Fireworks
Chapter 17
It was the same spot.
It was one of the few things in Addy Wilder’s life they would never change.
For as long as she could remember, the Wilders would go to the Savannah River for the Labor Day fireworks.
With great fanfare, the unofficial end of summer was celebrated. Their favorite spot was along the stone wall near the Trustee’s Garden. She never tired of how the vivid colors in the sky mirrored in the water below.
As a child, she would sit on her mother’s lap and watching the thunderous display of light, sparkle and color. She was never frightened. Afterall, Momma and Daddy were there and the Lemon Curd Cookies her mother brought were all part of the experience.
To her, each flash would generate an anticipation. There was a certain knowledge that with each bang, there would be an assurance of something spectacular the next moment.
She mused that her life was like the fireworks. She was determined to climb to great heights and shine. Brilliant in some respects. However, she was determined not to be like the glowing embers that fell back to the ground. She would not be forgotten like wisps of smoke.
She was to head back to her academic pursuits at Mary Baldwin in a few days. Back to her friends, her sorority, and general campus life. Addy, mused that each summer break seemed to get shorter. Actually, it was her realizing the time until she graduated in the Spring would be here in a blink of an eye.
What would be next? Career? Time off to do volunteer work with the Humane Society and rescuing poor animals displaced by disaster? And then, what about that boy named Preston?
So many decisions ahead. All exciting. All filled with promise. Would it be possible to do it all? She smiled to herself. She knew the answer. All she had to do is play it out.
Exit Summer. Stage right.
Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies
INGREDIENTS
1 ¾ Stick of Butter, Softened
½ Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 ¾ cup of All Purpose Flour
1/3 Cup of Corn Starch
¼ Teaspoon of Salt
1/3 Cup of Southern Conserves Lemon Curd
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Beat together the butter and sugar
Add the vanilla and mix through.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt
Add the flour mix to the butter mix in 3 parts, gently mixing between each until just incorporated.
Use a cookie scoop (approximately 1 tablespoon) and roll balls of dough.
Roll them in a little granulated sugar, then place them on the prepared tray.
Use your thumb to press a deep dent (slowly) into each cookie and fill it with lemon curd.
Bake for 10 minutes until just starting to brown on the edges, then let them cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
The Southern Conserve is the Products Line from Chef Theodore Paskevich + Donald Holland. It is sold at Provisions SAV and online on our website.