Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Scottish Shortbread Cookies

It's that time again! The Holidays are upon us and McLaren's Original Scottish Shortbread Cookies are a great gift. My husband Tim's family has been making these buttery morsels for 5 generations. I was accepted into the small circle of  initiates, (who are keepers of the recipe), which includes kneading and baking specifics, soon after our wedding. My mother-in-law liked me-she really liked me!
(aka Sally Fields-)

When our children were very young, Granny would come to visit and they would help her to make the dough and press it into the pan, a considerable task for such wee fingers. Then slowly she would help them prick the entire surface of the dough with a single fork, in tidy Scottish rows. After 40-45 minutes of building buttery aroma, out came the golden treasure to cool on the counter, be cut into squares and lightly sugared. Often devoured before it cooled, Scottish Shortbread had forged it's permanent place in our family, the 5th generation. So it began. We gave some to our neighbors, we gave some to teachers and brought it to parties. Soon it was, "Hey, if you're baking any shortbread this year, could I get a box for my 80 yr old Aunt?"

The rest is history...well, recent history. We officially formed Mclaren's in February of 2009 and we are pleased to say that we have doubled our business each year since we started. This is our third Holiday season. We have re-designed our gift baskets and expanded to include some Gluten Free Products and imported teas as well. We began with only shortbread, added 3 jams and now we have many hand made products all ready and willing to help Santa with his/her list.

We have begun to add our tea ware, antique and vintage tea cups, silver tea sets and items, to enhance your gifting and tea time experience. We hope that you will visit our web site for your gift list and stop by a farmers market or Scottish Festival and say hi! www.mclarensshortbread.com
Happy Holidays!
From all of us at McLaren's
                                                             British Tradition Gift Basket

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Harvest and Holidays, I believe that some of the magic has gone from the seasons.

The time has flown by, and the season we called Fall, (when I grew up in New England) but this year called "SWELTERING" in CA, has come and gone. Gone with it are the fresh summer fruits that linger in my memory from childhood, juicy peaches, nectarines, apricots and strawberries, actually berries of all kinds. Again, except if you live in Southern CA where we can still buy fresh strawberries, and the new crop will arrive as early as Februaury of 2012.

Can you tell that this Fall in So Cal was hot? I love CA but 102 degrees in Late September is too hot. My Connecticut Yankee genes are screaming for sweater weather by Sept 20th.

I mean really, it did not even cool of by Halloween this year, which is usually the weather marker, when the mercury finally dips below 85. Too much for a big girl with a penchant for cool temperatures.
So now we are are at the end of November, Thanksgiving has come and gone, leaving in it's familial wake a host of memories; Fall, Autumn, the regal foliage of October in New England and the traditions that go along with the season.

I believe that some of the magic has gone from the seasons. Growing up in New England we had definitive seasons and times for doing certain things and eating certain things. You swam in the summer-only, trust me. No wet suits, ice fishing maybe, but summer was the time to swim in the ponds and lakes and the occasional trip to the seaside. Basking in the sun, savoring it's short lived warmth, wading through the humid days and sleeping to the music of the crickets, tree frogs and bull frogs, exuberantly performing their nightly symphonies.

It was at these times that we would anxiously await the first strawberries, fresh and ripe in June and July. You ate as many as you could as often as you could, soon their season was over and frozen was never quite the same. And so the seasons progressed Spring into Summer offering; apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, raspberry's, blueberries, wild grapes and apples each arriving with a fanfare of Pies, Jams, Cobblers, cereal and pancake toppings etc.

I believe that some of the magic has gone from the seasons. The world is a smaller place than when I was young. You can buy fruit from around the world at any time, strawberries are available almost year round in CA somehow cheapening their sweet ruby glory.

Fruit is harvested too early, gassed to make it appear ripe and often a grave disappointment when consumed. Flavor is not allowed to mature, fruit rarely ripens "on the vine"  anymore.

 I wonder, if I am lucky enough to live to see grandchildren, will Apple Butter simmering on the stove and Pumpkin Pie baking in the oven represent the very real fruits of the Fall Harvest, anticipated all year? Or, will they be a fulfillment of the advertiser's representation of what we should eat in the Fall  at Thanksgiving. Or, the product of a first grade fall pageant, when they learn of the Pilgrims first feast, a history lesson so removed from children's actual experience.

