Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Here is the recipe for the cookies Ulla brought to the Christmas party.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

Ingredients for cookies:

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup butter, softened

½ teaspoon almond extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup raspberry jam

Ingredients for glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 ½ teaspoon almond extract

2 – 3 teaspoons water

Preheat oven to 350

Combine sugar, butter, and almond extract (1/2 teas.) and beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1 – 2 minutes).

Reduce speed to low, add flour. Beat until well-mixed (1 – 2 minutes).

Shape into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

With thumb, make indentations and fill with jam.

Bake about 14 minutes until edges are lightly browned.

Let stand for one minute before removing from sheet.

In small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and 1 ½ teaspoon almond extract.

Gradually stir in enough water for a thin glaze.

Drizzle over cooled cookies.

Makes 3 ½ dozen.

Store in airtight container for one week or in freezer for three months.

Judy's picnic cake recipe

2 cups of flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 cup butter, 3 1/2  tablespoons  cocoa,  1 cup water

1/2 cup buttermilk  ( or add a little vinegar to milk to sour it)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

Mix flour, sugar, and baking soda together well with a spoon.  Before doing that, melt the butter, cocoa, and water just till boiling  (stir now and then and dont't cook on high or it will stick).   Pour this mixture into the flour mixture and mix well with mixer.  Then add the buttermilk and  vanilla and mix well.  Now add the eggs and mix well.  (If you add the eggs sooner, they may cook because  of the hot liquid.)    Pour in a large shallow pan  (Mine is 10 1/2 by 15 )  Probably a jelly roll pan may be too shallow.  Bake approx. 30 min. at 350 degrees.  I check it at around 20, so that it doesn't overcook, but so that it is done and springs back when touched.

Five minutes before done, start the frosting.

1 stick of butter (1/2 cup), or margarine;  1/3 cup scant milk (not sour), and 3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa      Cook this mixture just to a gentle boil.  (Use the same pan as before saves cleaning and works fine)

1 pound powdered sugar (3 1/2 cups)   Place in small mixing bowl  and add the liquid and mix well 

1 tsp vanilla is then added and  then add 3/4 cup  chopped nuts.

Pour immediately over the cake and let cool

Sounds like a lot of work, but most of this is explanation and it goes rapidly, since the liquids are cooking while you assemble.

Federal Way Symphony Garden Tour slide show

Colleen's photos in a slide show on her web site.

Summer potluck photos

Worm composting class

Composting with Worms

Thursday, July 29, 6pm-7:30pm

Federal Way City Hall Council Chambers (33325 8th Ave S, 2nd Floor)

Learn how to set up and maintain a worm bin during this interactive course. Composting with worms is great for people without yard waste service who no longer want to send food to the landfill. Plus kids think ‘red wiggler’ worms are fascinating! Bring your bin if you need help setting it up, and bring your questions and we’ll troubleshoot together. The class is free and light refreshments, educational materials and door prizes are provided.

Summer potluck at Debbie Angel's house

Club members,
Potluck July 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Debbie's house.

Federal Way Symphony Garden Tour

Tickets now on sale for the
Federal Way Symphony
11th Annual Garden Tour
Saturday, July 17, 2010
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Featuring eight private and uniquely different
gardens in Federal Way and Northeast Tacoma

Guest speaker: Horticulturist Richie Steffen, curator of The Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden, will speak about "Great Plant Picks for the Northwest" at 11 a.m. at the Lakehaven Utility District Water Conservation Garden, located next to French Lake Park in Federal Way.

Other highlights: Artisans, unusual plants, WSU Master Gardeners, and musicans in the gardens.

Tickets: $15 on or before June 30. After this date $20.

Federal Way Symphony  Tel: 253-529-9857

Ticket outlets:
Federal Way—Jan's Plants | Oriental Garden Center | Marlene’s Market & Deli
Auburn—Branches Garden Center
Burien— Herr Backyard Garden Center                    
Des Moines—Furney’s
Puyallup—Watson's Greenhouse and Nursery         
NE Tacoma—Browns Point Diner

Old Goat Farm photos

A few more photos of May 29 tour of Old Goat Farm.

Photos of tour at Old Goat Farm

Here are some photos from Old Goat Farm.

Garden tour of Old Goat Farm

Mark your calendars for our club's annual garden tour. May 29, we go to Old Goat Farm. We are meeting at Maxine's house at 9:00 a.m. to carpool to the garden. After the tour, we will likely go out to lunch.

Look in the club yearbook for Maxine's address and phone number.

Plant Sale

Another year without rain on Friday, our main work day! Great turnout of club members to help with all the plant sorting.

City of Federal Way compost information

Here is the link for Federal Way compost coupons and information: City of Federal Way Recycling

MHGC Plant Sale April 23 - 24

29301 7th Place South, Federal Way

Help with plant sorting for pre-sales Friday beginning at 9 a.m.
Help Saturday with public sale from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (usually busiest in the morning).

Club events and activities

May 5 Chinook District Meeting and Lunch: Tell Maxine if you plan to attend.
May 19 Chinook District Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show. A couple tickets ($18) for our table are still available - contact Maxine.

Marine Hills Garden Club Plant Sale

April 24, 10 - 3
A great assortment of annuals, perennials, and natives for sale (inexpensive prices)
29301 7th Place South, Federal Way

For more information, contact Judy McDonald at 839-4413.

Note correct date for District Luncheon is May 19

The ticket says Wednesday May 18. The correct date is May 19.

May 4 3:30 pm Foundation House basket planting

Mark your calendars for our annual event to plant the hanging baskets with residents at the Foundation House. We will begin at 3:30, and it should take less than one hour.

King County Master Gardener Plant Sale May 1-2

Tacoma Fuchsia Society plant sale

The Tahoma Fuchsia Society with have their plant sale on April 17 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Disabled American Veterans Hall, 1110 North Stevens in Tacoma.

Rhododendron Species Foundation Plant Sale

Sale will be Saturday March 27^th 10:00-3:00 and Sunday March 28^th 10:00-2:00 in the Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters west parking lot.

HART at Seymour Conservatory

Amazing glass art pieces made locally by Hilltop Artists in Residence will be displayed April and May among the springtime flowers and the permanent collection of more than 250 plant species at the W. W. Seymour Conservatory: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=1142

Spring Plant Sale

The order forms are ready for pick up at the MHGC meeting 2/16. If you won't be at the meeting, call Judy McDonald (253-839-4413) before then to arrange to get a form, as she will be going out of town.

Bedding plants are from Starlake nursery and excellent quality. They must be pre-ordered by March 20.

Plant sale is Friday, April 23. Try to come help sort out the plants at Arlyce Pearson's house. The "public sale" of donated plants and leftovers is Saturday, April 24.