Keep calm and place more blocks.

Sometime, I daresay in the not-so-distant future,

 my (more than likely adolescent) son will throw the

"You don't ever do anything for me" line at me.

I'm ready.

I'll throw back the

"Do you know exactly little square blocks of chocolate cake I cut up and iced to make

that Minecraft cake for your 11th birthday?"

Admittedly, that might be only after the

 "Do you know what trauma and irreparable damage my pelvic floor 

and nether regions went through giving birth to you?" line

(though Mr Boozle and I are currently negotiating at what age my offspring

need to be before I use that for the less than moral use of emotional blackmail).

But it will be a close call.

Because they were both excruciating.

One day, I might get over the trauma of natural childbirth 

but I will never get over icing all those bloody cake blocks .

Lemon Shortcake. A substitute for John Barrowman.

(www.telegraph.co.uk)

I am in a slump this week.

I am trying to cope with the fact that John Barrowman

is actually in the same country as I am but I am not going to be able to stalk meet him.

 I have turned to baking to deal with my depression.

(Needless to say that the kids are happier with that

than if their mum gone AWOL interstate to chase down my celebrity crush.

Probably not least because few people get arrested for cooking in their kitchen.

Stalking, on the other hand...)

If anyone else is feeling a bit down,

about John Barrowman or anything,...

climate change, our prime minister, the cold weather, another grey hair...

or even if you are just a fan of tangy lemon recipes,

this is for you.

(No insipid citrus flavoured cooking happening here...)

BEST EVER LEMON BUTTER SHORTCAKE

Filling-

120 grams melted butter

1 cup castor sugar

lemon rind (as much as you like)

2 eggs, lightly whisked

1/2 cup lemon juice

Place butter, sugar and rind into non-reactive saucepan.

Strain eggs and lemon juice into other ingredients.

Cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pastry-

2 cups self raising flour

1 cup castor sugar

120 grams chilled butter, cubed

2 eggs

Process (or rub in) butter, sugar and flour till sandy.

Add eggs to make pastry.

Do not overwork.

Line and grease a springform tin or similar.

Place 2/3 of pastry into base and press down.

Pour hot filling over.

Scatter remainder of pastry mix over.

Optional-

Scatter 1/2 cup almonds or macadamias over.

Cook at 180 degrees Celcius for appromiately 40 minutes.

Cool before removing from tin.

Enjoy.

Surely, it's almost as good as a hug from Captain Jack himself.

(www.forum.gateworld.net)