Soft Shortbread cookies

Usually shortbread is so hard, I like this recipe because the shortbread comes out nice and soft. The secret is not to overbake it. If you like things soft, always underbake it, that's why Mrs. Field's was so successful. I like it this way.

Ingredients

1 cup cold butter, cubed

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

salt

1 tbsp cold water

1 tsp vanilla

Recipe

• Mix the ingredients together


• Knead with your hands


• Cover in saran wrap


• Put in fridge for 1 hour


• Take out of fridge


• Roll out with rolling pin


• Cut whatever shape you want


• Bake 325 for 15 minutes


• After cools down, spread filling like an oreo, and create a shortbread sandwich!

(I used my apple strudel filling. Note that this is used in so many of my recipes. You can make a batch, and put it in the freezer, and just take out what you need and use in countless dishes)

Crunchy Croutons

Croutons are probably the most basic, common, simplest leftover anyone can do. DON'T THROW AWAY THE OLD BREAD. Yes, it might be a little harder than you like. That's fine, it's time for croutons.

Cut into cubes, drizzle with olive oil, add some garlic salt and toast in a baking tray in an oven for a few minutes or even your toaster oven. You can now save for days in a zip loc bag and serve them on your favorite salad.

Fennel Salad

Salads can be scrumptious, and in fact be a whole meal. This fennel capsicum salad is healthy, delicious and will seem truly gourmet to whoever you serve it to.

Ingredients

1 Bell Pepper (Capsicum)

1 Fennel

6 Cherry tomatos

1 Avocado

1/2 teaspoon crushed peanuts

1/4 orange, slices

3 tbsp orange juice

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp honey mustard bourbon sauce

Simply chop the solid ingredients above, add the orange juice, slices, salts, and a honey mustard bourbon sauce (can even find this in Safeway), serve and enjoy!

Coffee Cake with Apple Strudel Topping

My tip here is if you don't have sour cream, DON'T RUN TO THE STORE. If a recipe calls for sour cream, simply add some vinegar to some milk, and stir until it curdles. Then add it to the recipe, and you have just added sour cream. Here I used for a coffee cake I made, and added my apple strudel recipe on top.