I believe that some of the magic has gone from the seasons. For those of us that live in suburbs or urban areas, the availability of international-seasonal produce year round has somehow further removed us from the seasons, and the earth who graciously repeats them each year. Removed from the inner knowing of time to plant, nurture, harvest and rest. The Byrd's said it best, they had good source material.

 So...go to your local farmers market and buy local produce that's in season and get back to your "roots".

1For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Not a Fan of Corned Beef & Cabbage? Try this!

 Shepherd's Pie is a Celtic tradition in both Ireland and Scotland! Delicious...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/shepherds-pie-recipe/index.html?nl=ROTD_031611_RecipeText

Happy St Patrick's Day to all my Celtic Cousins!

There is an old legend that the McLaren Clan sprang from the union of a Mermaid and a Highlander..
so in the spirit of the day....

Check out our Hot Toddy marmalade, fitting for the day! & A Sea Shanty for you!
Organic Orange Marmalade with Jameson Irish Whiskey & Clove.

http://www.mclarensshortbread.com/McLaren-s-Hand-Made-Jams-and-Marmalades-s/1.htm


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lzFKTxPOwc&feature=related

May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.


Sunday, March 6, 2011

What if Charlie Sheen had received the Shortbread?

Well,
 it probably would not have changed the world, but if I write "Charlie Sheen" and " Buy McLaren's Shortbread" enough times in a blog or facebook page, will my organic SEO rating go up?
 Everyone else is using him to increase their ratings!
A

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Finally Grammy Swag Bag info!

Grammy Awards!! These are the folks who got to take home our Shortbread from the Grammys....
John Mayer
Justin Bieber
Rob and Marisol Thomas
Johnny Depp
Diana Krall
Elvis Costello
Debra Lee (BEAT)
Jamie Fox
Anita Baker
Selena Gomez
LL Cool J
Abigail Breslin
Isla Fisher
Joel Katz
Peter Lofrumento
Sylvia Rhone
Usher
Sidwalk Angels Foundation
Heidi Klum
Julianne Hough Ryan Seacrest
Will Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith
Dr. Dre

It's very cool that all these folks got our product in their bags! Now, did they try it? did they like it? 
That is the real mystery of this kind of marketing!!
 Perhaps, some of them will send a thank you? LOL!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

February Specials !

Our latest Edition of our ezine, " McLaren's in the Kitchen"  is out!
 Sign up to get the coupons, recipes and more,  click here.
 
 To  try our easy - make at home - McLaren's Clotted Cream recipe click here.

Our Jam & shortbread of the month, along with the February special are now up on the web site! www.mclarensshortbread.com

The Scottish Highland Games season started last weekend with the Queen Mary Games in Long Beach, CA. This weekend we will be in Phoenix, Az.
 Happy cooking!
xxoo
Andrea

Friday, February 11, 2011

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Flight cancled, bummer

Hi,
well as of my last post all was moving forward. Until.. my hard working hubby came home from the Calabasas farmers mkt feeling ill.. so though I was more than ready to take flight into an evening of fun, freinds, good food & wine.. we had to postpone.
 So.. now I get to do it all over again. My son has enjoyed the Ginger bread Cake, my loss is his gain. Upcoming events outr second edition of Mclaren's in the Kitchen- Feb 15th- and the Queen Mary Scottish Games- Presidents Day weekend..I can already hear the bagpipes. Stay tuned for a list of the Grammy folks who take home our Shortbread! List will be avail Feb 14th.
 cheers !
 A

Saturday, February 5, 2011

the best laid plans of mice & men.....

Welll, my great plan for prepping for the dinner party has gone by the wayside like so many good ideas!
 But... I'm still on track, the roast is marinating, the veggies are on the way from the farmers market, I packaged a bunch of shipments for Mclaren's.. soon off the Post office, the store for last minute items, some cleaning still and.. I better get off the computer!
A

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The attack of the shortbread business!

