds a bit like one of those popular myths such as George Washington’s cherry tree but, for all anyone knows, it could actually be based in fact.

What is known to be true is that Scotland has been inseparable from shortbread since the 18th century. After all, the first printed recipe for shortbread was published by one Mrs. McLintock back in 1736 and the association has stuck ever since.

While the mid-18th century was a critical period in Scottish history, even something as mundane as a recipe became a marker of national identity. Therefore, it is important to say that shortbread is delicious and is worthy of such an honor.

Shortbread Recipe

What’s that? Are you saying, “but I don’t have a recipe for shortbread, how can I make it?” Well, this situation is perfect, then, because there’s a recipe for shortbread included right here. This is just so that excuse cannot impede anyone from actually making and enjoying shortbread.

So here it is:

2 1/4 cups (12oz) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (4oz) sugar

1 cup (8oz) butter

Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C and mix all of the ingredients together until they form a stiff dough. At this point, it’s time to add any additional ingredients like chocolate chips or lavender. It doesn’t make much difference whether choosing to mix by hand or using a mixer.

Roll out the dough and form round shapes, which can then be scored into triangles. Prick each piece with a fork to avoid getting air bubbles. Another option is also to use a shortbread mold as well. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. Then sprinkle it with sugar immediately upon removing it from the oven.

Congratulations, you now have freshly-baked shortbread to enjoy for National Shortbread Day and all-year round!

thanks for the pics, Bev

JOKE OF THE DAY

Q: What is the best way to cook a gator? 

A: In a crock-pot

but why do I have to know what snow is???

WORD OF THE DAY

pot-valiant

MEANING:

noun: A person displaying boldness or courage while drunk.
adjective: Displaying bravado under the influence of alcohol.

ETYMOLOGY:

From pot, alluding to a drinking pot + valor (boldness), from Latin valor (worth), from valere (to be well, be of worth). Earliest documented use: 1647. Someone pot-valiant is also said to display liquid courage or Dutch courage.

USAGE:

“You’ve knocked back a few, you’re feeling pot-valiant.”
John Beck; Best Bets for Welcoming 2009; The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California); Dec 21, 2008.

TODAY'S ARTIST 

thanks, Natalie

David Teniers III, also referred to as David Teniers junior (baptized 10 July 1638 – 2 October 1685) 

was a Flemish painter and tapestry designer who was mainly active in Antwerp, Madrid and Brussels. He is known for his portraits, religious compositions and genre scenes.

IDIOM OF THE DAY

What does 'Behind the curve' mean?

Meaning:

If you are behind the curve, you are behind or out of touch with current trends or developments.

thanks, Patsy

(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY

When Wyoming applied to join the US, Congress said they would have to stop letting women vote. Their response: "We will remain out of the Union one hundred years rather than come in without the women." They joined in 1890 as the first and only state that allowed women to vote.

In 1891, Chicago challenged all engineers to build a structure that would be better than The Eiffel Tower. The winning engineer proposed a giant rotating wheel that would lift visitors high above the city. The inventor's name was
George Ferris.

“Snake Island” is an island off the coast of Brazil that's estimated to have one snake per every square meter. Home to the extremely deadly and also highly endangered golden lancehead viper, the island is completely off-limits to humans. Wikipedia

READERS INFO

Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

Italian Beef Ragu Recipe

PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY

How do I Crochet 13 Basic Stitches and Beginner patterns

COFFEE

thanks, Ella

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Gliophorus chromolimoneus is a species of agaric fungus in  the family Hygrophoraceae found in New Zealand and Australia.  The yellow fruiting bodies are sticky to the touch, and appear  among the leaf litter under Nothofagus, Kunzea ericoides and  Leptospermum scoparium trees. These two G. chromolimoneus  fruiting bodies were photographed in Ferndale Park in New South  Wales, Australia.

Snow-Plateau Nomads

A herd of chiru leave a trail on a snow-veiled slope in China’s Altun Shan national nature reserve. These antelopes, to survive at elevations of up to 5,500 metres (18,000ft) have unique underfur – shahtoosh – very light and warm

knit
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Bounce Socks

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Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks pattern by Morgen Dämmerung

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Mommy & Me Beanies

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Northern Whale Cowichan Sweater pattern by Kristen Cooper

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Stjernedrys pattern by Rachel Søgaard

KNIT PATTERNS OF THE DAY

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Blanket 08: Diagonal Lace

Men's Sweater Pattern {Garter Stitch}

crochet

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UFO Pillow

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Square Design Temperature Blanket

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CROCHET POPCORN CROP TOP

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Chunky T Shirt Tote

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Owl Phone Case

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Baked Orzo With Artichokes and Peas Recipe

PANTRY RECIPE

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Easy Salsa Recipe {Made in Blender!}

CROCKPOT RECIPE

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Crock Pot Candy Chicken

VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE

Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.

thanks, Alice

Fully Loaded Vegan Nachos

COPYCAT RECIPE 

thanks, Jenny

Make Copycat P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

RETRO RECIPE

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Tillie's Ginger Crumb Cake

SWEETS RECIPE

thanks, Anita

Peanut Butter Celery Reindeer Sticks

COOKBOOK FRIDAY

Easy Food Issue 101

ADULT COLORING

FUN

Solve this riddle?????

Answer: Put your money where your mouth is

Explanation: The word your money is between NOSE and CHIN. Hence, your money is going in your mouth. So the phrase.

CRAFTS

Vintage Saucer Frames

but it's cold out here.....

CHILDREN'S CORNER

thanks, Betty

How to Make Beautiful Beads From Recycled Newspaper

PUZZLE

Fruit Salad Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

above annoy baker below bled conserve continue

deal destroy fiction flight heart onset

petty progression raise regret regular seen separation shout

slick sugar swelling throughout tiny tread twist

visible vitality wash weapon wigs writer yeast

SUDOKU .. medium

solution:

ICE BREAKER

thanks, Kris

You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic. 

How Many Pancakes Have You Eaten In A Single Sitting?

QUOTE

CLEVER 

thanks, Karla

Feline okay? The app that tells you if your cat's happy

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Judy

100 Ways to Improve Your Life Without Really Trying

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

You cannot begin to preserve any species of animal unless you preserve the habitat in which it dwells. Disturb or destroy that habitat and you will exterminate the species as surely as if you had shot it. So conservation means that you have to preserve forest and grassland, river and lake, even the sea itself. This is not only vital for the preservation of animal life generally, but for the future existence of man himself -- a point that seems to escape many people. -Gerald Durrell, naturalist and author (7 Jan 1925-1995)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

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