Bride's Bonn

In the Shetland and Orkney islands, Scottish shortbread is
called "Bride's Bonn" so it makes the perfect close to an Imbolc
celebration. Scottish shortbread is especially popular during the
festive season and was originally made with oatmeal. The version of
Scottish shortbread called the Bride's Bonn usually contains caraway
seeds. The notched edges between finger and thumb of each cake are
believed to have symbolized the sun's rays, dating back to "Pagan sun
worship".



Bride's Bonn
recipe from Mrs. Beeton's Book Of Household Management (1861)

Ingredients:
2 lbs. of flour
1 lb. of butter
1/4 lb. of pounded loaf sugar
1/2 oz. of caraway seeds
1 oz. of sweet almonds
a few strips of candied orange peel

Cream the butter, dredge in flour. Add sugar, caraway seeds, and
blanched almonds. Work the paste until smooth. Divide into six
pieces. Roll out square 1 inch thick. Prick and ornament. Put the
cakes in a 300F degree oven and bake them from 25 to 30 minutes.