Kempenfest, A Special Find, And A Yummy Recipe!

Last weekend, Nuno, the girls, and I attended Kempenfest, the annual arts and crafts show located on the edge of Barrie's waterfront.  The festival, now in its 42nd year, is one of the largest arts and crafts shows in all of Canada!  We have visited every summer since our move to Barrie. 

There were over 350 artisans selling arts, crafts, antiques and one-of-a-kind items!  The festival also included a midway, food vendors, and a live music stage with ample space for dancing.  We took a break to watch couples dance to music from the fifties and sixties.  It was so much fun watching them; even I found my feet tapping! 

I enjoyed walking through the almost never ending maze of vendors and seeing the myriad of handmade, unique items available for sale.  It was great to see so many talented individuals all gathered together in one place.

I took some photos to share with you...

This is one of many antique exhibits at the festival.  Can you see the waters of Kempenfelt Bay, just behind the tent?

We arrived early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun.

By lunch hour, you could hardly squeeze by this path!

Here are more exhibits down another path along the water.  I saw lots of happy people carrying their new found treasures! 

Look how crowded it is now!

This is a photo of my girls and I posing for a picture by the rows of pink petunias.  I brought along a bag to carry around my purchases.  Can you guess what I have inside?

I'll give you ten guesses, but I still don't think you'll guess.  Hmm...maybe if I give you a couple of clues.  It's brown and breakable. It's used for baking cookies, a special type of cookie.  Do you know now?

Ta-da!

It's a vintage shortbread cookie mold!

When I saw it at the festival, it said "BUY ME" all over it.  I found it at a booth where the vendor was selling antique and vintage items.  Isn't it precious? 

Now, I know it isn't Christmas, and shortbread is usually reserved for holiday indulgence, BUT... 

...I just had to try it out!  I mean, wouldn't you?

I went online and looked for a recipe for Scottish Shortbread.  I went on to learn that traditional Scottish shortbread is made with only three ingredients:

butter, sugar, and flour

Traditionally, it is made with 1 part sugar, 2 parts butter, and 3 parts flour. 

I used the recipe from this website:

http://shortbreadpan.com/2012/classic-shortbread/

The only change I made, was to eliminate the vanilla.  I wanted to taste the full flavor of the butter without the influence of vanilla.  I also added a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor of the unsalted butter I used.  I must say, it was the most delicious shortbread I have ever tasted!

Needless to say, the shortbread did not last very long.  Nine cookies divided by four shortbread-loving persons, equals less than twenty-four hours before they were all gobbled up. 

You can use this same recipe to make your own shortbread.  You don't need a shortbread mold.  Instead of spreading the shortbread in a pan, roll the dough into a log, freeze it until firm and then slice with a sharp knife into equal rounds.  Place on a cookie sheet, bake and enjoy! 

Thank you for stopping in.  I love sharing my world with you! 

Have a wonderful, happy Sunday! xoxo