Posts Tagged ‘make it do’

(photo from the NieNie Dialogues)

Did you see Stephanie Nielson on Oprah this week?  I’m not much of a daytime television watcher, but when I heard Nie Nie was going to be on Oprah, I set the program to record.  I love reading her blog, NieNie Dialogues.  Stephanie always has a way of helping me see what’s really important in life and of making me feel grateful for all the small, lovely moments.

Wednesday night, my husband and I watched the program.  For those of you who don’t know her, she has been a popular blogger for quite some time.  Then, just over a year ago she and her husband were in a plane crash which left her burned over 80 percent of her body.  Watching her on Oprah was an experience that left me choked up, and very thoughtful.  She talks about her joy in being able to make lunch for her kids in the morning, or give them a bath… those little things she almost missed being able to do.

And it made me think about the times I am impatient with my kids, or unappreciative of my husband.  Stephanie’s story reminds me that life is so precious, and that it’s the little things that really matter.

I am also amazed at her strength and courage.  How many of us would like to hide away from the world if we experienced disfiguring injuries?  How many of us would use the incredible pain as an excuse not to get out of bed?

Instead she is out there… being both honest about her fears and her pain, yet funny and irrepressibly optimistic.  And in the process, inspiring me… and I am sure, many, many others.  So If you ever read this, thank you Stephanie from the bottom of my heart.

This week I made dinner for the teachers at our school.  Our menu was Italian, but I figured they’d forgive me for flying farther north for the dessert.  I served the shortbread with a brown butter pecan glaze on top.

These cookies are some of the yummiest shortbread cookies around.  I love them.  The recipe comes from my Mom… the source for many of my favorite recipes.  And it’s very traditional Scottish shortbread.  Best of all they are SO easy.  Just 3 ingredients in the cookie.

Here’s the recipe:

• 1 lb. butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Slowly mix in the flour until well incorporated and dough pulls into a ball.  Turn out onto counter.  You may lightly flour your surface.  Roll out to desired thickness… between 1/4″ and 1/2″ thick.  (Remember the cookies don’t raise.)  Cut out in desired shape.  You may use a cookie cutter, or cut with a knife or pizza cutter into squares, diamonds or triangles.

Place on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 -25 minutes, until lightly golden.

Now for the glaze:

• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 Tbsp. heavy cream or half and half
• powdered sugar to desired consistency

In a saute pan, lightly toast the pecans.  Pour melted butter over the top and let cook for about 1 minute.  Remove from heat and add cream.   Pour in powdered sugar while whisking with a spoon until you reach desired consistency… preferably a slightly thick glaze.  You can always add a bit more cream if the glaze is too thick.

Click over to Tasty Kitchen for the Printable Recipe.