PISTACHIO BUTTER COOKIES WITH WALNUTS

Every Christmas was very special as a kid.  Dad made it quite memorable for me. It was the festive season, and he made sure it was remembered fondly.

There is a bakery in Bangalore(India), a very famous one, NILGIRIS.  They had/have a Christmas Cake Show which showcases beautiful pieces of art which were huge: the TAJ MAHAL, Titanic, Barbie dolls, castles, chariots, sports players,completely made of cake. The cake artists took weeks to mold and remold. There were rows and rows of exhibits. Kids gaped at those wonders and almost wanted to touch it.

I would hold my Dad's hand and drag him around, and he, just like a kid, was amazed and equally excited along with me. He definitely created memories for me.

Another thing about Christmas, the PLUM CAKE(a dry fruit and nuts cake). It is the most popular of cakes during Christmas, and it is sold like hot cakes, no pun intended.

My dad got so many for us, and I would not stop eating them until my stomach hurt.  I miss the original Nilgiri Plum Cake, although coming here, I've made a version of the original which is mighty close. I bake it for Christmas almost every year. However, that's for another post. Today, it's these awesome, simple, yet lovely cookies.

Well, it's the time to be thankful. Time for Christmas and New Year!! I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas. I'll leave you for now with these middle eastern cookies. Off for some much needed vacation!

PISTACHIO BUTTER COOKIES WITH CHOCOLATE AND WALNUTS

Ingredients:

1 stick/113 grams unsalted butter softened    
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup powdered pistachios
1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

2 ounces of melted dark chocolate
Walnut halves
chopped pistachios

Method:

1.  Beat softened butter and sugar till soft and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and mix it well.  
3. In a bowl, add the pistachio powder, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt and mix well.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and form a dough.  Wrap the dough in a plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or even overnight. 
5. Roll the dough to a 1/2 cm and cut out the desired shapes and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
6. After the cookies are completely cooled pipe some melted dark chocolate and top with a walnut or some pistachios and press it so it sticks to the chocolate.  Let the chocolate harden and pack it in some airtight container and it stays good for up to a month.  
ENJOY!!

 Copyright 2013 - Food Fashion Party