Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Christmas & Corgis: Vanilla Bean & Citrus Shortbread


Hey All,
 
So this weekend I hosted my annual holiday brunch and with that all encompassing event there was no time to really blog because I was cooking food for forty people all weekend.

So yeah...

Instead, I leave you with this happy holiday wish. Jack the Corgi, Brian, and I put together the most awesome Christmas card ever. So awesome that you'll squee so high-pitched your computer screen will crack from the sonic force of it.

Given, it was a nightmare trying to get that one shot due to the fact that Jack can't sit still for more than a god damn nanosecond. It ended up with me holding a piece of bacon and lowering it past the horizon of the table where his gaze would follow. Once it passed the horizon it created the illusion that he was lusting after cookies and then I could take the shot. It's strange, though, as he had no interest in the cookies. I thought he would be all over them, but no, he just couldn't care less.

A dog that doesn't like cookies. What the hell kind of fur-child am I raising?

Either way, we have a pretty bomb photo. Below is the recipe for the cookies, which we printed onto the back of the Christmas card that went out. They are fabulous. Feel free to use any citrus you want. I used yuzu because I grow them and therefore don't have to pay twenty bucks a pop for them. Lemon, orange, lime, citron, or whatever will work well, too.

Anywhose, Happy Holidays everyone.

XOXO,
  Garrett, Brian, Cid, Eat Beast, and Jack the Corgi

Vanilla Bean and Citrus Shortbread
Adapted from the New York Times Master Shortbread Recipe

1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, seeded
2 tablespoons citrus zest
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
sanding, decorative, or granulated sugar for garnish

1. Use an electric mixer on low speed to combine the butter and sugar, about 30 seconds. Keeping the speed on low, beat in the egg yolk, zest, and vanilla; then the flour, cornstarch and salt, until the mixture barely holds together. Don’t overbeat.

2. To make shapes, form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic and freeze or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is 1/4 inch thick. Cut into any shapes you like, then put the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Chill for at least 1 hour. Alternatively, shape the dough into a round, triangular or rectangular log and refrigerate or freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes. Slice 1/4-inch cookies and put on the baking sheet.

3. Heat the oven to 275F. Bake the cookies until just firm but still quite tender and not at all brown, about 30 minutes. Cool for a minute on the sheet before using a spatula to transfer the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.

21 comments:

  1. Brilliant! You're right, I squee'd (thankfully, computer screen intact) at the holiday card - I love it! And the cookies sound fabulous... I've never used yuzu before, but now you've got my curiosity piqued. :)

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    1. You can buy yuzu juice at Asian food stores. Very sour and bitter, but holds up well in cooking.

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  2. When do you put in the vanilla and citrus zest? Hurry, I'm making these right now!

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    1. Whoops! Thanks for the catch. The recipe is edited for the addition.

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  3. Best Christmas card photo ever. Period. Jack is adorable and this shot is priceless. My sister has 2 corgis, Frank & Lucy, as well as a westie-poodle mix,who coincidentally, is named Jack too. Your Jack is the absolute image of Lucy. She, however, would be all over the cookies! Happy Holidays to you and your entire family, two legged and four legged!

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  4. Love the card, and the fact that you included the recipe on the back. Oh, if Jack doesn't want his share...

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  5. Great pic and great card - made me squee! I spent all weekend baking about 8 varieties of cookies and will try these...I like to add some new recipes to the list every Christmas.

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  6. Love the picture. I may have to change my cookie making plans now. How many does this make?

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  7. Oo I LOVE the look of adoration on Jack's face. TOO CUTE. I wish getting a baby to smile were as easy as waving bacon in front of them! Our christmas picture took AGES. I want to try this recipe but my last experience with shortbread was an absolute nightmare. We've got really warm weather so the dough becomes too soft to work almost immediately. Probably save it for a rainy day. :)

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  8. That is beautiful picture Garett, I love to try this cookie. I am not doing much cookie baking this time.

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  9. Great picture but what happened to Zola?

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    1. Zola the Demon Cat was a foster kitty. Thank God. She was outta control.

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  10. cute picture and love Shortbread grew up in Scotland have a good weekend

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  11. I'm going to bake this cookie this weekend in preparation for Christmas.

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  12. Your christmas card is awesome. You know that, but I'm sayin it too.

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  13. My Corgis, Mickey and Minnie, send best wishes to Jack. As for us, we're making the cheese biscuits.

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  14. Merry Christmas Garrett! I just loved this post. I tried staging a similar shot with my own dog and a batch of cookies, but it just didn't work. You'll have to tell us all how you captured such a perfect shot. Seriously, it's adorable.

    I hope your holidays were merry and bright!
    -Helana

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    1. I kept his eyes on a piece of bacon that is outside of the frame. ;)

      Happy holidays, Helana! =)

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  15. I love your blog! I'm a food blogger, too (www.gapcreekgourmet.com)AND we have a corgi!

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  16. I have no idea what a yuzu is.. but I suddenly need to have one.. damn my curiosity!
    Also, that photo is beyond adorable. Lucky you and your lovely pets! I hope your christmas was at least as lovely as that christmas card, hopefully more-so :)

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Hey, you're leaving a comment! That's pretty darn cool, so thanks. If you have any questions or have found an error on the site or with a recipe, please e-mail me and I will reply as soon as possible.
~Garrett