WHERE does the week go?  Not much cooking this week, but the cookies were good!  Thanks, Yvonne!

I make these cookies every Valentines because my children beg me for them. This is the oldest recipe I have from my teenage years. shortbread cookies with raspberry filling and lemon icing. YUM!

Short Crust Pastry:
1 lb butter
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
2 tsp grated lemon rind
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
5 1/3 cup flour
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice

Cream butter and sugar until mixture is light and fluffy. Add yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon rind, vanilla and salt.
Blend in 4 cups of the flour, 1 cup at a time. Transfer to lightly floured board and knead in the remaining flour. Wrap the dough in wax paper and chill for one hour.
Preheat oven to 375. Roll the chilled dough 1/4" thick and cut with a cookie cutter. Bake until slightly browned, about 12 minutes.
Spread the bottom sides of half of the cookies with raspberry preserves and cover with the remaining cookies.
Mix confectioners sugar and lemon juice together until smooth and ice the cookies. Top each with pecan halves.

Enjoy!!

Busy week this week so little cooking go on at the Reyer household.  Here's just a few highlights....steak, Italian meatballs, Mexican chicken fajitas. Good eatin', but quick meals.

Dinner on a dime

Oh, I am SOOOO craving those greens.   I often forget to take the pictures until the meal is over, but suffice it to say, salads have ruled here for the past week or so.  Also, having a craving for roasted potatoes with fresh herbs.  Tonight I made one of Mason's favorites, parmesan crusted chicken with roasted broccoli and Italian pasta.  All plates were cleaned and everyone is stuffed.  The boys helped me with the prep work and everyone (including me) was happy!  I am kind of on a roll, being energized for the New Year, especially after spending the weekend with my fabulous nephew who is a wonderful cook!  Thanks for getting me kick started, David!  And thanks for helping me get those knives in prime shape for all the cooking that is about to begin.  

keeping up....

It's been a busy week and I have been mainly cleaning out the frig.  I sure will miss those fresh black eyed peas!

Sunday night Soup

OK, I know, we're all a little bit over the soup thing.  But I just couldn't throw away that beautiful hambone from the holidays!   Here is the last of the soup for a while.  This is black eyed pea and kale soup.  Very good.  Mason and I dried some pineapples to snack on.  They taste much better than they look.  Almost like eating sunshine, they are so sweet!  I see Subway in the near future....Mom's gotta get out of the kitchen!

Friday night delight

Potato Fritata and butternut squash with fennel.  YUM!  Had it for breakfast on Sunday also!

Sunday night home food

One of Mason's favorites....barbeque spare ribs.  One of my and Matt's favorites....rosemary roasted potatoes.  And one of all of our favorites....roasted broccoli.   Fuel for the upcoming week!  Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2010! Hello 2011!

I have been SO BAD and haven't taken hardly any pictures of ALL THE FOOD that adorned the many tables this holiday.  Here are just a few of the ones I did remember to take a picture of for those of you who even wondered if we were eating well.  Happy New Year!  I will try to get back on the wagon for 2011!  Thanks to all of you who fed us so well this holiday season!  You all are my inspirations!