Shortbreads: A Grand Treat!
Shortbreads can be made in a lot of ways. You can gorge on shortbread
fingers, Shortbread biscuits, shortbread cookies, toffee shortbreads
etc. Shortbreads are extensively prepared in winter season or during
Christmas. Shortbreads serve as excellent Christmas gifts. You can munch
on these shortbreads while you have a cup of tea or a cup of coffee.
Actually they don’t taste bad even with a peg of whisky!
 Many people make different kinds of shortbreads with different kind of
ingredients. You can add dates, nuts, almonds, pecan pieces or anything
of your choice. Shortbread is a food that is made from flour, sugar and
butter. The key ingredient is the butter. If the butter is of low
quality then you will never get the perfect flavor and taste. Sugar
gives the sweetness to the shortbread. In some types of shortbreads
castor sugar or granulated sugar is used while in some shortbreads
superfine sugar is used. If you use granulated sugar then the shortbread
will be crumbly and may give a cracked appearance. If you use icing
sugar it will give a soft texture to the shortbread. The appearance of
the shortbread depends on the size of sugar particles to some extent.
Whether you use corn flour, self raising flour or just plain flour you
always need to sieve it beforehand. If you do not sift it with a sieve,
unwanted particles may get incorporated in the shortbread along with the
flour. Sometimes cornstarch is added to give body to the shortbread.
Rice flour is also incorporated for the same effect. Did you know that
the early Scotts used oatmeal instead of flour to make shortbreads?
Well, you can try that too. Salt is something that some people use and
some don’t. But you can add a pinch of salt to your favorite Scottish
shortbreads. Salt increases the flavor of the shortbreads. You have to
add the ingredients in specified amounts. You cannot add the ingredients
in a random fashion.
 You can make coffee flavored shortbread or shortbread with the tang of
toffee. You might have tried the English toffee shortbread. It is one of
the best shortbreads that you can come across. The essence of English
toffee and the crunchiness of almonds give it an exclusive taste. But
why will you run to a bakery shop all the time? It would be best if you
can prepare them at home. In this way you will be able to eat them
anytime you want. Moreover it will cost you less to prepare them at home
than buying them from a store. Try making these shortbreads at home. You
will feel great when you will see your kids licking their fingers while
having the shortbreads. The internet is a huge source of information. If
you are looking for recipes on shortbreads then let the internet help
you. You will get new recipes as well as traditional Scottish recipes in
the internet. You can also get hold of books and magazines.
Once you are an expert, then you can even send your own unique recipes
to contests or magazines. If your recipe is exceptional, then they will
definitely call you up. Never stop experimenting with the shortbreads.
Try different flavors and fruits to add to the variety. You can try
raspberries, caraway seeds, plums etc. Use your imagination and create
your own exclusive recipe. The shape of the biscuit or cookie or the
shortbread is very important. The shape of the shortbread immediately
grabs attention. You can cut the dough in the traditional triangle forms
or cut them in fancy shapes. Make sure that you use a cutter or pastry
roller.
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