Friday Feature Christmas in the Highlands Shortbread #Recipe @AuthorMaddyHill
Guest talks about
Anthology with 2 stories: A Family For Christmas and His By Christmas
by
Madelyn Hill
In A Family For Christmas shortbread is the heroine’s favorite treat. Shortbread reminds her of happier times with her parents and special Christmas celebrations.
According to History UK, the story of shortbread begins with the medieval “biscuit bread”. Any leftover dough from bread making was dried out in a low oven until it hardened into a type of rusk: the word “biscuit” means “twice cooked”. Gradually the yeast in the bread was replaced by butter, and biscuit bread developed into shortbread.[image error]
Traditionally, shortbread was a treat reserved just for special occasions such as weddings, Christmas and New Year. In Shetland it was traditional to break a decorated shortbread cake over the head of a new bride on the threshold of her new home. The custom of eating shortbread at New Year has its origins in the ancient pagan Yule Cakes which symbolised the sun (one shape of the treat is a circle). In Scotland it is still traditionally offered to “first footers” at New Year. First Footers represents the first person who steps into your house on the New Year receives the gift of shortbread.
Scottish shortbread biscuits may in fact date back beyond the 12th century. I love the “finger” style of shortbread. But there is the traditional triangle shape which fits into a circle or those biscuits cut in a circle shape. No matter, the buttery biscuit is delicious no matter the shape. However, I feel that you must use real butter and not lard to flavor the biscuit and create the rich, crispy texture.
Read Christmas In The Highlands to see how our heroine brings people together with shortbread to create a Christmas spirit that has been missing from all of their lives.
Shortbread Recipe *
Ingredients:
3 oz (85g) icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
3 oz (85g) castor sugar (superfine sugar)
10 oz (280g) butter
1 lb (450g) plain flour (all purpose flour)
Directions
Set oven to 280F
Cream the butter, icing sugar and castor sugar together using a wooden spoon.
Sift the flour 2 or 3 times, then gradually mix into the creamed butter and sugar using your hands, until a firm dough is formed.
On a lightly floured surface roll or press dough until about 1/2 inch thick and use a cookie cutter to make ’rounds’ or shapes, or slice into 3″ x 1″ bars and prick the top with a fork. Depending on shapes and sizes will determine the yield of the recipe.
Bake in pre-heated 280F oven for for approx 30 to 40 mins, shortbread will be a light golden color when it’s ready.
Baking Tip: The shorter the time it takes to mix the ingredients, and the less handling is involved the better. When you minimize both of these you get shorter, crumblier and more delicately textured shortbread.
DON’T be tempted to ‘knead’ at the dough, as this will make it tough – and the finished result won’t be what you are hoping for.
*Recipe and image courtesy of Scottish At Heart BLog
BOOK BLURBS!
A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS, BOOK ONE
Laird Malcolm Sutherland needs a bride. He has few requirements of his new wife; demands he should have insisted with his former betrothed—namely, honesty, loyalty, and resources.
Lady Rossalyn Gordon will do anything to be rid of her tyrant father, even if that means deceiving the man who offers her an escape. If revealed, those secrets will either bring her mercy, or thrust her back into the hands of the devil who sired her.
When Rossalyn’s bastard of a father arrives at Sutherland Keep, going back on his word and ordering her return, Malcolm must decide if he can forgive his wife enough to listen to his heart and have a family for Christmas.
HIS BY CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS, BOOK TWO
Fiona Sutherland longs for love with the man she has pined after since she was a lass. When he weds another she is devastated, and questions why the man she pledged her heart to has forsaken a vow made in their youth. Could loving her be so hard?
Cameron Munro adores Fiona from afar, knowing her heart has been set on another. She is everything he desires—strong, loyal, and fiery in spirit.
Determined, he pledges to prove his love to her and win Fiona’s heart by Christmas.
BIOGRAPHY
Madelyn Hill is an historical author who loves the lure of Scotland, captivating Highlanders and the strong women they love.
Many of her novels were finalist for the National Rone Award, which honors literary excellence in romance writing. Highland Honor was award of the coveted Crowned Heart by In’Dtale Magazine.
Madelyn’s first book, Wolf’s Castle has been #1 in the Historical and Scottish Romance category at Amazon.
Madelyn lives in Western New York with her husband, three children and a naughty puppy named Cannoli.
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