Coconut Macadamia Shortbread

This recipe comes from a 2005 Holiday Cookies magazine from Martha Stewart. I've been making them for a couple Christmas seasons now, and look forward to them all year. Coconut is one of those things, like cilantro, you either love it or hate it, I personally love both, so if you too are one of those coconut lovers out there, you might want to give these a try.

1 cup macadamia nuts (about 3 oz) toasted
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
4 Tbsp. cream of coconut or unsalted butter ( I have always used butter, I mean who has heard of cream of  coconut??)
2 tsp. pure coconut extract
2 cups flour, plus more for work surface
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Process nuts and 2 Tbsp sugar in food processor until finely ground; set aside. Process 1 cup coconut until coarsely ground; set aside.

2.  Put butter, cream of coconut, and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Mix in coconut extract.  Reduce sped to low.  Add flour, salt, nut mixture, and ground coconut; mix until combined.

3. Halve dough.  Shape halves into disks, and wrap in plastic.  Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.  Let soften before rolling.

4.  Roll out each disk on lightly floured parchment to 1/4 inch think.. Cover with plastic; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.

5.  Cut dough into squares using a fluted 2 1/4-inch square cookie cutter ( Use whatever you like, as you can see I used a heart cutter, snowflakes would be pretty cute too).  Reroll scraps; continue cutting out shapes.  Space about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment.  Lightly brush tops with egg white; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup coconut.  Bake until golden, 20-25 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.  Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 1 week (they also freeze great! We snacked on them for a couple months.).

 Before they go in the oven...

and after.  So delicious served with tea.

For a picture of Martha's square cookies in their cute paper cups click here.

Enjoy!

Pike Place Market

Pike's is probably the most touristy thing you can do in Seattle, but it's for a reason--it's awesome and uniquely ours. I remember my British Uncle Jeremy who had traveled on business around the world saying "It holds it's own"...in a good way, either way, it's something you have to see whether you're here for a week or a weekend.  The famous Pike Place Fish gather quite the crowd for their flying performances with each purchase. There's the boquet vendors, the locally grown fruits and vegetables, the many street performers and artists, the signature Market Spice Tea, bakeries, pubs, burgers and asian cuisine. Then there's the lower levels which can be pretty...weird.  There's a very unique smell that exists there, so 1st trimester moms, beware.  We love to get a bag of freshly made cinnamon doughnuts from the Daily Dozen Doughnut Company with their notorious "God sees when you don't tip" jar--threatening, but honest. And don't forget to walk across the cobblestones to the Post Alley side of the market. It's impressive how many ethnic flavors are available in a one block radius. For a cheap eat, try one of the creative combinations at The Crumpet Shop. Sample the Flagaship cheese at Beecher's. Order "your" drink at the original Starbucks that changed the world. Come back for a special dinner at Campagne if you like expensive, delicate, french cuisine or one of our favorites The Pink Door with no sign, just a pink door. Your tummy is not big enough to try everything your eyes want so choose wisely. 

 The market is a great place to buy hard to find fruits and vegetables.

Bring some chewing gum to leave a part of yourself at the Gum Wall. 

 Jeremy found this little gem of a piece at Post Alley 

and wanted to remember it forever.

I thought we had more photos...you can always search Google Images, but hopefully you will just get a chance to see it in person!   

The Junction - West Seattle

We recently had a visit from my Aunt from Tampa.  My Mom, sisters and I had only a couple days to show her Seattle, so we had to be selective. We had to think, what would Aunt L'Von enjoy? She is a great cook, she and her family lived in England for 10 years...she was interested in seeing gourmet grocery stores and sampling bakeries. We finally decided the shops on California Ave, lunch at Metropolitan Market and a walk on Alki would do it.

 Husky, a family owned business since 1932, offers a colorful display

of European gourmet foods and treats. Their specialty: house-made
ice cream with unique flavors like Nutella and Coconut--yum!
You can buy it by the cone or quart. We happened to be there during
the lunch hour which is apparently a hot spot with the locals for
made to order deli sandwiches with an assortment of salamis and cheeses. 

 All things British: Twinings, PG Tips, McVities Tea Biscuits

 San Marzano Tomatoes (a favorite of Rachael Ray),

 for a Neopolitan Pizza.

 NW Art and Frame, greeting cards for every occasion, wrappings for any gift,
framing and paint supplies for all your art projects.

 Best discovery of the day, Bakery Nouveau, some of the most
beautiful pastries I've seen. The lunch line was out the door. 

