New Year’s Eve

Lavender/Hazelnut Shortbread

I may have out done myself.

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_66b2.jpgIf you have followed me for any length of time you know I love lavender. I will put it in nearly anything. So, I was considering what to serve my guests tomorrow for NYE. Since it’s a late night of adult beverages and snacking I didn’t want anything too sweet or heavy. Add to that my recent successful first try at shortbread in making the Millionaires Shortbread and so decided to whip these up.

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Also, I bought a bag of hazelnuts in the shell before Christmas and cracked them all open myself. This was tedious but a nostalgic turn for me. When I was a girl my grandmother always had nuts you had to crack open yourself at the holidays. It felt nice to sit and crack. I just popped on some cheerful music and cracked away. I just wish I had bought two bags.

Lavender-Hazelnut Shortbread.

They are so fragrant and amazingly tender. Wow. Combine these with the Speculooos (Belgian Spice Cookies) and I’m almost certain no other cookie will ever be necessary. Anyone can make chocolate chip cookies. Why not ramp things up with these? They are more than exceptional. Seriously.

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Okay, so I let these get just a tad too brown but that just made the butter have a more caramel flavor. These are amazing! The problem is not eating them before the party even begins. I was considering dipping these in chocolate but I’m afraid that will take away from the simplicity of their delicate flavor. Maybe the next batch.

Happy New Year to you all. May blessings and lavender abound!

Lavender Shortbread
Ingredients
8 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
5 ounces powdered sugar
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon freshly dried lavender buds
1/2 teaspoon each of orange and lemon extract
8 ounces all-purpose unbleached flour
4 ounces finely chopped hazelnuts

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter, sugar, salt, lavender buds, and extract for 3 minutes on high speed.
3. Combine flour and nuts then add flour to butter mixture and mix until just incorporated. Do not over mix.
4. Make into a round and cover in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at lease 30 minutes.
5. Roll out onto floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll to desired thickness and cut with a small circle cutter (or shape of choice). Place on baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes, depending on your oven. Let cool before serving.

PS: Sadly my party had to be cancelled due to my friends family emergency. The delicious cookies will not be enjoyed by those they were intended for. On a positive note … my cat Joe loves them and wonders why he can’t have them all.

I HAVE actually been working … but you can’t tell by my writing … because I’m TIRED.

So a few months ago I accepted the position of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) or to more easily describe it … the domestic Peace Corps. I have been working at the United Way of Central Kentucky Image

where I am the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. I’m also the social media guru, publicist, graphic designer, and general go-to marketing gal. Our mission is to eradicate poverty in our five county region. It’s no small task and I am honored and thrilled to be working with such an amazing group of dedicated persons. My cup runneth over to say the least.

Needless to say I have limited time and even less energy at the end of the day. The remodel is still going on but we are most certainly on the downward slope nearing the finish line. All that remains it the backsplash, the bar wall and bar top and we may as well include the stairwell, D’s office/bonus room, the basement, the patio door … the list never ends. We have a months worth of work to do and between the freezing cold weather and sheer exhaustion … it may be spring before it happens. I have to be okay with that.

Christmas was short and sweet. I didn’t get to KC as planned (stupid ice and snow).  I’m not sure when I’ll make it home. I am so homesick for KC I can barely stand it. I just won’t think about it, that’s all. Right.

The new year approaches and I can see big changes and challenges ahead of us. I’m nervous about them but also so excited to see where life will take us. Blessings abound.

Here’s wishing you the happiest New Year and more blessings than you can bear. Share those with those blessing with those in need. Please.

xoxox

Rachel

Sunrise on my way to my new job.

Sunrise on my way to my new job.

PS: What are you cooking for New Years Day? I’m making a beautiful roast beef, old-fashioned stuffing, roasted lavender carrots and some fancy dessert. I LOVE my new kitchen!