{cooking} for christmas

growing up, christmas was more about the food than it is about the presents (still is!). there are a few staples that i have to make, for it to really feel like christmas... both these recipes come from my mum. i use the same recipe, but mine never turn out exactly perfect like hers does! don't be deterred, they are always crowd pleaser's!

shortbread 

...the ingredients

250g butter, chilled, cubed

2 heaped tablespoons rice flour

1/2 cup icing sugar

2 cups plain flour

method...

place all ingredients in a large food processor and mix until mixture begins to form into a ball.

press firmly into well greased small patty-pans, or into one large lamington tray.

prick with a fork in a decorative pattern.

Optional: get extra fancy and push a walnut or pecan into the mixture.

bake in a slow oven (150degrees celcius) for 45 minutes.

cut in the tray when still warm and allow to cool in the pan.

rum-less rum balls 
(so as not to feel guilty about eating these for breakfast every day in december, i usually omit the rum... hey they have weetbix and sultanas! that's a totally healthy breakky, right?!)

...the ingredients

12 weetbix, crushed finely

400g can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup coconut

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 cup sultanas

method...

Combine all ingredients and mix well

roll handfulls of mixture and roll in extra coconut.

chill until hard.

what goodies make up your christmas?