Shortbread!

The super-awesome book club I am in has been reading Here Burns My Candle and Mine Is The Night by Liz Curtis Higgs. I love Liz Curtis Higgs! I may have mentioned that before... but its true. At our next meeting, she is even going to join us via Skype (Yay for modern conveniences!) So I thought I would make Mrs. Tudhope's shortbread from a recent newsletter that Liz sent. (Mrs. Tudhope's shortbread is credited with making a dress or too a tad snug in Mine Is The Night. Now I TOTALLY understand why!)

Then my principessa found out I was thinking about making shortbread, and I went from "thinking about making shortbread" to "making shortbread!"

You might notice that I went straight past "cleaning the kitchen" and right into "making the shortbread." Focus on the cute kid and the lovely blob o' dough! She really liked the kneading.

It was really nice to be able to say "Just lick that dough right off those hands!" No eggs means Mommy doesn't spaz when Princess Pea Pod tries to eat raw dough. Not like eating raw cookie dough ever hurt me, but I suppose we'll keep that little secret to ourselves.

Be sure to get it all...

I call this "Self Satisfaction."

She even buttered the baking dish all by herself... ish... We had a great talk about how awesome butter is. About how you should just never accept substitutes with butter. About how you can never, never, never have too much butter. About how you should consume the real deal, but in moderation so you don't have a heart attack before you finish elementary school. Then we buttered the dish a little more.

Does anyone else hear an angel chorus?

This is the part where we should have let it cool completely before cutting. This is also the part where I really wanted to get this little slice of heaven cut so I could take some to M & T to get their opinions. I would encourage you to let it cool completely before cutting. I would also encourage you to share. But I wouldn't blame you for ignoring me!

Since we were running out the door, I forgot to take a picture of Princess Pea Pod and her shortbread until after church. Then I had left my camera at home because I was going to take a picture before we left. So you get a cell phone shot of a proud principessa and her handiwork.

And her shortbread crumbs on her mouth.

I'm just going to go out on a limb and suggest that you MIGHT want to be at the Lit & Latte meeting next Monday. It's going to be yummy... um... I mean, fun!

Book Clubs ROCK!

I have never been in a book club before - at least I hadn't until shortly after I scrawled "Use me wherever you need me." on the bottom of a sign up sheet for our church women's ministry. Then they actually did use me where they needed me and I had a little "God, are you sure you know what you are doing here?" panic attack. No lie. But of course He knows what He is doing here, and I am loving every minute of this journey! We are reading some great books, gaining valuable insight, and the fellowship is fantastic!

Last night I shared some really exciting news with my Lit & Latte ladies, and I wanted to share it with you as well. First, the Francine Rivers Facebook fan page is approaching 100,000 fans. To celebrate this milestone, she and Tyndale House are offering a free e-book of Leota's Garden and they are giving away some books. From the moment I opened my first Mark of the Lion book I was a goner. I may have neglected some household duties to get swept away with that one. To say the least, it was a life changing read! A Lineage of Grace has been an amazing journey for our book club over the last 5 months. I look forward to reading more of her inspired works! You can find information about Francine Rivers and this exciting giveaway on the Tyndale blog at http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042.

Liz Curtis Higgs has an offer for book clubs who are reading Here Burns My Candle or its newly released sequel, Mine Is the Night! You can submit a request for a conference call or Skype call to discuss the book(s) with the bonny lass at http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/bookclub/form.htm. Our club has decided to read both and has arranged a call after Mine Is the Night. (That's right, Lit & Latte lasses! I got the e-mail back today and we have a date & time!) I highly recommend her Scottish historical fiction! I highly recommend her non-fiction! I highly recommend her children's books! (I do not recommend reading Go Away, Dark Night to your child who is not afraid of the dark. I messed up and gave my 4 year old the idea of being afraid of the dark. Oops!)

So go forth, dear friends, and read a good book! Then go grab a cup of coffee, or Diet Dr. Pepper, or whatever tickles your fancy, and discuss that book with a group of friends. It'll make your day!