Coasters and cookies...

Do not you love the coasters I got through the post yesterday from Heidi. My blurry picture does not exactly do them justice, but you can at least see the lovely colours. The card she sent with them has the same sort of colours on it, which I thought very clever, I like that kind of detail.
I als received the new Christmas cookbook from Delia Smith today. Maybe a bit late in the day, but it has some great recipes in it, and most of them you do not particularly have to make for Christmas. Any other day in winter will do just as well. If you like cookbooks (personally I am obsessed by them), this one is well worth a look.

Ooh and I promised you cookies last time. These are truly delish, if you only bake one kind of biccies this Christmas, make it these, they are quite special!

Pfeffernussen
Makes 3 dozen

1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (125gr)
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 160/350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the confectioner's sugar in a brown paper bag.
In a medium bowl combine flour, pepper, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and baking soda, set aside.
Place butter, brown sugar and molasses in a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture, beat until just combined. Pinch off dough in tablespoon amounts; roll into 1 1/4 inch balls. Arrange balls 1 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until cookies are golden and firm to the touch with a slight cracking, about 15 minutes. Transfer sheets to a wire rack to cool slightly. Working in batches, place cookies in paper bag, shake until well coated. Let cool completely on the wire rack.

Have fun with your last minute preparations, keep breathing and do not forget to enjoy the festive season!