Butter Cookies
Everybody loves butter cookies and these are no exception.
Buttery, crumbly, and ever so tasty.
As they say in Arabic, ‘makes you want to eat your fingers after them’ as they finish in your hand.
So simple to make this easy butter cookie recipe, and even easier to eat them.
Originating in Denmark, and popular all over the world, the simple butter cookie is everyone’s favorite.
Once again, I like the subtlety of this dessert, understated but delicious.
You can see, if you’ve been reading my blogs, that I really like desserts that are not overly sweet.
Every once in a while overly sweet is great of course.
I wouldn’t want to miss out after all!
But these butter cookies can always be made sweeter with the addition of chocolate chips for example, or even coated in chocolate or caramel.
Or both!
There is a wide array of sweets in this part of the world, desserts are really loved here.
In the Middle East it is always good to have some kind of sweet on hand at home.
People tend to make unannounced visits, and you always need to be ready to receive a guest who is stopping by at a moment’s notice, or no notice at all.
With this in mind, you must always have something to offer the unexpected visitor.
One other thing that most homes have in the Arab world, is a formal sitting room.
This is usually a room no one ever goes in except in the event that people come over.
This room is always ready to welcome guests, everything is kept just so, as if the caller was expected all along.
Having some nice butter cookies in the kitchen will do the trick every time.
Like most places, culture drives human interaction, and the Middle East is no exception, with its elaborate social interactions.
Everyone understands and knows the etiquette and the nuances of what is expected during the visits.
The visitor arrives to much fuss and a big welcome.
The host asks what they would like to drink, and the visitor politely declines insisting it will be too much trouble for the host.
The host says there is no trouble and insists.
The visitor will then agree to a tea or coffee depending on what is offered.
The drink arrives with the aforementioned butter cookies (or the like), and small talk ensues.
Once the beverage is consumed and a couple of butter cookies eaten as well, and a decent amount of time has passed, the host will offer another drink.
This is the sign that it is time for the visitor to depart.
The visitor will politely decline any more refreshments and take leave while the host says that it’s far too early for them to be leaving.
Everyone knows their part, and does what is required of them in order that the visit goes well.
Culture is a human tool of survival, and culture is always adapting and changing to serve current times.
Making sure that social interactions remain in place with our society we tend to feel safer as part of a group.
We need to grease the wheels of relationships to remain part of the group.
If butter cookies can be part of what makes it easier to build our communities, then I offer this easy butter cookie recipe.
We all know our part to play!
Enjoy!
Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter melted
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Egg White large
- 2 cups Flour all purpose
- Dash Salt
- Slivered Almonds
Instructions
- Mix the melted butter and the powdered sugar.
- Whisk in egg white until completely mixed in.
- Add flour in three batches, mixing well in between additions.
- Place dough in refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Make dough into 12 equal balls.
- Place on tray, and place one slivered almond on each ball as you push down slightly.
- Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not brown.
