Shortbread Cookies

DJ’s birthday is on Wednesday.  With working long hours, I just don’t have the time or energy to bake during the week.  So I’m struggling with the idea of baking a birthday cake midweek.  I’ve decided the most practical option would be an ice cream cake.  I’ll make it this weekend and just pull it out when it’s time to serve. 

I would love to show you how to make it the whole ice cream cake; but before I can start, I need to make the crumb crust.  That’s when the shortcake comes into the picture.  It’s the first building blocks for cake.      

I can hardly believe it, but he’s turning 40!  We talked about this milestone last night on the way to the marina. 

He started the conversation by saying, “Back when you were a kid, what would you have said if someone asked, `Where would you be at 40?’”

Wow.  As a kid, anything seemed possible.  In fact, since I grew up on a small farm around horses, I seriously dreamed of becoming a famous jockey who would win the Kentucky Derby a million times.  On the other hand, since DJ grew up in Seattle around skyscrapers, he wanted to be an architect. 

You almost have to ask yourself, how did we end up as insurance adjustors?  What kid in his right mind declares, “I want to be an insurance adjustor when I grow up!”?  Let me tell you, it just doesn’t happen.  So, we started to ask ourselves; when did we lose sight of our dreams and settle for the reality of life?

Now there’s a deep question for you.

We sited broken bones, lack of ambition, or funds for the overall changes in our course. However, we also realized that as we grew, our dreams tended to grew and changed with us.  Dreaming is still important to us, and there’s one special dream we’ve held close and dear to our heart for the last 5-6 years.

Are you ready for it? 

We want to sail around the Caribbean in a catamaran. 

Someday we’ll make it there.  This is where my What about Bob mantra kicks in: Baby step to the door…Baby step to the elevator…  Every time I set sail, I’m gaining confidence and skills.  One day all these baby steps will someday add up to something special. 

 

Shortbread Cookies

1 cup softened butter

½ cup sugar

2 cups gluten free flour mix

1 teaspoon gar gum

Cream the butter and sugar on high for roughly 10 minutes.  Lightly whisk the gar gum into the flour.  With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture.  Once the dry ingredients are incorporated bend on high for 20-30 seconds to make sure everything is well combined.  Spread the dough into a 9x9 pan and bake in preheated 325 oven for 30-35 minutes.  Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 9 squares and dust with powder sugar.