Chocolate Christmas Trees

  It is a sure thing that I will end up watching 'Home Alone' this year again. I am also sure that I will get really annoyed with hearing Christmas songs (now matter where I go) over and over again (is there nobody out there to write something new?) But can you imagine Christmas without it? 
  I am still not sure though what I will bake. Every year I am trying something different, something I haven't had before. 18 sleeps to go and I am still undecided!
This isn't really a recipe but just an idea of how to transfer ordinary white chocolate into something extraordinary?

All you need is 3-4 white chocolates (100g each) and some hazelnuts. I roasted them on a frying pan for 5 min. and then peeled the skin off. But you can buy blanched hazelnuts which will make everything so much quicker. Melt the chocolate over bain marie and add hazelnuts.  Now you have to try and make something resembling the star shape with your chocolate covered hazelnuts. Drawing a 3 different sizes of star shape on parchment paper will be very helpful. Wait until it is set and arrange as you wish. 
P.S. Kids love them!

Viennese Shortbread

Fancy a break from Christmas rush and all those complicated recipes? In 30 min you will end up with super delicious biscuits and if you are lucky, your children can do most of work for you ;)

190g unsalted butter
1 pinch salt
75g icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg white
225g cake flour, sifted

Preheat the oven to 150C.

Soften butter and a pinch of salt until creamy.





Add icing sugar, vanilla extract and egg white. Mix well after each addition.

 Add flour to the mixture, stirring with wooden spoon until it comes together

Transfer batter to the piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the ribbons in a letter Z on a prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 min or until golden.

Dust with icing sugar. Make yourself a coffee, put your feet up and enjoy your biscuits.

Recipe comes from Laduree baking book :)