New Walls for Old

Along with a fab Warhol exhibition and some High St shops I found my favourite coffee stop near our central bus station was closing this week.  They shared a favourite shortcake recipe –

You need…

  • 125g butter
  • 55g caster sugar
  • 180g plain flour

Making super easy shortbread –

  1. Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

  2. Beat the butter and the sugar together until smooth.

  3. Stir in the flour to get a smooth paste. Turn on to a work surface and gently roll out until the paste is 1cm thick.

  4. Cut into shapes and place on a baking tray. Sprinkle with caster sugar and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

  5. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until pale golden-brown.  Cool on a wire rack.

I captured a short play about why this shortbread has become iconic (clue… it was free after 2pm with every hot drink!)  Although it was worth the full price of £1.50 especially when served hot out of the oven on the way to work first thing in the morning.

 

 

 

Tara – I been stood here ages what’s happening? You never can tell in this place!

Ellie – It’s a party but you have to bring your own food.

Tara – Someone should take in the shortbread that’s not claimed from your shop.

Ellie – If you buy coffee after two you get a free shortbread.  Better keep it here.

Tara – I knew that I just forgot.  I wonder what this place will become.

Ellie – Probably another High Street Coffee chain.

Tara – They don’t do Cooked breakfast or shortbread fresh from the oven like you.This was the first place I had a made for you sandwich as a student. A kind of replacement mother  then I thought humus on bread was exotic

Ellie – It’s like everything in this town. One minute there the next it’s. Gone.  Don’t know what it will be next.

Tara – It will be a funny place to wait for a bus without a coffee shop.

Ellie – I been told I am going to work outside the Ring Road.

Tara – Is that the nearest coffee shop?

Ellie – No.

Tara –  It’s good there is one nearby then.  No more freshly brewed coffee only one pound thirty here though?

Ellie – Unless you got big power tools to get in a locked door.

Tara – No great food including delicious sandwiches.  We’re all older now.

Ellie – Imagine if I don’t like the new manager.

Tara –  It won’t be that she doesn’t like you it’s just she looks at you and sees what she could have have I’m guessing.

Ellie – You can have too much

Tara –  That only applies when you are hungry. Do you know what I got as a leaving present for you. A magnet so you come back.

Ellie – I went to her leaving party and she got so drunk she started hugging everyone saying how much she missed everybody.

Tara –  Come on.  It’s not too late.  We have shortbread and there’s your party going on in there.  New things grow.

It will be fascinating to see what shoots up in the space next.  I hope it’s something equally memorable and delicious!

Check out my other audio story about consumerism here

…and Find more posts about earth here

14 thoughts on “New Walls for Old”

  2. Sorry to hear your favourite coffee shop is closing this week! Their shortbread sounds delicious, and it was very kind of them to share you the recipe – and for you to share it here 😀 Love the short play about it, and it sounds like the shop and their shortbread holds many memories for some. It reminds me of a cafe outside my old high school – I would buy my caramel lattes and caramel slices from there once or twice a week. My treats for the week. And then when I left the school, it shut down 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Oh no ! I feel that ;-( There is such a unique feeling to a local coffee shop. The caramel slices sound perfectt too.

      Thank you for your beautiful comment. The shop is already closed now so I guess I will be drinking less coffee.

      Last night was Eurovision and Australia so very nearly won ! ( Just a few points in it.)

      Wishing you a great Sunday.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. Thanks for sharing the recipe, it sounds easy and I’ve never attempted shortbread before. I like the photo of growing through the cracks, it’s this persistence that keeps us all going.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • It’s true – SO true about the persistence. Thank you for this beautiful insight ! I feel that too.

      At school we made shortbread without a mixing bowl (not sure why exactly .. !) so we mixed it with our hands on the kitchen table. Looking back I think I”ll stick with the bowl lol !

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Yes, isn’t it? I’ve recently discovered Rumi’s poetry. Since then I just want to share it with everyone. I’m so thrilled to know that you’ve liked it, Lita! Thank you. And I can’t wait to try that recipe!

        Like

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