Scottish Shortbread

In honor of Robert Burns's birthday in January (the 25th), the recipe for this time is Scottish shortbread. I have been apprehensive to share this recipe because I think there is room for improvement, but it is not too bad. The recipe is good, but I think the texture could be a little bit more crumbly like Walker's shortbread. But before the recipe, a poem by Rabbie Burns. In time for Valentine's Day, a romantic poem with a little crassness.

To a Louse:

Ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly;
I canna say but ye strunt rarely,
Owre gauze and lace;
Tho', faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.

Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her-
Sae fine a lady?
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.

Swith! in some beggar's haffet squattle;
There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle,
Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Whaur horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations.

Now haud you there, ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rels, snug and tight;
Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,
Till ye've got on it-
The verra tapmost, tow'rin height
O' Miss' bonnet.

My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out,
As plump an' grey as ony groset:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum.

I wad na been surpris'd to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy;
Or aiblins some bit dubbie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss' fine Lunardi! fye!
How daur ye do't?

O Jeany, dinna toss your head,
An' set your beauties a' abread!
Ye little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin:
Thae winks an' finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion! 

Shortbread:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup butter

Instructions:

     Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients well. Dough will be stiff and crumbly.

Press into a 9 x9 inch buttered dish.

 Prick top with a fork.

Bake until pale golden brown on the edges. Cool and cut into squares. (I dumbly forgot to take a picture of the shortbread after it was done cooking, but it stays relatively light like the way it is before it is cooked.)

Be prepared for buttery goodness. Cheers!