Christmas Cookies : The Lemon Chrismas Stars

Cookie dough

- 1 kg flour
- 500 g butter
- 500 g confectioners sugar
- 100 g eggs
- 40 g egg yolks
- 100 g fresh cream
- 10 g baking powder
- 20 g lemon juice (or extract or lemon concentrate)
- 4 g salt

Glaze

- 200 g confectioners sugar
- 30 g egg whites
- 20 g lemeon juice or (extract or concentrate)

Cooking

In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and salt. Combine the liquids and mix into the creamed butter and sugar. Combine flour and baking powder and add to mixture being careful not to over mix. It's important that the dough be smooth but with as little stiring as possible. Refrigerate 24 hrs. The next day bring to room temperature and roll out on slightly floured board. Cut out stars with à cookie-cutter. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 190°C for about 15 minutes (time may vary). While they're baking prepare the glaze by adding the egg whites and the lemon juice to the sugar using a whisk to keep it smooth. Glaze the cookies with a brush as soon as they come from oven then let stand to dry.
Enjoy !

Hot Spiced Wine with White Wine

Ingredient

- 1 bottle of Gewurztraminer or Sylvaner wine (75 cl)
- 25 cl water
- an orange sliced in rounds
- 1 lemon in slices
- 250 g brown sugar
- a cinnamon stick
- a bay leaf
- a branch of thyme
- 2 cloves
- 1 juniper berry
- a pinch of nutmeg
- 3 cl of orange flower liqueur (optional)

Cooking

Heat all the ingredients together and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 3 minutes and let brew. Serve immediately. (drink moderately as alcohol abuse is dangerous).

Jeudi 11 Mars 2010