Gift in a Beat!

As a busy mama of four, one thing that I do not relish is shopping for the holiday season and especially the time taken away from spending it with my family. If I had anything positive to say about the 2020 Melbourne lockdown, it would be that I didn't need an excuse not to shop at the mall. When I walk into a mall, it is a visual overload, and I just go blank. So when it comes to planning for the coming season of giving...

I decided to bake baby bake!

But why bake?

1. I don't have to drag myself around the mall, trying not to feel overwhelmed (that is if the shops reopen)

2. I teach my kids that gifts need not come only from the wallet but also from the heart.

3. Thoughtfully curated or handmade gifts are infinitely more valuable.

4. I spend quality time with my kids AND teach them how to bake.

5. Cookies satisfy all types of people, those who have it all and nothing at all.

6. IT'S THE PERFECT HOMEMADE GIFT TO MAKE IN AN HOUR! Can't beat that!

Here is a good recipe that I have tried and tested:

Chocolate and Macadamia Cookies

makes 24

115g/4oz butter(direct from the fridge, cubed)

4oz of soft light brown sugar or substitute 3oz golden castor sugar

1 egg beaten

250g/9oz self raising flour

pinch of salt

125g/4.5 oz dark choc chips but I pretty much empty a whole packet of NESTLE choc chip packet just cos I'm a little greedy! Plus it tastes devine...

50g/1.75 oz macadamia nut but again this is entirely up to you, I like to add a little more...

Pre heat the oven to 190c/375F/gas mark 5 and line your baking tray with baking sheets. Chuck everything except the choc chips and nuts in a processor and blitz. Once its mixed, it should look like a dough not liquidy in any way. Now simply knead in the chop chip and nuts, so that its blended well with the cookie dough, this takes a matter of minutes. I like to roll the dough in glad wrap to create a sausage shape and I chill it until its quite hard (10-20 min). I unwrap the glad wrap then slice it about a centimeter apart. this way, you'll get nice and evenly sized cookies. Bake in a pre heated oven for 10-12 minutes or just until golden brown. Transfer to a wire wrack to cool.

Several years ago, I baked cookies for all the family that came to our rescue when I was sick. It was simply a thank you for all the kind folks who had cooked us meals and looked after my children while I was in hospital. The artworks on top of the boxes were each original handmade paintings by my daughter Dhishni, who was 8 at the time.

Anyone would simply delight in receiving a gift in a beat like this!