Christmas is here

Christmas is one week away. I am so excited!!!!

I love Christmas, it's my favourite season of the year. Just the atmosphere of giving, joy and family coming together for a meal and enjoy each other's company. The day when we rejoice and celebrate our Saviour's birth.

I love Christmas and all its trimmings. From Christmas tree, to Christmas Pudding. From the shopping to gifts giving. From cooking to enjoying a wonderful meal with my family. I love them all. Although I probably won't be enjoying that extra kg around my hip very much. "sob"

What does Christmas mean to you? To me, it's the day I celebrate my Saviour, Jesus Christ's birth. To be reminded again of His love to me.

To me, Christmas means family and cherishing the people around me.

And of course, Christmas means lots of cooking, baking and eating. I better go to that extra rpm session at my gym next week.

This year I thought of doing something different for Christmas. I made some homemade shortbread cookies and gave it in pretty little boxes to my friends. I got this idea from Donna Hay Magazine...mmm...love Donna Hay Magazine.

So here's the recipe. I made half original and half green tea shortbread. It's really yummy. And such a pretty and meaningful gifts for your friends and loved ones.




This recipe is a courtesy of my hubby's customer. Thank you Sir, love the shortbread.

Shortbread recipe

Ingredients:

• 225 grams unsalted butter, room temperature
  
• 225 grams all purpose flour
• 115 grams rice flour
• 115 gram caster sugar
• A pinch of salt
• Green tea powder ( optional)
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 130 degrees celcius

2. Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy

3. Shift together the dry ingredients ( all purpose flour, rice flour,salt and green tea powder if you are making green tea shortbread)

4. Once mixture 1 is ready, fold in all the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until the mixture comes together. It's ready when the mixture starts to pull away from the bowl.

5. Put the mixture on floured surface and knead lightly.

6. Form into a disc and lightly roll it with rolling pin to 1 inch thick.

7. Cut into desired shapes. For me I like rectangular shape so that was what I did.

8. Prick the surface of the shortbread with fork.

9. Bake in oven for 45 minutes.

Tips:

- You can also add any ingredients you like. Lemon zest if you want to make lemon shortbread, etc. Some suggestions: Chocolate chips, espresso, pistachio, just need to be creative. =)

- If you're wondering why the oven temperature is so low, honestly I was surprised myself initially when I was given this recipe. But it works wonderfully. The shortbread came out perfect! light and crumbly. Just the way I like it.

- Besides putting them in a box, you can also buy a glass container. Wrap ribbon around the top and it will make a reallllyy pretty gift too.