Shortbread Cookies

Hello Everyone!

Scottish Shortbread Cookies

I was inspired to bake Shortbread Cookies for TWO REASONS

#1. Happier than a Pig in Mud is having a Celebrity Party featuring 

'The Pioneer Woman'

~A Red Letter Day for me~

I want to say these Shortbread Cookies are the most wonderful cookie to make and bake. I love this recipe

#2.  While doing research for my trip to Scotland this summer I found that Shortbread is "the jewel in the crown" of Scottish baking.

Cream Butter and Sugar together.

Sift in Flour and cornstarch and blend together using a pastry cutter until the ingredients all come together. (if mixture seems excessively dry, cut in 1 more tablespoon of butter-but only if you really need it.) I didn't need it.

Form dough into a big ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 20 minutes.

Roll onto a lightly floured surface and cut into rounds. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat.  Bake for 20 minutes. Do not allow shortbread to brown, the edges should have the faintest golden tinge.

Check you oven sooner if it runs hot.

Vintage cookie cutter

I poked holes in the cookie with the tines of a fork and dusted the cookies with super-fine sugar.  I think there is a Tea Party brewing.....

Shortbread is a classic Scottish dessert that consists of three basic ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter.  This dessert resulted from medieval biscuit bread, which was twice-baked, enriched bread roll dusted with sugar and spices and hardened into a hard, dry, sweetened biscuit called a rusk.  Eventually, yeast from the original rusk recipe was replaced by butter, which was becoming more of a staple in the British Isles.

Ingredients

2 sticks Plus 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter, Softened

1 cup Sugar

2 cups All-purpose Flour

1 cup (scant) Corn Starch

Prep Time 30 Minutes

Cook Time 20 Minutes

Servings 36 ~Difficulty Easy



Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner

I'm joining

Happier Than a Pig in Mud for Celebrity Cook - Pioneer Women

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Bargain Hunting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday

and

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Please link back and enjoy some great recipes and other wonderful things.

xo

Betty  

Easter Chicks

Hello Everyone!

Easter Chicks

These cute Easter chicks are full of beans-jelly beans! Gather the kids and make a bunch to use as place markers or party favors.

1 1/2 cups jelly beans (assorted colors)

12 plastic googly eyes (about 10-mm size)

Tacky craft glue or low-temperature hot glue

6 yellow or orange pipe cleaners or chenille stems (about 9 inch)

1) Cut each pipe cleaner with scissors 1 (4-inch), 2(1 1/2-inch) and 2 (1-inch) pieces. 

24 squares yellow or white (or assorted colors)

nylon netting, 8 inch (about 1 yard total)

2) For each jelly bean chick, stack 4 of the netting squares.  Pour 1/4 cup jelly beans onto center of netting.  Pull corners of netting up over jelly beans to form bundles (this will form body of chick).  Use 4-inch pipe cleaner piece as twist tie to tightly secure tip, twisting ends to form beak.

3) To form legs with feet, twist 1-inch pipe cleaner piece around each 1 1/2-inch pipe cleaner pieces into hole of netting on bottom of chick's body.

4) Trim top ends of netting with scissors into rounded shape to form head of chick.  With glue, attach googly eyes and craft feather to netting above beak.

For a quick centerpiece, nestle the chicks in cellophane Easter basket grass, surrounded by more jelly beans.



Tip If children are involved with this craft, have all of the components in separate groups, ready for them to assemble the "chicks."



I think I need to do some beak adjustments on these Easter Chicks. LOL

PREP TIME 45 MINUTES

(READY IN 45 MINUTES)

SERVINGS 6

EASY

Pretty cute little eyes!!!

Cute little feet!

I will be using these Easter Chicks on my Easter Tablescape and my Granddaughters will be taking the chicks home as part of their Easter gift from G'Pa and G'Ma.

I hope I have inspired you. 

 I'm joining

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

A Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Decor to Adore for Spring Craft Linky Party

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner.

