3

these are three times that i've drank in the last month.

not the only times...
but these are three.

is there anything better than drinking in the park?
no.

espresso chip shortbread

need i say much? probably not.
but i've had two glasses of wine, and these are the times the words flow.   you know?

these shortbreads are small and tasty. i prefer shortbread to be cut in neat squares. personal preferences. i also like them in triangles or giant hunks, and circles are cool too.

they're like cute edible buttons with shittons of butter.
the best kind of buttons!

i've been testing a bunch of recipes, for a reason i won't say yet.
it's not a cookbook
.. like how every other blog in the internet universe is being commissioned to write a book. no offense bloogs [good for you, that's exciting, yada], but the book commissioning has gotten ridiculous.

the times i don't know what to say, i usually just revert to rap lyrics..
so. clearly no book commissioning here.

which is fine. i don't need you anyway. keep publishing your books about donuts and pickled carrots.

...

i was talking about shortbread.

they're nice. they're crisp like a shortbread should be. eat them alongside a cup of coffee because we can't seem to get enough caffeine.

bam. blog post complete.

Espresso Chip Shortbread

from smitten kitchen

1 tbsp instant espresso powder

1 tbsp boiling water

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

dissolve the espresso in the boiling water, and set aside to cool to tepid. 

working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners' sugar together on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is very smooth. beat in the vanilla and espresso, then reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour, mixing only until it disappears into the dough. don't work the dough much once the flour is incorporated. fold in the chopped chocolate with a sturdy rubber spatula. 

using the spatula, transfer the soft, sticky dough to a gallon-size ziplock plastic bag. put the bag on a flat surface, leaving the top open, and roll the dough into a 9x10 inch rectangle that's about 1/4 inch thick. as you roll, turn the bag occasionally and life the plastic from the dough so it doesn't cause creases. when you get the right size and thickness, seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or for up to 2 days. 

preheat the oven to 325 degreesF. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. 

put the plastic bag on a cutting board and slit it open. turn the firm dough out onto the board (throw out the bag) and using a ruler as a guide and a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 1/2 inch squares. transfer the squares to the baking sheets and carefully prick each one twice with a fork. 

bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. they will be pale and shouldn't take on too much color. 

transfer to wire racks to cool and let them cool completely to room temperature before serving. 

como estas?
(bitches)

maybe i'll talk about shortbread soon.

one pot farro

listen to: mi negrita - devendrá banhart | elvis presley's version of blue moon

dance to: beyonce.           duh

walk: to the trees or to the sand

think about: making cashew curry for dinner and mochi butter cake for dessert. 

in reality: make one pan farro for dinner again and eat old cookie dough from a bag in the fridge for dessert. 

it's really good and easy and i'd gladly eat it for dinner 3 nights in a row.

cool!

One Pan Farro
from smitten kitchen

*just slightly lightly tweaked, i added golden raisins which i do think brings a 
pleasant pop of sweetness to the savory grains. and i like to stir big handfuls of arugula into it. 

1 cup semi pearled faro

2 cups water

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic

10 oz tomatoes

1 tbsp olive oil

1 1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 cup golden raisins

parmesan

basil
arugula

place water and faro in a medium saucepan to pre-soak. (5-10 minutes is good) in the meantime prep the other ingredients, adding each to the pot as you finish prepping it, cut onion in half again and thinly slice it. thinly slice garlic cloves. halve or quarter tomatoes. add the salt, red pepper flakes and 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan. set a timer for 30 minutes. bring uncovered pan up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally. when the timer goes off, the farro should be nicely cooked (tender but with a pleasant chew), and the cooking water should be almost completely absorbed. 
stir in the golden raisins. fold a few big handfuls of arugula through the faro (completely optional) scatter with thin slivers of basil and parmesan. drizzle a bit more olive oil if you wish.