here are so many reasons that I love this joyous season: the festivities, the food, the decorations, the food, the exchanging of greetings cards and thoughtful trinkets, the food, sharing the happiness of friends, neighbours and colleagues, and the food.

Did I already mention the food? Every year at this time, for better or for worse, some seasonal foods make a temporary appearance to mark the occasion.

SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Oh the joy of shortbread cookies! Never have three simple ingredients — sugar, butter and flour — combined to create so wonderful and so lethal a creation.

Every year I happily receive a tin full of these goodies from a generous friend celebrating his Scottish roots during the festive season, and as a result I welcome the New Year with a few extra pounds in tow. But the fleeting joy of these melt-in-your mouth homemade butter-rich treats makes it well worth it.

Ingredients

2 cups butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Stir in vanilla, then add flour and mix well. Form cookies on baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

LOVE CAKE

Imagine the intrigued looks around the office when a friend hailing from Colombo mentioned that she would spend the evening making Love Cake for her Christmas guests. Why is it called Love, we all asked. She wasn’t sure, but did offer that it’s a tradition that dates back to the days of former Ceylon and one which started in the kitchens of Portuguese colonists who lovingly concocted this gently spiced delicacy with cashew nuts and semolina.