Shortbread

Shortbread makes the best gift.  Put them in a clear cellophane bag with a ribbon and give them as gifts.  People really appreciate the effort and of course - it's completely yummy!

Ingredients:

250g butter softened (not melted)
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups plain cake flour ( not self raising)
Castor sugar to sprinkle on top.

Method:

Preheat oven to 160C
Cream the butter and the sugar until pale.  Sift in the flour and mix to make a pasty dough.  Put the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 3 minutes.
Put the dough into a rectangular baking tin and press with down with your fingers until level.
Using a knife, cut into rectangles but making sure you don't cut all the way through.
Prick all the rectangles top with a fork.
Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. The shortbread will be a golden colour.
Sprinkle with castor sugar while the shortbread is still hot.
Cool in the tin.  Break rectangles apart.