Monday 27 February 2012

How to make shortbread cookies

Shortbreads:
2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter room temperature
1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Shortbreads:
  In a separate bowl whisk the flour with the salt. 
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter until smooth (about 1 minute). 
 Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. 
Gently stir in the flour mixture just until incorporated.
 Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill the dough for at least an hour.  
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven.
 Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch (1 cm) thick. 
 Using a 2 to 3 inch (5 to 7.5 cm) cookie cutter (round, square, heart, etc.) cut out the dough.  
Place the cookies about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.


I did this recipe because i have never baked a shortbread cookie and i wanted to challenge myself.


Tuesday 21 February 2012

Creative Writing


My best friend, fancy restaurant, during the first week of the school year, secret needs to be confessed to someone.
I remember the first time we met, we were 6 years old. We were at primary school in Los Angeles; I did not know that Mary Jane can not speak English.  Some children are laughing at her because she can’t comprehend.  We became close because I tried to communicate with her in other way.  She speaks to me in French and I answered her through actions.  Funny but we clicked with each other and her father and mother came to me one day and they told me that their daughter likes me very well.  Though we may not understand each other most of the time we are as close as best friend.  Eventually I helped her understand English slowly. Our conversation finishes with laughter at all times.  We play each day at school, we learn, we eat and goes home together.  After 10 years, we’re teen agers and we’re still best friend.  We go to dance studio together, she goes with me during my band practice and she’s always helping me with my assignment.  Her parents trusted me a lot.

One Friday night during the first week of the school year, Mary Jane invited me into this fancy restaurant at Rivendell.  “Its my shout” she said, and I said “what’s the occasion?”  I picked her up anyway and we drove into Rivendell.   After the big meal as I eat a lot and that includes her left over which is not new to her she told me that she’s leaving our school.  I burped out loud accidentally and people in the restaurant were looking at us with a surprise and I pointed her.  She pinched me and said “its not me” and we both giggles and laughed.  I thought she was joking but then she explained why she needed to go back to France along with her family permanently.  I did not say a word, I did not look at her, I was trying to imagine what’s going to happen when she’s gone.  How can I tell her that I have secret and I’m keeping it for a long time.  For 16 years we’ve been friends inseparable, we grew up together, I am her first friend when she arrived here in New Zealand until now in high school.  She has no secret for me she tells everything to me, of course we’re best friend, but me I share most of the things to her  except my one big secret.  You ca probably guess what I mean, of course I have crush on her, she was the most beautiful girl in the whole school and she’s my best friend and she’s leaving me.

I dropped her home and silence between us until next day.  During lunch time at school she told me that they are leaving soon.  I am a man and I can not cry especially in front of her.  I can not deny that I am sad and angry, why she needs to go? Why can’t she stay? I told her that and she cried she said there’s no turning back now, and it’s final.  I did not go out during the weekend and at Sunday night I received a phone call from her and she said that she’s now at the airport if I want to come to see her and say goodbye to her, I jumped off the bed and drove to the international airport.  I did not know that she’s leaving very soon, why I not spent time with her as long as I can…… I blamed myself and I’m confused.  When I saw her I hugged her so tightly and a tear falling into my cheek….corny but through, my first love is leaving me.  I gave her a letter and I told her to read it later when she’s in the plane.  I said sorry for not revealing my entire secret to her though she was my best friend. She smile at me and she said sorry too because she’s the same I stared at her and I frowned which faded quickly.

One month later I received a letter from Mary Jane’ and I am very excited to open and read, I’m shaking and my heart beats faster than normal.  She said that she read my letter and that she felt the same to me except that she does not want to hurt me.  I am confused what is she talking about? Is there any other man involve that she has other crush or what.  I don’t understand.   As I continue reading it my tears just kept flowing, I started to shake and I cried out loud.  My best friend is gone, my first love left me so early, and she went home to heaven early.  Mary Jane died of brain cancer after the operation she did not wake up.  She told her parents she wants to live longer so they need to go home for advance treatment in France.  She said I want to come back to NZ to see her best friend once she’s cured, her best friend is waiting for her.  Now she’s not coming back but her memories will always be in my heart.   

My best friend will always be my best friend.

Monday 13 February 2012

holiday homework essay thing .

During my holidays I went to the United States of America. There could be a lot of things I could write about but that would take me forever so I chose one thing to write about and that was going the magical world of Disney Land.

So the day started off with waking up at 6:30 in the morning. We had to wake up that early because Disney Land was a hour away. We were lucky the weather was good because it was not to hot and it was not gonna rain. So when everyone was ready we hoped in the car and soon we were off. The car ride was rather boring and really long. The ride seemed liked forever but finally we were there.

So usually a 13 year old guy wouldn't be to excited going to Disneyland but I was. Our first ride was the carrousel because my younger brother wanted to go on it and he couldn't exactly go on the bigger rides. So after going on a few childish rides we were finally going to go on the bigger rides. But you know what the worst thing was we were waiting in line for like an hour and the rides are only 1-2 minutes long. But oh well. But my favourite ride was Space Mountain. Space Mountain is an indoor high speed roller coaster.The best part of all is watching the night parade and seeing all the fireworks being blown at night.

 


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