贺新年, 祝新年 - Slice and bake cookies for Chinese New Year.

Lemon, Dried Cranberries and Pistachio Cookies

The basic recipe is taken from The Australian Women's Weekly.

250g unsalted butter, softened

200g icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

300g plain flour

75g rice flour

50g corn flour

2 tablespoons milk

This is a very versatile recipe, you just have to use the basic ingredients and make any variation of flavour as you like

For me, I add:-

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

120g chopped dried cranberries

120g chopped pistachio 

Method of cooking:-

1. Beat the butter and icing sugar till light and fluffy

2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix well

3. Roll the mixture into a log, wrap in baking paper and refrigerate until firm

4. Preheat oven to 150 deg C fan-forced

5. Cut the log into 1cm slices and place them about 2 cm apart on lined oven trays. Bake for 20     minutes.

I am satisfied with the result. The cookies are crunchy, buttery yet not heavy. I hope you like it.

Almond Cookies 杏仁酥

Besides pineapple tarts I think almond cookies is another representative and traditional Chinese new year cookie. It is quite easy to make and you could shape and decorate them in whatever way you like. This recipe is given by my good friend Mary Sze Toh who is a Vietnamese Australian residing in Melbourne. We met in Tafe College when we were pursuing our commercial cookery and patisserie course.

 one stone kills two birds, I make these cookies in one sitting


蛇年七宝：热情的柴，事业的米，健康的油，开心的盐，亲情的姜，爱情的醋，友谊的茶。柴米油盐姜醋茶，生活平凡也精彩。祝开心愉快！