Father’s Day Weekend.
What to do…
Cookies are in order. Girls without their daddies most certainly deserve treats. Definitely a few glasses of wine (which will no doubt be blamed for any tears). Not to worry, I’ll strive for balance.
My dad would have LOVED to see this
There will be time spent simply remembering my dad and try to concentrate on the fact that I was lucky to have such a great man as a father for 25 years of my life (cliche… but look at all the jerks out there!). My dad loved to laugh. He was so smart – loved learning more than anyone I’ve ever known. Enjoyed good wine, food, football, and hanging out with his “girls“ (Mom, me, and my 2 sisters).
To those of you whose fathers are still with you, give them an extra hug today. Or at least don’t forget to call! Maybe buy a present or two. Ties, socks, chocolate-covered cherries (those were my dad’s favorite).
To those who are in the unfortunate situation of being without a father on Father’s Day weekend, my thoughts are with you. I can’t say it gets easier… but it doesn’t get worse. That’s something, right?
Treat yourself to cookies. The kind your dad would have liked, or the kind that are most comforting to you. Maybe they are just fun to make. Light, buttery, summery cookies like these Rosemary Lemon Shortbread Cookies:
Some people are intimidated by baking.
One of the secrets to doing it well is measuring flour properly. It can make the difference between fluffy, delectable treats and dense failures. ”Real” bakers will argue that the only way to measure is by weight. However, more often than not, I use a simple measuring cup. I’m a lazy baker.
To me, the important thing to do is to fluff the flour. When it sits in your pantry, it settles. This compacting can result in the addition of 25% more flour than the recipe calls for.
Solution: Take a fork and fluff it up before diving in with your measuring cup (please tell me you’re using a dry ingredient cup already). Then use a knife to sweep off the excess flour. Do NOT shake, tap, or compact the flour down.
Once you have the shortbread base, this is an easy recipe to take in many directions. You could change it up with some basil or thyme!
__________________________________________________________________________________
Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread Cookies
- 1.25 C all-purpose flour
- 3/4 C white whole wheat flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 T chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 3/4 C salted butter, softened
- 1 T light agave nectar
- 1/2 C confectioners (powdered) sugar
In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, salt, baking powder, rosemary, and lemon zest.
In a large bowl using an electric mixer (I used a hand-held), mix together butter, agave, and confectioners sugar at a low speed. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until dough produces small butter lumps.
Using your hands, make a ball with the dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface. (Lightly flour your hand to make this easier!) Knead dough until it just comes together (5-6 times). Roll into a log (like the cut and bake cookie dough)and cover in parchment paper. Refrigerate 1-2 hours, until hardened.
Preheat oven to 300° F.
Remove from fridge and cut into small (~1/2 in thick) disks, arranging on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden brown, ~20 mins.
Makes 20 cookies.
***
Happy Father’s Day!
What is your favorite way to celebrate life well-lived?
Related posts:
35 comments
3 pings
Lee
June 18, 2011 at 8:24 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your dad sounds like he was a great man. I’m sure he would have loved the cookies!
Laura
June 18, 2011 at 9:44 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks Lee.
Hayley @ Oat Couture
June 18, 2011 at 8:57 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll second that!
Enjoy your cookies (and wine) And my thoughts are with you this weekend! Oh, and thanks for the baking tip! I always shake the cup so probably end up with way too much flour! 
Laura
June 18, 2011 at 9:45 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you! Let me know if you find it makes a difference in your baking!
Tiffany
June 18, 2011 at 9:06 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve been obsessed with shortbread as of late… this is a great flavor combo!
Sylvia
June 18, 2011 at 11:51 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That was a beautiful picture of you and your dad. He seems like he was a wonderful man. Those cookies seem pretty tasty and they’re Dad friendly for my own too Thanks for the baking tip. I’d never considered fluffing the flower before measuring before.
P.S. It’s ok if you shed a tear or two. It’s probably just the dust anyway right?
Ragnhild
June 18, 2011 at 12:12 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your dad sounds like he was a great man! I love my dad so much! I guess that there will never be any man that loves you more than your own father!
Fathers day arent until November in Norway, but I would love to bake these cookies anyway. They sounds so good and buttery. Love that they are of the not so sweet kind!
Have a good weekend
Mark Ward
June 18, 2011 at 12:28 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, you definitely deserve a treat. Amazing post by an even more amazing person. Thinking of you alot this weekend.
Errign
June 18, 2011 at 5:07 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yum. Lemon and rosemary are two of my favorite flavors.
I’m sorry to hear that your dad is no longer physically with you. He sounds like an awesome dad & a great man.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
June 18, 2011 at 11:14 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. He sounds like he was a great guy! What a nice post to remember him with
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit
June 19, 2011 at 2:20 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s so fantastic that you remember your dad as such a caring and loving man. He looks so warm! These cookies look absolutely delicious. I’m on a huge basil kick right now, maybe I could do basil… and lime? zomg. I need to try that combination.
