i don’t know about the rest of you, but i am extremely excited about our 44th president! the night before his inauguration, i was driving home and listening to npr when this story played over the airwaves. in case you’re the kind of person who won’t click on that link (meaning that you and i are more alike than you know!), an NPR correspondent interviewed members of the DC Central Kitchen. DC Central Kitchen is a charity organization that has grown in the past 20 years from collecting leftovers from previous inauguration dinners and distributing them to homeless shelters, into a culinary arts program for people who have been in prison or homeless. thus, instead of feeding people with challenging circumstances, the DC Central Kitchen now trains them and places them into jobs as the complete the program so they can feed themselves. for this inauguration, the DC Central Kitchen made over 8,000 shortbread cookies from Michelle Obama’s own recipe. i haven’t had a chance to try these out, but i wanted to share the inspirational story above as well as the recipe with you (recipe is after the jump). here’s to a new administration of change and hope!
Michelle Obama’s Shortbread Cookies
borrowed from npr.org
- 1½c plus 2T sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 3c cake flour
- 1t each orange and lemon zest
- 2T amaretto (almond liqueur)
- 1/4t salt
- 1 beaten egg white
- chopped nuts or dried fruit (the DC Central Kitchen chefs used pistachios)
_____________________________
- preheat oven to 325°
- mix together butter and 1½c of sugar
- add egg yolks one at a time and beat until smooth
- stir in flour, zest, amaretto and salt, and mix only until everything is incorporated
- spread dough evenly onto baking pan and brush top of dough with egg white and remaining 2T of sugar
- sprinkle with nuts or fruit if desired
- bake until golden brown, approximately 25 minutes
- cool for a short time, then cut while still warm