Butter biscuit

If you are from Chennai definitely you would have eaten this 'butter biscuit' or 'Vennai biscuit' from the street corner chaya kadai or from any bakery .This is one of my favourite not only for its yummy taste but also for the nostalgic memories which it brings along..But strangely, the recipe does not contain any butter at all! It is so called, since it is as smooth and melting as butter.

Makes : ~15
KINDLY FOLLOW THE PROPORTIONS AND BAKING TIME AS GIVEN .
Ingredients:
Maida - 1 cup (All purpose Flour)
Cooking oil - 1/2 cup(a little less than 1/2 cup) preferably use dalda/vanapathi/butter flavoured shortening..or 1/4 dalda+1/4 but not completely butter itself
Castor Sugar - 1/2 (finely powdered sugar)
Cooking soda - 1/4 tsp (or Baking powder - 1/2 tsp)
Salt - a small pinch

Method:
• Grease a baking tray with a little butter and keep aside till the dough is ready
• In a bowl mix flour, soda and salt well
• Mix in castor sugar evenly
• Add the oil little by little, ensuring the mixture is just crumbly and not into binding consistency
• Make small balls of marble size, of the dough with the help of your palms and smoothen it
• Place these on the greased tray, leaving enough space for expansion
• Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake at 190ºC for 15-18 minutes. Check after about 12 minutes and adjust the time, not to over bake or under bake.
• Let it stand in the oven for 10-15 minutes before serving hot and melting cookies
• Allow it to cool completely and then store away the rest in a tight container

Tips n Tricks:
• Do not use too much oil to make the dough smooth. Let it be crumbly and you can still easily shape it with palm
• Do not forget to preheat the oven

Variations:
• Using butter gives a crisp texture, whereas using only oil gives smooth and melting cookies.
• Using vanaspathi /dalda give the exact taste as in Bakery, but since it is not so healthy, we prefer to replace it with oil.