Please link back to the parties above.

xo

Betty

White Tea

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to My White Tea Party~

 Outside under the Pomegranate Tree.  Today is a sunny beautiful day and I was so excited to get outdoors and play with my new table and chairs.

Spring is a new beginning and everything in the garden is just starting to pop up...

I have been looking for a small table and chairs to put on the lawn since last year.  I was so inspired when I would see a darling table and chairs on a blog.  I just could think of a plethora of ideas for posts with just a little table and chairs outside.   

I found this set a TJ Maxx

The Tea Cups, saucers, Tea Pot, sugar and creamer are Lynns Fine China which is my everyday dinnerware. I have had the complete set for twelve for over 20 years. 

The White milk glass vase was given to me by a friend that was downsizing her home because she was moving into a retirement facility. I bought the White baby's breath today at the market.  I love the look of the gentle sprays and the little puffs of White blossoms on the stems of the Baby's breath.

The Vintage Dolly is just large enough for the tea set and still shows the detail of my little table.  And Great-Grandmother's silver spoons to stir the tea.

The Tea Bird to hold the tea bags.

 And some yummy White Tea.

Friendship is precious,

not only in the shade,

but in the sunshine of life,

Thomas Jefferson

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner

I'm Joining my friends at:

A Stroll thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

A Delightsome Life for A Return to Loveliness

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

A Breath of Fresh air for Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday 

The Plumed Pen for Tuesday Tea for Two

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday 

and 

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Please join all the fun and jump back to the fabulous blogs for more enjoyment.

xo

Betty  

Camellia Mosaic

Hello Everyone!

My Camellia Mosaic

The Camellia blooms for just a short time in the spring, so I wanted to capture the wonderful color and shape of this beautiful plant while it's so lovely, graceful and elegant.

Camellia Japonica 'Marie Bracey'

Blooms in Spring

Great specimen plant

Glossy evergreen foliage

Large, coral-pink blooms

 Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner

I'm visiting

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

and

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Please use the link to their blogs and enjoy wonderful inspiration.

xo

Betty  

 

Tablescape # 25

Hello Everyone!

Chocolate

Delespaul-Havez

Yes!!! I looked the word up in Wikipedia....

In 1954, Mr Fauchille, director of the Delespaul-Havez company and

Mr. Galois an employee had a surplus of cocoa and decided to create a new, original recipe to use it up. The legend says that one of the machines in the factory was malfunctioning, making the long bars that still exists today.  This sweet, in the form of a bar was christened Caram'bar.

My sister gave me six plates as a gift when she came to visit me some years ago.  She always brings a surprise for me.  I love her...

The tablescape is set with Chocolate tones. 

Of course 'Chocolate candy'

I picked some Artemisia from my garden and one Lenten Rose bloom with a few Cyclamen in the arrangement to add more deep color. 

And a simple crock for the vase.

Yum!!!!

The glass dish is from my vintage glassware collection.   

Chocolate napkin from Tuesday morning and 'Affection' silverware

Creme De Cacao liqueur would be nice....

Chocolate Candle in Fostoria 'American' Candle holder



Each of the original Caram'bars were a regulated size and weight.  The statistics are as follows:

Length: 7cm

Weight: 10g

Recommended retail price 5 centimes

Wrapper: Yellow, with red striped twisted ends

Inside of the wrappers, there were "Carambar points" which could be redeemed for various Carambar-related products till 1961, when points where replaced by jokes.

In 1972, the name changed to "Super Caram'bar".  In 1977, the name lost its apostrophe.

The candy is imported from France, so while I'm in England this summer I will be looking for the candy to bring home for my family.  Especially my sweet sister.

I have enjoyed arranging and researching the name on the plates for this Tablescape Thursday. And I hope you have enjoyed your visit.

Please join me as I party hop...

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

My Cottage Charm for Treasures and Trinkets Thursday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Thursday

I Love Pretty Little Things for Friday Pretties

At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Simply Sweet Home for Friday Favorites

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Bargain Hunting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday

and

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Don't forget to hop back and see more goodies.

xo

Betty