What is wrong with this picture? To the naked eye, nothing. But to the eyes of the highly skilled, discriminating, top quality baker in the festive season, there is plenty wrong. Way down in the bottom right corner of the photo you'll see a tiny figure, and I mean a tiny figure. 227 grams which is about a cup and a third of flour.

What's wrong with that? Nothing. The famous family shortbread recipe calls for one cup of rice flour (bet you didn't know that was the secret ingredient that raises this age-old recipe above all others, did you?) But what if you want to make 2 batches? It's back to the store you go, likely about a week before the big festive day and they're all out of rice flour. It makes me so mad!

So you travel around the city looking for any store that still has the festive ingredient in stock. Finally, a little convenience store has a dusty old box of the rice flour and your baking worries are over.

Until next year, when you start to make the buttery treats again and you're sure there's enough rice flour... ARGH! You're about a quarter of a cup shy! Dammit! You run out the door and head out to the store, all the while hoping the lump of butter, flour and fruit sugar you left on the counter isn't being licked by one of the cats because you left in great haste and didn't cover the bowl...

Can't they just make the box 2 cups? It would make things so much easier. I suppose it's a stupid marketing ploy... funny how I think everything is a stupid marketing ploy these days, like those damn advertising hubcaps on taxis - hasn't anyone thought of slush and the mucky winter season? Ummm, sorry, that's for another day. The point is, I'm sure Club House is just raking it in, taking advantage of the discriminating shortbread bakers - in the festive season of all times! Tis the season to be greedy, I suppose.

Anyway, I'll be making my second batch tomorrow with flour leftover from last year and the year before...

Thanks and good luck.
 

A year ago on Pigdump: Are you like me? Do some words just make you laugh for no reason whatsoever? More. Search Pigdump		From November 19, 2001: When ET's finger lit up and he told Elliot "I'll be right here," I sobbed like a schoolgirl. More. From November 16, 2001: Just in time for the holiday season! More.		Archives Oct 01 - Nov 01 Sep 01 - Aug 01 - Jul 01 Jun 01 - May 01 - Apr 01 Mar 01 - Feb 01 - Jan 01 Dec 00 - Nov 00 - Oct 00 Sep 00 - Aug 00 - Jul 00 Jun 00 - May 00 - Apr 00 Mar 00 - Feb 00 - Jan 00 Dec 99 - Nov 99 - Oct 99 Sept 99 - Aug 99