But it's something I've been trying to let go of a bit, because my life is forever interrupted. Aside from the few hours at night where I might have a stretch of time to try and do something, most of my day is spent doing various things piecemeal. I do try and plan my cooking to get it done all at once. I often prep two days or three days worth of chopping into one day in order to get more things done. I try and get Daughter's homework done in one shot, and piano practice as well. The rest of things I have to do? It gets split up and I'm trying to be okay with that.
Currently my major project is decluttering the house. What I'd really like to do is kick everyone out of the house for 24 hours and give me free rein just to throw stuff away, without having to ask anyone's permission. I just want to rip apart the house, get rid of all the collected junk and treasures (especially of Daughter #1) and have a space free of little tiny things that I'm supposed to save. My kitchen counter perpetually ends up as the holding tank for such things, and there have been more than a few occasions where I have moved my trashcan to the holding area and threatened to sweep all of the stuff into the garbage in one fell swoop. However, I just don't have 24 hours of uninterrupted time. I have instead, begun eliminating a box at a time, or even a trashbag at a time. Sometimes in the morning, I just walk through the house with a trashbag and start dumping stuff in it. Today, I spent 25 minutes in the garage, collecting all the hazardous chemicals (for some reason a lot of lighter fluid leftover in our garage from the previous owner/tenant), throwing away empty tennis cans (Husband likes to collect these it seems) and recycling some old boxes that were too crumbled beyond repair.
It's a box at a time, a bag at a time, but I have to make that good enough for me right now. Eventually, maybe by the year 2020, I'll be done, and I have to be okay with that.
I managed to find a few uninterrupted moments this afternoon to quickly whip out these chai infused cookies. I probably should have spent the time picking up and getting rid of another box of junk, but the desire to make these cookies which had been an idea in my head for a while wouldn't leave me. The came together super quickly and the result - yummy shortbread. The taste is a subtle chai note with the sweetness from the chocolate. If you want more of the chai note, then DRIZZLE the chocolate and don't put too much on top.
Chai Infused Shortbread Bars with White Chocolate
adapted from Tish Boyle’s Book The Good Cookie
Makes 16 wedges
Chai Shortbread
Ingredients
3 tablespoons chai tea leaves (I used Tazo Brand chai tea bags)
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Method
Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 inch round cake pan or tarte pan.
In a medium saucepan, combine tea leaves and butter and heat over low heat, stirring occasionally until butter is completely melted. Remove pan from the heat and set aside to cool and infuse for 10 minutes.
Strain butter through a fine sieve into a large bowl. Discard tea leaves. Stir in sugar, vanilla and salt. Add flour and stir until just blended. Scrap dough into prpared pan and pat into an even layer. Cover surface of dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until firm. (or up to 2 days).
Position rack in center of the oven and preheat to 325 F.
Bake the chilled shortbread 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven. Spread white chocolate over while still warm.
White Chocolate Glaze
Ingredients
3 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped (or use chips)
Method
In the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water, melt chocolate stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread quickly over shortbread. Allow to cool. Cut into 16 wedges.
Printable recipe
A treat before I continue decluttering.
My tea...which I buy at Target
The book which I think is a great cookie book!
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3 comments:
Love this post about decluttering. That has been the theme in my house for the past month. If I lived near you, I would've offered to watch your kids for the day, as I know exactly what you mean about wanting free reign of the house. I must be rubbing off on my son bc last week I heard his yelling (to his 1 yr old sister), while holding a small garbage can, "If you don't pick up your toys they're going in the GARBAGE!" He was literally hurling toys into this garbage can while walking around. I couldn't help but laugh bc that must be exactly how he perceives me...=P
Love to throw out my children's old toys/things, too! Esp. the contents of goody bags from long ago birthday parties and Xmas stockings and Easter baskets.
Ooooh man these look fabulous. Reminds me of biscotti looking at it, and the chai/white chocolate mixture must be incredible. I totally feel ya on the all-or-nothing attitude.....it just feels so bad to leave things hanging. But hang in there! Things always come together :) Even if it is painful having to stare at the clutter for a longer amount of time lol
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