Laura
June 20, 2011 at 12:36 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you – he was amazing.
Basil and lime sound incredible! I did a similar cookie with basil olive oil and kalamatas that I LOVED.
Anonymous
June 19, 2011 at 7:28 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Lovely post- sounds like you have such wonderful memories of your father. And these cookies look perfectly comforting. I love rosemary and lemon together.
Peggy
June 20, 2011 at 8:51 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you for sharing this with us! I’m sure these shortbread cookies were a great comfort – they certainly look delicious =)
Kathy
June 20, 2011 at 10:22 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ya know, I think you’re Dad was really the luckiest person……. Love your words and thoughts you share…love you. – xoxo
Can’t wait to make these cookies! If there are ever any at your Mom’s house I wanna sneak one. I am so excited you made foodbuzz and can’t wait to see you make it many-MANY more times!
Laura
June 21, 2011 at 12:01 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll make you cookies anytime! xoxo
Stacy @ Stacy Eats
June 20, 2011 at 11:29 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My thoughts are with you Laura. Your dad sounds like such a great man and I’m sure you learned a lot from him.
These cookies sound fantastic – congrats for making it on Foodbuzz’s Top 9 – your dad would be so proud!!
Laura
June 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you, Stacy!
Chrissy
June 20, 2011 at 11:31 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I was missing my dad too! But for my family, Father’s Day is usually spent together with family, in memory of his life well lived! Thanks for sharing a great story and recipe!
Laura
June 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sorry to hear that, but glad you were able to celebrate your memories. *hugs*
Katherine Martinelli
June 20, 2011 at 1:33 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What a wonderful post. Heart warming, and a good reminder to all of us to appreciate what (and who) we have while they are here, every minute. These shortbread cookies look insanely delicious. I love herbs in desserts and cocktails! So much more interesting. Congrats on Top 9 today too! I’m sure your dad would have been proud.
Laura
June 20, 2011 at 11:57 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you so much.
Kelly
June 20, 2011 at 1:51 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
These look so gorgeous and I love the inclusion of whole wheat flour – lemon and rosemary – what a divine combination!
Cleo Coyle
June 20, 2011 at 3:18 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is a beautiful post, a lovely tribute to a wonderful father, plus a delicious reicpe. I love the flavor combo of rosemary and citrus. (I’m actually cooking with it today!) Now I can’t wait to try it in your cookies. Thanks also for the tip on fluffing the flour. Makes good sense to me.
Eat with joy!
~ Cleo
Laura
June 20, 2011 at 11:57 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Eat with joy <— Love it!
briarrose
June 20, 2011 at 4:40 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Such a sweet post.
Elizabeth @TheBareMidriff
June 20, 2011 at 5:23 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Lovely tribute to your dad. I love when people blur the lines between sweet and savory with their recipes. Congrats on getting into the Top Nine!
GourmetGetaways
June 20, 2011 at 5:55 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Such a lovely post and a great way to remember your dad. xxx
I will give my dad an extra hug!
Love the cookies, we have Rosemary growing and shortbread is my favourite so these will be a nice change to the regular flavour.
cakebaker
June 20, 2011 at 6:08 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for sharing your warm memories of your Dad. It’s such a shame that you lost him at such a young age,
From my own experience, I lost my Dad too although he was in his 85th year…some say he’d lived a ‘good life’…I suppose they are saying it was okay for him to go because he was old and had lived his life. It may be true but it doesn’t ease the pain of loss.
I remember him with fondness and have memories from way back when I was a child….this is the way I keep him close to me now.
He would not have wanted me to continue to grieve but to honor his memory . I feel I was the luckiest person to have him for my Dad.
I will try your gorgeous recipe and think of him when I make it….thank you.
Laura
June 20, 2011 at 11:56 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. I can’t imagine it would be any easier to lose a parent at any age. It sounds like your father was an amazing man as well. Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts.
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate
June 20, 2011 at 7:46 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
These look simply fabulous
Greg
June 21, 2011 at 11:36 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What a nice tribute to your dad. Congrats on being on Food Buzz. This recipe is definitely worth it.
Michelle Benoit (ChocolateCentral)
June 25, 2011 at 12:07 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Elegant looking shortbread cookies Laura. I appreciate your sharing about your father. It is always helpful to know we are not alone in our pain – that there are other people out there living similar experiences. You said many things about your father that I could totally relate too. My father always referred to my mother, my 2 sisters and me as “his girls” too. Funny. He also loved learning more than anyone else I’ve ever known. I’ll bet it was very therapeutic to write this tribute to him for Father’s Day.
Laura
June 25, 2011 at 12:48 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you so much, Michelle! Your dad sounds like a great man. I love that you picked up on the “his girls.”
*hugs*
Spicie Foodie
July 5, 2011 at 9:41 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love shortbreads and savory ones sound even better. Thanks for having participated in June’s YBR, and I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend:)
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