I grew up with a very special recipe book, my mother got on our first trip to Portugal, back in 1984. As the years went by, it's pages guided us through her Portuguese kitchen. It seems, the memories I hold the fondest from my mother's kitchen, evolved from when this book was opened. We'd quietly sit beside her, in anticipation, as she gently turned its pages.
Today, this old tattered book, sits amongst my treasures. And from it, these lemon scented crumbly "sand" cookies emerge.
Areias | Portuguese "Sand" Cookies
Ingredients
230g Butter (room temperature)
150g Caster Sugar
320g All Purpose flour (sieved)
Rind from 1 lemon
Sieve flour & sugar into a large bowl. Using your finger tips, gently rub in butter and lemon rind, until mixture resembles a sandy texture.
Roll together walnut size pieces of cookie mix and place 2cm apart. Chill for 10-15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 180 deg C. Bake cookies for 20 minutes at 160deg C. Do not allow the cookies to darken in the oven.
You may dust with cinnamon and icing sugar once they have cooled down.
Recipe adapted from 'Cozinha Tradicional Portuguesa' by Maria de Lourdes Modesto
