Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Royal Chef's Lavender Shortbread

Lavender is from my son and DIL's garden!
Recently, my dear friend and blogging buddy, Pat from pattycakescooking.blogspot.com/ and I,  attended The Royal Mother's Day Tea and Bubbles Party at my favorite grocery store, Market Street. Chef Darren McGrady, former chef to The Queen of England and Princess Diana taught the class.  Lucky for us, Chef McGrady now lives in Texas.  The party menu included:  English Cheddar and Branston Pickle Sandwiches, English Cucumber and Mint Cream Cheese Sandwiches, Parma Ham, Rocket and Mozzarella Sandwiches, Curried Shrimp Deviled Eggs (see link below), Smoked Salmon and Dill Quiche, Rose Macaroons, Lavender Shortbread, Chocolate Torte, Orange and Green Tea Loaf Cake with Clotted Cream, Earl Grey Tea and three Sparkling Wines.  What a treat it was for those who attended.  Chef McGrady has written a Eating Royally, Recipe and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen, which is now in it's sixth print.  All of his advances and royalties are donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. 
                                                                                     
Lavender Shortbread

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup powdered sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 t. lavender flowers, fresh or dried (I omitted)
zest of 1 lemon

1/4 cup sugar
1 t. lavender flowers, fresh or dried (I displayed)

Sieve the flour, cornstarch, lemon zest, lavender flowers and sugar into a large bowl.  Cut the butter into small pieces and rub into the dry mix until it forms a ball.

My Aunt Kitty's painted forget-me-knot plate and cup
Lightly dust the mold (Chef McGrady has a wooden mold that he uses from Scotland.)  Trim off any excess.  Tip the shortbread onto a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet and prick the top of the shortbread all over with a fork.

NOTE:  As an alternative, press the dough into a cake pan or pie pan.  I made half of this recipe and was able to make the small heart with a mold and put the rest of the dough into a pie pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from the oven and cut the shortbread into wedges, but only going 1/3 of the way through.  Sprinkle with granulated sugar and lavender flowers and place on a cooling rack to cool completely. 

If you'd like to read more about Chef McGrady, go to www.theroyalchef.com

Pat has the recipe for the deviled eggs here.

I am sharing this with:

Mix It Up Monday!
On the Menu Monday
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Your Cozy Home Party
Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Tasty Tuesday
The Bunny Hop
Let's Dish!
Tablescape Thursday
Full Plate Thursday
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck
Link 'n Greet Party
Seasonal Sundays

40 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a fun afternoon, cute pic! My lavender has buds and will be blooming soon! Your cookie is cute, I love cookie molds (and cutters:@).

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  2. oh WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I would just love this - funny great minds think alike w/ the lavender theme this week, wowie

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  3. It was such a fun day...with such a sweet friend!

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  4. Hi Kitty,
    What a great photo of you and Patsy, you look like you are having a great time. Those cookies look awesome, I would love to try them. Wonderful memories with a great friend! Hope you are having a great day and thanks for sharing.
    Miz Helen

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  5. Hello Kitty, I love your Aunt Kitty's painted forget-me-knot plate and cup. What a wonderful menu that Chef McGrady put together, including the lavender shortbread. I'll be checking out the deviled eggs over at Pat's blog.

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  6. Hi Kitty,
    that must have been a fun for you to attend this interesting class. I will try to make those Lavender shortbread as the look and sound really delicious. Thank you so much for this summer inspiration.
    best greetings, Johanna

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  7. I am so jealous I'm seeing green:D Oh you lucky two! And what fun you must have had. If I still lived in Texas I'd have met you two there! I have a huge bag of lavender for cooking that a friend got me from San Franciso. And I'm dying to make these cookies. They are just beautiful! Also your Aunt Kittys painted pieces bring my own grandmothers hand painted pieces to my mind. I have given a piece or two to a daughter and a grandaughter. It is art at its finest. Thanks for another wonderful post. Truly enjoyed it!

    Nann

    PS When I come to visit in Texas maybe we could find another great cooking event like that that we might go to. I'd love it!

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  8. Sounds like a great day - and I LOVE lavender shortbread -
    Mary x

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  9. Yummy! I love shortbread. The tea party menu sounds fabulous. Your Aunt Kitty's china is very pretty.

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  10. Oh, this post is so inspiring! I have lavender growing here but I have never used it in a recipe. I have heard of lavender ice cream but never seen a recipe like this. Your china is so lovely and to think it was actually painted by your aunt makes it so very, very special. Your day sounds wonderful! I am going to have to look to see if I can find anything like that around here. Thank you again for the recipe.

