Shortbread

It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago - one of my presents (actually two of my presents) was/were two shortbread pans. I've been wanting one for years - but they are surprisingly hard to find.  I should probably warn the ladies I visiting teach...I'm thinking these pans will come in handy for Christmas... Valentines... Easter... Mother's Day... Memorial Day...

From the look of the final product, I think I need to work a little on my technique - but the taste is spot on. I do love a recipe that uses staples that I always have on hand. Here's the recipe that came with my pans:

Classic Shortbread

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 325'. Grease pan.

Cream butter until it's light. Cream in powdered sugar, then vanilla. Finally, work in flour. Knead dough on an unfloured board until smooth. Firmly press dough into pan. Prick surface with a for (I forgot to do this). Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes. Loosen the edges and invert on cutting board. Cut into serving pieces while warm. Yum.

Style is My Middle Name

Steve has a campout this weekend with the Scouts.  That's fine, I got three new videos for my birthday...I shall don my awesome new Totoro slippers, pop some popcorn and cozy up in the recliner for a vid-fest.

Wishful Thinking

Steve has been hinting at me lately that I need a 'birthday wish list'.  Yes, my birthday is coming up soon...but I'm fairly stymied.   I told him he could fall back on an Amazon gift card...but he's not too thrilled about that.  So here goes:

My Birthday Wish List

• A Pony. Oh, wait, I mean, I DON'T want a pony.
• Amazon gift card.  Really honey, I wouldn't be insulted.
• Kindle??? I'm not convinced I need one - so you'd have to do some fast talking. Very fast talking.
• a weekend getaway (I've got a 3 day weekend this week).
• i-tunes gift card.  I've got a few songs I'd like to buy.
• um...
• um...
• ...

Sorry, I guess there's just not that much that I want for my birthday.  Last year's was so great - I can handle having a more laid back one this year.

What's on your nightstand?

Besides my ongoing seminary lesson prep, here's what else I'm reading:

Just Finished:

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean - I picked this up last month at the Costco in Spokane - Alex read it while we were on vacation, then I got a chance. It's a non-fiction memoir of the Periodic Table of the Elements.  Sort of.  I really enjoyed it - and my grasp of chemistry is not particularly firm.  Two thumbs up.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Another Costco purchase.  I liked this book a lot, in spite of the high body count.

Bachelor's Galore by Essie Summers. Despite a promising title, not one of my favorites by Essie.

A Little Moonlight by Betty Neels. Reviewed last Thursday on The Uncrushable Jersey Dress.

Next up:

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard - Steve talked me into getting this today...again at Costco.
An Ideal Wife by Betty Neels.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  Book Two of The Hunger Games.  I borrowed this from Keira.

What are you reading?

Last Hoorah of Summer - Part IV

Danny's Favorite Day. 

Marcy drove up to Henry's Lake to meet us.  She overshot by about 10 miles, but luckily we had cell phone reception (as long as I didn't move...or breathe).  We all crowded into the red clown car and got ready to spend the day in two, count 'em, TWO, National Parks. Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 

Since we hadn't had much time in Yellowstone a couple of days before, it was nice to have a second chance.  Danny really wanted a second chance at the giant frozen yogurt cones at Old Faithful...but since we'd already been there, we gave it a miss.  We heard about it all day. 

I am still not convinced that the Tetons are 'all that'.  I was in Jackson Hole in May and August...and I never got to see the tops.  With two kids at BYU-I I'm thinking I may have more opportunities.  Marcy bought me the card that allegedly shows  the Tetons.  I'm still not convinced.

We eventually made our way down to Jackson Hole - we had a couple of hours or so to spend there while we were waiting for dinner time.  We spent the time browsing the art galleries with Marcy and the two boys.  I thought it would be horrible, but the boys were just fine.

And now we come to Danny's favorite activity of our whole vacation.  Bar-J Chuckwagon and more especially the Bar-J Wranglers.  We all enjoyed the music, but Danny REALLY enjoyed it.  He talked Steve into buying three CDs.  Three.  Guess what we listened to on the way home.  Go ahead, guess. 

It's a good thing the rest of us liked their music. 

There's A Sling For That?

Danny had surgery today.  Nothing too major...but still, it was surgery.  I miss the old days when the patient stayed at the hospital for a couple of days and a trained nursing staff took care of the patient 24 hours a day.  

He seems to be bouncing back pretty quickly.  In less than two hours from when he had surgery he was eating two hamburgers and a hot fudge sundae.  I always figure that if they can eat, they'll be fine.

Last Hoorah of Summer - Part III

Wherein we drop off Andrew in Rexburg and I lose my wallet. Tuesday found us heading down to Rexburg to drop off Andrew and his possessions.  He was to stay with Nathan and Rebekah until he could move into his apartment on the 6th.  Fortunately for our limited space he hadn't overpacked as to personal items.
First stop. Nathan and Rebekah's.  Second stop. Deseret Industries. Third stop. Distribution Center. Fourth stop. Walmart. Fifth stop. Porter's - to take Marcy out to lunch.
We had a nice lunch across the street from Porter's.  And then I got a phone call from my friend Deann - she was calling me from Marysville to tell me that I had left my wallet at the Distribution Center.  A mutual friend had called her to try and find my cell-phone number.  Someone else had called her...it's still somewhat of a mystery - but a fortuitous one.

More shopping, this time in Idaho Falls...then a final good-bye to Andrew, Nathan and Rebekah.

Next: Danny's Favorite Day.