Dreamlike Shortbread

I wanted something quick and very easy to do this week, so I chose these. Dreamlike Shortbread. I had a lot of errands to get through this weekend and one of them was to get en edge-trimmer for our lawn. The other-half has taken up the chore of mowing the grass occasionally; I think to get out of doing house-chores. The grass gets cut with the mower, but he can never get round the lawn’s edges close enough and it ends up looking spiky like Bart Simpson’s head.

So, we get home with the edge-trimmer, thinking we can just plug it and go, but oh no, there’s some small amount of assembly to do. To the instruction manual we go, only to find pictorial instructions which can be interpreted any which way but the right way. Why can't I have words? Why do they do that? I want words AND pictures! Needless to say it took much longer to assemble this thing than it should have. People, please – I have limited time for gardening.

With only five ingredients, your preparation for this shortbread is half done. My little head got distracted by one of the ingredients, though – Rice Flour. I had never baked with this before, but luckily found a bag in Sainsburys (in their gluten-free section). As this recipe only uses 60 grams, God knows what I'm gonna do with the rest of it! Any ideas? Answers on a postcard please. (or in the comments box below  :-)

Strawberry Mascarpone Tart

  

Very pleased this week. One of my posts have made it onto Foodgawker. Peanut Butter cookies is my first ever, and has made their criteria to be featured on their site! I haven't even added a token glass of milk in the background or tied my cookies up in string, either! (So many other cookies tied in string/ ribbon pics out there on the net). I call it 'cookie-bondage'. And let's be honest now, 'cookie-bondage' is not good for rapid cookie consumption. (E.g: see Cookie Monster).

Anyway, lets not digress. You came here for Strawberry tart and yesterday was tart day for me. I actually saw this recipe on Tutti Dolci and it inspired me to create my own. I have adapted it slightly, to have shortcrust pastry and being in the UK, I'm not too familiar with using US cup measurements. Yet. I am debating whether or not to feature more US cup measurements or continue to use grams and ounces if it's okay for my US visitors? The tart was lovely to say the least and it made such a pretty picture. The fresher and sweeter your strawberries, the better. And the honey coating on the top makes this tart taste even more special.

High Five For Friday

After having a past few weeks where I've taken a few days off here and there during the week, working for a full five days seems so torturous! I'm linking up with Lauren in the USA to highlight my week so far.

1/  I made lemon cake this week! It was the first time I have ever, ever made this and it turned out perfect! I love it when a plan comes together!

2/  Thank God for Post-It notes. This week, I've had so much on my mind, I've had to write a list to remind myself to make a list.

3/  The heel of one of my fave pair of shoes broke the other month and I couldn't bear to throw them away! It took ages to get them sent away to be fixed so now feels like I got a new pair of shoes when I collected them this week! (not exactly 'new shoe' feeling, but close!)

4/  Thursday this week actually felt like Spring had finally sprung! Just ignore the forecast for the rest of the week.

5/  No more squashed morning train commute to work! So glad its Friday.

Nigella Lawson's perfect every time Lemon Drizzle Cake

When life gives you lemons, make Lemon Drizzle Cake! Why? Because this was the first time I have ever made this cake and the recipe was perfect! Hence the title. The most glamorous job a lemon has performed in my kitchen was to star in honey & lemon tea for a cold. Now we're really branching out here with cakes!

This cake is a great choice for a spring day (like today!). So I couldn't skip it. I polished off three slices yesterday with a cup of tea. Then I did the professional thing and got my two 'cake testers' (work colleagues, eh hem, eh hem) to sample a slice and the verdict was "very nice, moist but light and not too sweet or lemon-flavoured".   :-) 
Good!
 
I'm not a doctor or anything, but trust me on this one: If you follow this recipe spot on, it will come out perfect for you too!*

* Bake & the City cannot be held responsible for the final outcome of any reader's lemon-based cake attempts, or any liabilities associated with the destruction of his or her kitchen which may arise as a result of viewing of this post.

Kit

'Cookie' cookie mould, long tart tin, Baking beans

Some things are worth the fuss. Some things aren't.

Who has baking beans in their cupboard? I do, I do, I do! It was my birthday a few weeks ago and a good friend bought me some baking accessories! Amongst the useful cookie mould and fancy long tart tin (which I am eager to find a recipe for just so I can use it), were some ceramic baking beans. Now although I am a keen baker, this was one thing I just never had in my cupboard. And the one thing that's so boring to buy for yourself! It's like buying door handles. These are the thing to use when baking the base of your pies. As a substitute, I used to use scrunched up foil, or even rice, but they just didn't cut it as well as this will.
Happy Days.