Ingredients
1 vanilla bean
1.5 cups powdered sugar
2 sticks (8 oz) softened unsalted butter
2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 large egg
2 2/3 cups flour
decorations
Directions
In a tupperware, scrape the vanilla bean seeds into the powdered sugar. Add the pod, cover, shake, and leave overnight or longer, shaking periodically.
Remove the pod from the sugar and compost. Using an electric mixer, blend the sugar and the softened butter until very fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt at medium speed. Beat in the egg. Mix in the flour at low speed.
Divide the dough in half and shape into disks on parchment paper. Wrap completely to avoid drying out; refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375'. One at a time, remove the disks from the fridge and roll out on parchment. Cut out shapes. Gather scraps and roll out on parchment; cut out shapes.
Refrigerate cut-out cookies for 10 minutes before baking. Bake for 12-14 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool; decorate!
Notes
Cookies can be painted with egg white and sprinkled before baking, or iced with a thin mixture of powdered sugar and milk, butter, or lemon juice, then decorated. Cookies are quite sturdy when cool and can be given as favours, Christmas gifts, etc.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sausages with Garlic Lentils
Ingredients
sausages
rice
1/2 lb dried lentils
1 small onion, diced
1 bay leaf
salt
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, pressed
Directions
In a medium saucepan, add the lentils and enough water to cover by 2 inches. Add the onion, bay leaf, and salt; bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
Start a pot of rice.
In a shallow bowl, combine the oil and garlic; let stand for 15 minutes.
In a medium skillet, add the sausages and enough water to reach a depth of 1/4 inch. Drizzle with olive oil and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until water is evaporated (about 8 minutes). Saute the sausages until slightly crisp, 3-4 minutes.
Mix the lentils and garlic oil. Serve with sausages and rice.
Suggestions
Try gently heating the oil/garlic mixture. The lentils need a lot of salt and maybe less water?
sausages
rice
1/2 lb dried lentils
1 small onion, diced
1 bay leaf
salt
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, pressed
Directions
In a medium saucepan, add the lentils and enough water to cover by 2 inches. Add the onion, bay leaf, and salt; bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
Start a pot of rice.
In a shallow bowl, combine the oil and garlic; let stand for 15 minutes.
In a medium skillet, add the sausages and enough water to reach a depth of 1/4 inch. Drizzle with olive oil and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until water is evaporated (about 8 minutes). Saute the sausages until slightly crisp, 3-4 minutes.
Mix the lentils and garlic oil. Serve with sausages and rice.
Suggestions
Try gently heating the oil/garlic mixture. The lentils need a lot of salt and maybe less water?