Quote of the Day – 6 December – St Nicholas (270-343) Confessor, Bishop
St Nicholas had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, itself from a series of elisions and corruptions of the adaptation of “Sint Nikolaas.”
Many traditions have evolved during the course of history, including for the children, a supply of St Nicholas Biscuits:
INGREDIENTS
4 cups sifted All-purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Bicarinate of Soda (Baking Soda)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Butter or Margarine
2 cups Sugar (I prefer Caster Sugar but normal Granulated is fine)
3 Eggs (Large will do)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
METHOD
Sift together first 3 ingredients.
Cream butter or margarine – slowly stir in sugar;
beat until well blended.
Add eggs, one at a time; beat well.
Stir in Vanilla Essence.
Stir in flour mixture, mixing well.
Cover dough; chill until firm enough to roll.
On a floured board, roll dough, a little at a time, until 1 cm inch thick. Cut out Biscuits with a floured Santa Claus (or St. Nicholas) Biscuit Cutter- if not available make them round or oval and decorate with a appropriate “face” and colours.
Place on well greased Oven Biscuit Tray.
Bake at 350°F pr 180°C for 8 minutes or until golden.
Remove from Trays; – cool on wire racks.
Decorate with Icing Sugar, Smartie or any round shaped sweets, coconut and food colourant to mimic Santa’s Red Hat. Makes about 40 Biscuits.
AnaStpaul 