My name is Anna and I come from a little hamlet in the North of Ireland called Raholp, which is in Co. Down – next to more well-known places like Saul, Strangford and Downpatrick, with closest city being Belfast. I met my American husband, Jimmy, in Chicago while taking a world tour in 1998/1999. After dating for a while, living in Ireland for a few years, and marrying in 2002, we ultimately decided to move to the U.S. (Lake/McHenry County area) in 2003 where we still live with our two girls Maggie, and Rosie.

A little bit of history on how these cookies came about. My Mom (or Mummy to me and my 5 siblings) was called Margaret and she was known in the Raholp area for her baked goods - especially her shortbread. I can still remember the smell of our kitchen growing up as she was baking these; she would whip these up in no time at all, and they never disappointed.

Mummy was a very modest woman, but not when it came to her shortbread!!!! I remember making them as a newlywed and she would call me to ask how they turned out; I would say ‘Oh mummy they’re delicious.’ Her response was (almost without fail) ‘But I bet they’re not as good as mine.’ And she was right!! They were never as good as hers; however, over the years I think I have finally mastered them!!

Mummy was born on 13th October 1941, and she died too young in 2013. Living in America I felt very homesick on holidays after she died, especially her Birthday. I vowed not to spend 13th October grieving, so I decided to celebrate her life in a way that felt fitting to me, and that was making her shortbread to share with loved ones. I always feel close to her when I make these. Our girls have been making neighborhood deliveries of these cookies during the Holiday Season, Valentines Day, and her Birthday since they have been able to walk.

Many people have told me that I could, and should, sell these. After many years of laughing it off and benching the idea, I decided to take the plunge - hence the birth of “Granny Margaret’s All Butter Irish Shortbread.” I want to keep her memory alive, and sharing her shortbread State Side helps keep her light flickering.

Please enjoy these shortbreads with a warm mug of tea, your favorite beverage, or even just by themselves.

Slainte,

Anna