Well, I thought I had a plan of attack for the dinner party Saturday, but my Shortbread business has decide to take over.. so no cleaning today.. packaging Valentine's Day orders instead! ;-)
 more later...
A

Dinner party plan of attack..

all is fair in love and war and prepping for dinner parties.. well my schedule has changed a bit.. from my last post.. so I haven't gotten started on the cleaning yet.. my kids have a half day, which means lots of driving and picking up at 2 different times.. so the silver is still in need of polishing and.. we are going into the kitchen this afternoon to bake for the weekend and all of our Valentines Day Promotions..
the cleaning is now scheduled for this evening after dinner.. I wonder if  I could get my teenagers to help? LOL! JK!
more tomorrow....
 we are excited about having our shortbread in the Grammy Bags at the Four Season Hotel!
gotta run..
A

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Don't be too exhausted to enjoy your party, plan ahead

If any of you are like me, a busy person, (who isn't these days) with loads going on and never enough time to do it in, then maybe you too have planned a party and on the night of the event, been too tired to truly enjoy it.
I am determined this time, to enjoy our upcoming adult night, a dinner party with friends.
The dates been set and now I just have to plan my attack.
The silver is definitely the first task to tackle, ugg, all that polishing! I do so love the result. So, since I am entertaining on an upcoming Saturday, the preceding Thursday is my sliver and shopping day.
I am going to tackle the silver and the crystal first thing in the morning after the kids go to school.
Then off to the market to buy all the ingredients...
Friday morning I'll prep all the veggies, put the roast in a marinade....
Then I'll do the heavy cleaning Friday,  dusting, vacuuming, mopping, bathrooms which leaves Saturday for  sleeping in- the table setting and cooking.
 IF I can stick to this schedule....I will be ready to "rock n roll" when our friends arrive....
 wish me luck!
I'll keep you posted!
xxoo
A

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Get your cake out of the pan in one piece.

Whether your're trying our featured products this month (Mclaren's Olde World Gingerbread Cake with Fountainbléau Sauce & Whipped Cream) or baking your own, here is a tip for getting those cakes out of the pans in one piece!

This tip was taught me by my mother, when I was very young.

The only extra item you will need is waxed paper. Tear a sheet of waxed paper a little bigger than your cake pan. Place the cake pan on top and trace the outline with a knife point or toothpick ( pointed object).

Cut the resulting circle or rectangle out with scissors.
(You can use a pencil or pen, just be sure to trim inside the line, so the graphite or ink is not cooked into your cake.)

Grease the bottom and sides of the cake pan as directed by the recipe instructions. Place the wax paper circle on the bottom of the pan, and smooth it out over the Pam, or shortening. Then pour the cake mix into the pan and bake as directed.

After the cake comes out of the oven and has cooled almost completely, run a thin knife around the sides of the pan to loosen the edges, when you turn the pan over, shake slightly and the cake should fall right out onto the plate. Peel the waxed paper off the bottom and flip the cake over to decorate or frost as usual.

No more scraping those torn bits off the bottom of the pan!
 Happy Baking!
 Andrea

Monday, January 17, 2011

McLaren's "In the Kitchen"

Happy New Year!
It seems that we always hit the ground running the second week of every new year and this year is no exception. On January 19, 2011 we will launch our new z-zine!  "In The Kitchen"
It is an online monthly mini-magazine with kitchen tips, recipes, ideas for dinner parties, teas and gatherings, money saving coupons and news from McLaren's. You can subscribe to "In The Kitchen" by clicking here

Tim & I love to entertain, though we have have precious little time to do it these days. We are hosting a dinner party with some of our good friends that we were not able to see during the Holiday Season.
We are looking forward to an evening filled with good friends, good food, and good wine! We're going to share our recipes and experiences with you through the e zine and our web site.

As new feature to our web site, we have added a link on the home page under
Quick Links
Recipes and serving suggestions
This link takes you to the archives of all the recipes and serving suggestions that we have been sharing with our festival clients. We will post a few each month, to give you new ideas and inspiration in the kitchen. Feel free to copy and send them to your friends and loved ones. You can visit our web site by clicking here.

Already posted you will find the recipes and serving tips for the wine jams with cheese and Olde World Gingerbread Cake with Fountainbléau Sauce & whipped cream. If you have any recipes to add, or stories about McLaren's at your table, please let us know and we will add them!

Coming up in in February is the holiday for lovers, Valentines Day. From the fun to the fantastic, we have gifts that are sure to please even the fussiest gourmet.

Remember, as you gain new clients and work new prospects this year, keep in  mind that McLaren's makes a great "Welcome" or "Thank you" gift for any client. We can create something delicious and elegant to fit your budget.

Until next time, take the time to have a cup o' tea with someone you love!
Best to you,
Andrea & Tim