february recipe and a christmas shoot.

This week I have been baking for next Christmas already…

I have been working on a Christmas photo shoot for Bo Bedre, a Norwegian magazine that focuses on architecturally detailed homes and furniture with a modern twist.

I decided to make one of my favourite cookie recipes for the kitchen photos.

My oven timer was sleeping rather than working,

so needless to say, I was up late baking the second batch!

(of which I changed a little because of my ingredients on hand - but were tasty anyhow…and most importantly not not burned!)

Here is the recipe for the ones that I ruined:

Lemon Butter Biscuits

You will need:

170 g butter 125 g confectioners’ sugar

zest of 1 lemon (finely grated)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 vanilla bean (or 1 tablespoon of vanilla essence)

220 g, plus 2 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon coarse salt

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine 40 g of confectioners’ sugar and butter and beat until fluffy.

Add lemon zest and lemon juice and vanilla bean and mix until fluffy again.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cornstarch and salt. Add this to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until the ingredients are just combined.

Roll dough into two logs and wrap in baking paper. Refrigerate logs until firm about, one hour. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Unwrap logs and slice into 6 mm thick rounds. Place on baking sheets lined with baking paper. Bake until barely golden, 12-15 minutes. While cookies are still warm, place in a re-sealable bag with remaining confectioners’ sugar and toss to coat.

*Makes 35-40 cookies

Food and Styling: Tara Ballantyne

Photos: Trine Thorsen

Plate: Silje Aune Eriksen at hvitt.no