An Ode to Christmas.

Dear Christmas,

Hi! You may not know me but I certainly know you. Heck, in fact, I wait all year round for you (well, and Easter but that’s another story for another time) to arrive.

Each year pretty much goes the same year as the year before- the months just crawl by so incredibly slowly, each one seemingly longer than the month before. But particularly around October, the air seems cooler, the days shorter and the people around me happier- it’s like something magical’s in the air.

By the time December arrive, I’m smiling my way through the days, tapping my feet and dancing to Christmas songs without a care in the world, just counting down the days till your arrival.

What I’m really trying to say is that I really do love you- you, heck even just thinking about your arrival, just have an enchanting way of making everything feel so much better.

So Christmas, will you please stay all year round?

I knew you would be hesitant to agree to it so I made you these Movarian cookies to nibble on while you sip your hot chocolate, mulling over it.

If these cookies and their crunchy, spicy, moreish ways can’t convince you to stay, then I guess nothing else can convince you.

Please write back to me soon and let me know! I’ll be eagerly awaiting your response, while dancing and singing to Christmas songs.

With much love,
Laureen

Moravian Wafers [adapted from Maida Heatter's Brand-New Book of Great Cookies]

Note: The original recipe calls for 1/2 tsp of mustard powder which I left out as I didn’t have any on hand. The warmth of the spices slowly creeps up on you the day you make them but keep them for another day or two and the flavours of the spices really come together. And it’s a good thing the recipe makes plenty of cookies- I opened the cookie jar to have one for breakfast the day after I made them and found myself crunching on my third cookie before I even realized it. Anyway, here’s wishing Christmas brings you peace, joy and laughter. May you be among your loved ones and everything delicious this festive season!

 

Ingredients
2 cups sifted plain flour
Scant 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp freshly ground white pepper
125g unsalted butter, chopped
1 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk

1. Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pepper. Set aside.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together till fluffy. Add the molasses and egg yolk, and beat well.
3. Add the sifted ingredients in two batches and fold it in until the dough comes together. Refrigerate the dough until firm, for a few hours.
4. Preheat the oven at 175C. Line two baking sheets with baking paper.
5. Roll the dough into walnut sizes and place them on the baking sheets an inch apart. Press them down lightly with slightly damp fingers to form a disc.
6. Bake the cookies for about 7 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and slam the tray against the counter to knock the air out of the cookies and bake them for a further 7 minutes until the cookies are crisp and the surfaces are slightly cracked.
7. Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight containers. Makes about 60 3-inch cookies

Posted by thecoffeesnob on December 25, 2010

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