Beurre blanc, or white butter, is a classic French sauce made by gradually whisking cold butter into a wine reduction.
These bars, from 125 Best Gluten-Free Recipes (Robert Rose, 2003, $19.95) by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt, are a tasty treat the whole family will enjoy. Look for xanthan gum, gluten-free baking powder, potato starch, rice flour and tapioca starch in health food and bulk food stores. Potato starch and rice flour are also available in most supermarkets.
It's handy to have a few logs of slice-and-bake cookies in the freezer, ready to pop into the oven at a moment's notice. If you have cookie lovers on your Christmas gift list, wrap a few of these shortbread logs in foil, then festive paper. Top each cookie with a peanut if you like.
Grilling the corn "naked" (without the husk) gives it a particularly smoky flavour and attractive grill marks.
No need to go shopping because just the simplest of ingredients you have on hand turn into a comforting dessert.
