Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Showing posts with label shortbread. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shortbread. Show all posts

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Lemon Tart with Shortbread Cookie Crust

So I made this tart. This lemon tart. Now I’m not big on lemon. I’ll eat it but it’s not my first choice. But when I took a bite of this lemon-y goodness, I knew right away I’d be having a second piece. I won’t tell you that IT Guy had THREE pieces. In a row. Three in a row. I was surprised but not. Really guys...this is so good. Tart and sweet and all the things it should be.

Lemon Tart with Shortbread 
Cookie Crust
 
For the crust:
1 10-ounce package shortbread cookies (I used Lorna Doone)
1/2 cup (1 stick butter) ~ melted
2 tablespoons sugar
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a tart pan or pie pan.
 
In a food processor, crush all the cookies to crumbs. Add the sugar and butter and pulse until combined.
 
Press cookie mixture into the prepared pan.
 
Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Cool.

For the tart:
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 3 - 4 lemons)
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter ~ cut into small cubes
 
In a medium heat proof bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar and heavy cream.
 
Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk constantly until thickened. (Double boiler) About 10 - 20 minutes. A good way to tell if it’s thick enough is to dip a metal or wooden spoon into the mixture. Then run your finger over the back of the spoon. If it leaves a clear path, then you’re good to go!
 
Remove the lemon mixture from the heat and press through a fine mesh sieve.
 
Add the butter, a few chunks at a time and whisk until combined and all butter has melted.
 
Poor into the cooled shortbread crust. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours before slicing.
 
Serve with sweetened whipped cream.

Let's make a tart!

Crush the cookies. Add the 
2 tablespoons of sugar and 
the 1/2 cup of melted butter and combine.

Press cookie mixture into your 
prepared pan then bake for a 
few minutes.

In a heatproof bowl, (or the top of 
a double boiler) combine the eggs, 
3/4 cup sugar, heavy cream lemon 
juice and lemon zest.

Whisk to combine.

Whisk and stir lemon mixture over 
the simmering water for 10-20 
minutes or until thickened.

This is good way to tell if it's done. 
Run your finger over the back of a 
spoon that's been dipped into the 
cooked mixture. If your finger leaves 
a path like this, you're good to go!

Then strain the mixture through a sieve.

Whisk in the butter.

Pour lemon mixture into the baked 
tart shell. Chill for several hours.

Slice and serve with whipped cream!


Monday, May 23, 2016

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies

What a fun cookie! I love shortbread cookies but the addition of almond then following that up with raspberry jam makes for a great little bite-sized treat! These didn’t last very long in my kitchen. Every time I’d walk by the plate of cookies I’d snitch one. I finally had to put them out of sight. Holy cow but these are yummy. And SO simple! IT Guy loved them as much as I did! I think you should try them to see if we’re right!

Raspberry Almond 
Shortbread Cookies
 
1 cup butter ~ room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1 cup powdered sugar
4 - 5 teaspoons water
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
3 - 4 tablespoons sugar ~ for sprinkling
 
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the butter, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and 2/3 cup sugar on medium speed for two minutes.
 
Gradually add the flour and combine.
 
Cover and chill for 1 hour.
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 
Scoop dough into 1” balls and place 2” apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
 
Press an indentation into each cookie with your thumb then fill the hole with about 1 teaspoon of the jam.
 
Sprinkle each cookie with a little sugar.
 
Bake for 15 minutes until the edges are light golden brown.
 
Cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes then move to a cooling rack. Cool completely.
 
In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of almond extract and the water.
 
Stir until smooth then drizzle the cooled cookies with the glaze.
 
Allow glaze to harden.

Here's all you need to make 
these yummy cookies!

Mix together the sugar, butter 
and almond extract.

Then add the flour.

Chill the dough for an hour.

Scoop then make a little 
well in each cookie.

Sprinkle with sugar then bake.

Mix together the powdered sugar, 
water and almond extract.

Drizzle the cooled cookies with the glaze.

Enjoy!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Peanut Butter Shortbread Bars

I really like Twix candy bars. If IT Guy ever buys me a candy bar it's almost always a Twix bar. Or a peanut butter cup. I'm not a big fan of Twix peanut butter candy bars though...but I do love me some peanut butter. I figured I could come up with something that was better than a Twix peanut butter candy bar. And I did! Well..here you go. These are really yummy! IT Guy isn't a big fan of peanut butter but he couldn't stay out of these! A little goes a long way....they're rich!! But worth it, I have to say.

Peanut Butter Shortbread Bars



3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter ~ softened
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup peanut butter ~ smooth or chunky
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips ~ melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and 3/4 cup powdered sugar until fluffy.

Add the flour and baking powder and mix until combined.

Press dough into an 8x8 inch greased (or parchment paper lined) pan.

Bake 20 - 30 minutes until edges are lightly browned.

Cool completely.

In a medium microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter and 1/4 butter. Microwave for 1 minute until butter has melted and peanut butter is soft. Stir.

Add the 1 cup powdered sugar and mix well. 

Gently spread over cooled crust.

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or over low heat. Spread on top of peanut mixture. Allow chocolate to cool and set up before slicing.

Okay...let's go! 

Okay...let's go!

Combine the 1 cup of butter and powdered sugar until fluffy then add the flour and baking powder. 

Combine the 1 cup of butter and 
powdered sugar until fluffy then 
add the flour and baking powder.

Press into your prepared pan. 

Press into your prepared pan.

Bake until the edges are golden brown. Cool completely. 

Bake until the edges are golden brown. 
Cool completely.

Melt the 1/4 cup of butter and the peanut butter in the microwave. Add the 1 cup of powdered sugar. 

Melt the 1/4 cup of butter and the 
peanut butter in the microwave. 
Add the 1 cup of powdered sugar.



Spread peanut butter mixture over the cooled crust. 

Spread peanut butter mixture 
over the cooled crust.

Melt the chocolate chips... 

Melt the chocolate chips...

...then spread over the peanut butter mixture. Allow to cool before cutting. 

...then spread over the peanut butter 
mixture. Allow to cool before cutting.

Enjoy! 

Enjoy!