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  11. The lavender shortbread heart looks yummy Kitty. I've never used a mold for shortbread but have looked longingly at them a few times.
    Thanks for sharing your experience and recipe.
    Judith

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  12. These look magnificent!

    - The Tablescaper

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  13. I love lavender shortbread -- but have never made it into hearts -- may have to the next time I make it! Yours is way different from my recipe which is butter, flour, sugar -- and may have to try yours the next time!

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  14. What a fun day to share with a friend, and the shortbread cookies must be wonderful! The Dallas area always has so many fun opportunities, wish I could have been there!

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  15. Hi darling, this looks magnificent! What a fun day you had with your friend, thanks for sharing the recipe, if it rains this w/k I'm going to spend sometime in the kitchen this one is going on the list.. hugs ~lynne~

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  16. What a lovely recipe. I have lots of lavender. I should dry some. thanks for sharing a wonderful recipe.

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  17. i Kitty,
    Thank you so much for the shortcake recipe. I will be trying it soon!
    Thanks also for the lovely comment you left me on my post about fairy gardens. Most of my fairy houses are small birdhouses I find at thrift stores and discount stores. I did buy the one in the wheelbarrow at www.collections.com. My fairies are Cicely Mary Barker garden fairies and they are sold on the web or in garden centers. I like to buy fairies at the dollar stores, too. In fact sometimes they have minature furniture. Hope this helps so you can get started on your own fairy garden!
    Happy Memorial Day to you.
    Nancy

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  18. The tea you attended sounds so cool!!!!! I haven't been to one here in so long...I need to dust off my pearls and get my hips downtown! :-) I have passed the lavender cookie recipe along to my friend. She loves all things lavender, and I think she would enjoy the cookies very much. Hers probably won't look as pretty as yours, but she won't care!

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  19. This was a very sweet share! HPS to you and your tea tie sounded wonderful! I love tea time!

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  20. I have friends who are very fond of Lavendar. I will make these.

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  21. I love anything that accompanies tea! It sounds like you had a great time, and I might have to try my hand at baking with lavender!
    Hope you have a fantastic Memorial Day!

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  22. What a fabulous day and a wonderful recipe! I can't eat anything with sugar but I know I would love these...and the scent would be wonderful! Enjoy your weekend!

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  23. I love lavender in cookies - it's so refreshing. I'm your newest follower from Stone Gable blog hop. If you get a chance please checkout my blog: godsgrowinggarden.blogspot.com
    Thanks
    Angie

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  24. Kitty~ What a FUN event to attend~ I'm green with envy! The party menu has me salivating! I'm bookmarking your shortbread to try! I just planted some lavender a couple of weeks ago and I'm anxious to use it in shortbread! Happy Memorial Day to you :)

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  25. Hello Kitty,
    What a wonderful outing and what a menu! You must have been totally delighted with this chef and his expertise. Thank you for sharing, and the cookie looks amazing. As always, I enjoy seeing your Aunt Kitty's china too. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Tea Time and have a lovely week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  26. How delightful! Thank You for sharing this with us and I hope you have a wonderful evening!

    Aledia @ Plum Perfect

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  27. Great day! Lavender shortbread, too! :D :D Happy Tea Day!

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  28. This sounds like a fun event. I would have loved to join you. I've never eaten lavender, but this shortbread looks delish! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Your Cozy Home Party!

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  29. I love lavender. Thanks for sharing your recipe. Your lavender shortbread looks delicious! Have a wonderful week.
    Blessings,
    Lisa

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  30. I do love shortbread! This looks like a wonderful treat.

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  31. Hi Kitty!

    What fun that must have been, and you look so cute in that picture! I have some lavender plants and may I will try this.

    Thanks for sharing at my party this week!

    xoxo Bunny Jean

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  32. The shortbread sounds fabulous, what a fun day. Great pic. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  33. What a fun event! Looks like you put some of those English recipes to the test. Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Hi Kitty, What a beautiful tea cup and saucer, and your lavender shortbread cookies are pretty too!

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  35. Hi Kitty,
    This is such a special time for you and Patsy. Your Shortbread looks awesome!
    Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  36. The shortbread looks great!
    Thanks for linking to Let's Dish!

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  37. One of my favorite restaurants makes wonderful lavender rolls. I will definitely try your shortbread! Thanks for sharing!

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  38. Sounds like tons of fun. Very lovely presentation too...thanks so much for linking up at Weekend Potluck.

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