When happiness comes in the form of shortbread
When most people reach retirement age, they have pretty much figured out the good things in life. Which is the case for our residents at Warkworth Oaks, who have decided that shortbread should not be reserved for just Christmas or special occasions. One of the residents, Mary, bakes a big batch of shortbread for the village every three weeks, and she always sells out!
Mary and her husband Gary moved to Warkworth Oaks at the end of 2020. “We love this area, because if you want you can go to Whangarei for a day trip, or you’re just a short car trip away from Albany or Silverdale. We love our apartment because it has a long hallway where we can store all our music CDs, we’re passionate about music so we have thousands.”
Mary started baking shortbread to sell in local markets. When she moved to Warkworth Oaks she gifted some packets to her neighbours who quickly started to ask for more. Now she regularly bakes shortbread and other goodies for the village and she always ends with empty hands!
Mary worked most of her life as Category Manager at the Auckland’s Head Office of Woolworth’s. After a brief stint being an estate agent on Waiheke Island, she decided to redirect her energy to charity work. She started cooking meals for Warkworth Hospital for dementia patients. After that she took a part-time job at the Hospice’s op shop, a role that she loves and she’s held for 9 years now.
Harbour Hospice is the only specialist, palliative care provider for families living on the Hibiscus Coast, North Shore and Warkworth / Wellsford communities. Mary loves working at the shop that is always full of good quality bargains. “Firstly I do it for myself, it helps me to keep fit with all the moving around and sorting out items. I also love socialising with staff and costumers. But at the end of the day, I know that all those sales go towards the care of people, and that’s the most important thing for me.”
MARY'S SHORTBREAD RECIPE
2 cups flour
1 cup icing sugar
1 cup cornflour
250g butter, softened
Mix in mixer till lighter in colour and a little sticky.
Form into 2 square shaped rolls.
Cut into biscuit-size slices. 42 onto oven tray. Fan bake at 150C for 20min.
