Apricot Cake

Most recipes are for the upsidedown type...this isn't! Thanks to my Austrian friend, Nikki, this is ever so easy. I always used fresh apricots but i guess canned could also do...never tried that though. Great with a cuppa tea !

Ingredients:

100gms butter

200 gms sugar

3 egg yolks

300 gms self rising flour

3 egg whites (beaten to a froth)

1/8 to 1/4 milk

Pack of vanilla sugar

1 1/2 lb apricots - stoned and halved

Method:
Beat the butter, sugar and egg yolks till smooth.

Add the flour, egg whites and milk.

Pour into pan

Top with Apricots.

Cook at 200C for 30-40 mins.

Let Cool

Dust with powdered sugar (optional)

enjoy!

Swiss Sugar Cookies

This is a super easy way to make delicious cookies. They can also be iced to look festive. Again, thanks to Nikki for this recipe.

Swiss sugar cookies
Ingredients
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar

Method
Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy.
Gradually add flour.
Add yeast mixture and blend well.
Refrigerate dough until well chilled.
Spread sugar out on a large piece of waxed paper.
Roll walnut-sized balls of dough into the sugar, pressing flat until dough is thin, about the size of a doughnut.
Keep flipping dough and pressing into sugar during this stage.
Place on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until very lightly browned around the edges.
Cool on racks.

Kourabiedes (Greece)

Kourabiedes - Greek cookies that taste of heaven!
Yield: 30 Pieces

Yield: 30 Pieces


Ingredients:
2 cups unsalted butter
1 cup icing/powdered sugar
3 Egg yolks
3 tbls Brandy
2 tsps Vanilla extract
6 cups Flour
1/2 cup Almonds (blanched), chopped
1 lb Icing/powdered sugar


Method
Beat the butter with the sugar until it becomes fluffy.
Add the egg yolks one by one, beating continuously.
Add the brandy and vanilla.
Blend in the almonds and the flour, a cup at a time. Use enough flour to get a firm dough (it may take a bit more or less than the amount mentioned in the ingredients list).
Use your hands to do the mixing, as an electric mixer will be useless after the first two or three cups of flour have been added.
Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Shape the dough into balls, about one inch in diameter, flatten them and place on greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven.
Roll each cookie (while it is still hot) in the powdered sugar and put it back on the cookie sheet.
Repeat this step once more, so that you get a thicker coating.
Place the coated cookies on a platter, liberally sprinkling each layer and the bottom of the platter with powdered sugar.
When you are done, there shouldn't be any sugar left.
Let them cool and they are ready to eat!