Please welcome Passionate Cook Keira Andrews to the Cafe.
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Shortbread may not seem the most seductive dessert on the surface. There are no aphrodisiacs in the short ingredient list, and the cookies are cut into simple squares without a decorative sprinkle in sight. But don’t let shortbread fool you – one sinful, buttery bite and you’ll be under its thrall.
This recipe for shortbread has been handed down for generations from my Scottish ancestors. In fact, I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for this recipe. I learned it from my grandmother, Mary, who grew up in the slums of Glasgow. On Christmas Eve in 1930, the milkman – a friendly and handsome young man named Robert – left half a pound of butter along with the milk. Mary made shortbread for her parents and siblings, just in time for Christmas morning.
Of course she also saved a few squares for the milkman. Robert brought extra butter at least once a week, and Mary always baked him shortbread in return. But when he finally plucked up his courage and asked her to a dance, Mary refused. Not only was he Protestant and she Catholic, Robert was only 19 and Mary 25. It simply wasn’t done!
Yet the butter still appeared on the doorstep week after week, and finally Mary agreed to accompany Robert to a dance. When they married six months later, they served shortbread along with the traditional fruitcake. They immigrated to Toronto in 1932 and had two sons and six grandchildren – and we have shortbread every Christmas.
Robert did not discover Mary’s true age until he saw her passport application in 1963. He just laughed, and said she owed him some more shortbread.
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction and – although she loves delicious angst along the way – Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.” You can find out more about Keira and her books at her website and on Twitter and Facebook.
Filed Under: Cafe News
Tagged: guest blog, Keira Andrews, Passionate Cooks
Can’t go wrong with shortbread! I’ve also heard it works well as pie crust–you can press it into the pan…