Don't you just love the season to be jolly? Christmas is always a real treat for us baking enthusiasts - the only time of the year when people actually expect to eat something sweet and spectacular! I'm always on the look-out for easy recipes that work - minimal ingredients, maximum flavor, I'm talking 1-2-3! These recipes are always easy to ad to Mum's list of chores and even easier on Dad's wallet! Here is one of my favourite new discoveries...

Butter Pecan Shortbread
Shortbread cookies are a must to make for the holidays, and these pecan-filled, buttery biscuits are simply irresistible. Be sure to use real butter, never margarine, for best flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (250 mL) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) light brown sugar
• 2 cups (500 mL) flour
• 1 cup (250 mL) ground pecans
• 2 tsp. (10 mL) vanilla
• pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or a food processor, beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add flour, ground pecans, vanilla and salt and beat just until it forms a smooth dough. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow it to firm up just enough to shape.
3. By hand, roll dough into 1-inch (2-cm) balls. Place them on the prepared cookie sheet and flatten very slightly (to about 1/2-inch/1-cm thickness) with the bottom of a glass that has been dipped in flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the glass. (If you have a cookie stamp, you can use it to flatten the cookies instead of the glass.)
4. Place in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set and very lightly browned on the bottom. Remove from pan and let cool on a rack.

Servings: About 2-1/2 to 3 dozen almost authentic shortbread cookies.

How kids can help
Roll the dough into balls and flatten them on the cookie sheet. Decorate, if desired, with icing or sprinkles.


*Courtesy of: www.recipes.kaboose.com