Getting ready for Christmas

Who in their right mind starts making biscuits at 10pm on a Sunday night? Me! Hahaha.

And yes, I do have to get up early for work tomorrow. What am  doing I ask myself...

For those of you who don't know, I teach cooking  in a Primary School and this week I have the last lessons for the year so in class we are doing some cool stuff like roasted beetroot dip and salad of the imagination with ingredients from the school garden, lemon curd filled cup cakes, honey spice biscuits, Eaton mess ( I think that's how you spell it) and fruit punch.  I decided I wanted to have some shortbread's decorating the table when the kids come in.  So here I am, at 11.30pm with about an hour of baking left.  I am starting to get tired and am watching an episode of Merlin to keep me company - the one where Gius gets possessed by a goblin.  It is soooo funny!  Oh! and I am writing this at the same time, whilst I am waiting for this lot of shortbread to be done!  No one can say I can't multi task...

I'm off topic aren't I.  Back to the shortbread.  My house must smell  like butter by now  and I have finished my first batch of these delicious Lebanese treats.  I got this recipe off my girlfriend Douha, who I mentioned in the previous Post.  I have given these out as Christmas gifts for years.  The texture of these are DIVINE, they just melt in your mouth AND the recipe makes about 100 good sized shortbread or 150 smaller ones making it a really great gift idea.  Reasonable cost for lots of goodies.  

Traditionally these are made in little diamonds with a pine nut in the centre.  They are so cute!  Mum says they are moorish!  When I am lazy, which is right about now as it is  12.45pm and 220 shortbread later. I have changed from making little diamonds to the quicker little balls instead.

So have a go, I guarantee everyone will love them.

Douha's shortbread tip  BAKE WITH LOVE

2 cups self raising flour

2 cups plain flour

3 cups icing sugar

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda

2 cups melted butter

pine nuts or almonds to decorate

Pre heat oven to 150 degrees Celsius

Line 3 baking trays with baking paper.

Sift all dry ingredients into a large bowl.

Melt butter, add to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Roll out the dough and cut into diamond shapes before topping with a nut. 

                           OR

Roll into small balls.

Place on baking tray and bake until firm and light not dark.  In my oven this is about 10 mins.

Cool on wire rack.

These keep well in an air tight container.

Till next time, Love, light and happiness.  Live long and prosper.  Eat, drink and be merry!