Chinese New Year Bake #2 - Kue Putri Salju

This is another traditional Indonesian Chinese New Year cookie. I don't think I have ever seen this sold in Malaysia. But I might be wrong. It's called kue putri salju ( snow white cookies) because it's dusted with icing sugar which makes it looks like it's covered in snow. Why snow white? I have no idea, maybe Indonesian loves fairy tale....?? ahhaha....I'm not sure but I guess it makes sense to call it snow white cookies as it looks pretty covered in snow-like icing sugar....=)

These cookies are usually shaped like a moon or we call it bulan sabit in Indonesian. If you feel lazy to make it moon-shaped then just make small rounds like peanut butter cookies. Try to leave some space in between cookies when you bake because it will expand in the oven and might stick to one another which will be troublesome to separate later on. What I did to shape these cookies was to roll a dough longitudinally and then bend it to make them look like moons. Also, just like my recipe for peanut butter cookies, the dough is quite sticky especially if you make it in hot Malaysia/Singapore weather. I suggest you get a bowl of flour handy next to you and dust your hands every now and then to make it more workable for you.

I'm also submitting this to Aspiring Baker #3- My favourite CNY cookies hosted by Jess' Kitchen.

Kue Putri Salju- Snow White Cookies

Ingredients:

• 250 grams unsalted butter
• 100 grams caster sugar
• 250 grams plain flour, sifted
• 200 grams ground roasted cashew nut

Icing sugar for dusting

Methods:

1. Beat butter and sugar until soft and fluffy
2. Add in ground cashew nuts and plain flour alternately until well combined
3. Leave dough in fridge for 1 hour (I didn't leave it in the fridge when I made it and it still came out well). I guess leaving in the fridge will make the dough easier to work with.
   
4. Shape dough into moon shapes. Dust your hands with a pinch of plain flour after rolling 3-4 cookies to make it more workable.
   
5. Bake in preheated 160 degrees celcius oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown
6. Leave cookies to cool
   
7. Once cookies are cooled, dust both sides with icing sugar

Wish all of you a wonderful and Happy Chinese New Year

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.