In my last entry I promised to follow up a discussion on the “30 day survivorship clause” with a talk about the statutory survivorship rules. Inspired by both today’s date and a lovely seasonal ecard I received last week, I decided this less-than-festive topic could wait till the New Year.

December 23rd is special to me as it’s the anniversary of my dad’s funeral and of my mom’s death.  As much as I love the holidays, the season will always be a touch bittersweet for me, as I know it is for many others who have experienced loss around this time.

The card – from Fasken’s – captured the spirit of the season by sharing some special holiday recipes from across the country and beyond and inspired me to take this opportunity to honour my parents and to share a very special family recipe with you: my mom’s traditional Scottish shortbread.

ingredients

1lb (2 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup cornstarch

directions

Preheat oven to 325F. Cream butter and sugar, add flour and cornstarch. For the best results (and most fun!), use your hands to mix. Pat mixture onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake for 30-ish minutes, till a light cream colour.  Let cool, then cut into squares.  This Paul and Malcolm endorsed shortbread is best enjoyed with a good cup of tea or a wee dram.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2016!