Perfectly glazed cakes, tarts and danishes; rustic pizzas and artisan breads. 

Check out their website to see their award resume...impressive!

Parisian Macaroons. Jeremy tried one at Choclatine in LA 

a few years ago and loved them, I was so excited 

to find them locally in so many flavors.

There are many more stores and specialty food restaurants along California: Easy Street Records; Cupcake Royale; Shoofly Pie Company; Great Harvest Bread; The Tuscan Tea Room; The Matador. For a complete business directory, directions and upcoming events click here.

For some fresh air, be sure to stop at the iconic Alki Beach for the best view of the Seattle waterfront; or the quieter Lincoln Park with a network of hiking trails.

Victoria, British Columbia

A couple years ago, I asked for my birthday gift
to be a weekend in the "City of Gardens".

Getting to Victoria: We took the COHO foot ferry which leaves from

Port Angeles, this is the cheapest, quickest route and arrives at the 

downtown harbor.  A lot of travelers prefer the convenience 

of the Victoria Clipper leaving from the Seattle waterfront, 

their package rates that include a hotel can be worthwhile.

The not so impressive, but prettily pink view from our room.

Ocean Island Inn was a memorable experience. Our first impression
was that by the end of the weekend, we would contract a foreign disease
and with awkwardly thin walls, whispering would be required. In the end,
not having a TV, we talked more and played tons of gin rummy. 

We decided our vacation budget would be spent on the ferry, 

lodging and dining, so we filled our itenerary with free things, hence: 

touring the Capitol Building.  It was pretty fascinating and educational.  

If you have the funds, Victoria has a lot of great museums. 

Everyone wants to have tea at the Empress, but $51 per person wasn't
for us. We really enjoyed our tea and scones at Murchies on Government
St. They bring you a tray with your own individual pot and the 

scones sprinkled with powdered sugar come with whipped cream and jam.

 We got some delicious rich lattes here a couple times, 

their beans roasted by Chicago roaster Intelligentsia. 

Sleek decor, you just feel cool being there.

 Old architecture

 Maybe the only two story McDonalds in the world, 

and probably the only one with a chandalier.

We rode the bus to the Oak Bay neighborhood, which tour guides
claim to be "more English than England itself". We got an AERO bar 
at the drug store and relaxed a few minutes in the park, 

I admired the Tudor homes surrounding us.

 Always interesting live entertainment at the waterfront.

 Love this guy.

This alleyway was so romantic.

 According to Wikipedia, the city's Chinatown is the second
oldest in North America after San Francisco.  They had a great 
farmer's market, I think it was on Sunday afternoon. 

 Bastion Square was probably my favorite filled with restaurants 

and outdoor seating. We ate at Irish Times on the corner--so much fun.

And of course, it's always good to get home.

Other stuff we learned:

• The Blue Fox Cafe, recommended by locals, on Fort Street is worth the walk.
• Don't get up early for breakfast, the entire town sleeps in.
• Be prepared for panhandlers to approach you on every street corner, actually everywhere.

Victoria is a unique corner of the world filled with beauty and culture, I hope you'll get a chance to go!

Port Gamble

This logging town established in 1853 is a National Historic site and until 1995, was the oldest continuously operating sawmill in North America. The homes and buildings have preserved their 19th century charm with rolling green fields that speak of a simpler time. I think it may be impossible to not feel happy in this beautiful, peaceful corner of the peninsula. This is a growing community with new businesses coming every year, including a Tea Room, General Store, Quilt Shop, Antiques and Kayak rentals. Port Gamble hosts a number of Events, attracting hundreds of guests every year for the Medieval Faire, Civil War Re-Enactments and spooky Ghost Walks. A Sunday Farmers and Antique Market runs May-October.  For the history buffs, you might be interested in finding the grave of the first US Navy man killed in battle in the NW. For those of you planning your dream wedding click here.  I hope you will come here at least once or whenever you need a Picket-Fence-Fix.

 Streets lined with old Maples, Elms and Picket Fences

The Welcoming Water Towers

 For those Girls Days

To satisfy any craving: ice cream on summer days, coffee on winter days, 

the new cafe for any day and a gift shop to browse in between.   

Old Glory

Directions
For North Sounders: take the Kingston ferry.
Mid Sounders: the Bainbridge or Bremerton ferry.
South Sounders: go for a drive.
Those of you without GPS, click here.