Oil on canvas, 43 x 40 cm, Private collection
The Swiss painter Albert Anker painted scenes of everyday village life. Over his career he painted over thirty still life paintings of both rural and urban table settings. The painting above illustrates Anker’s affinity with the work of Jean-Siméon Chardin, the still life master that heavily influenced his aesthetic. He sought to make his compositions accessible to the viewer while producing a harmonic arrangement through subtle colour and lighting.
Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies
Adapted from Gourmet
Yield: around 30 cookies
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup shelled, salted pistachios
1/3 cup dried cranberries
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and orange zest until fluffy, around 3 minutes. Mix in the cinnamon and flour being careful not to overwork the dough. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.
Tear off two pieces of cling film. Divide the dough into two equal portions and wrap the cling film around each portion, forming a long log about 2 inches in diameter. Form the log into a long rectangle and repeat with the other portion of dough. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
Remove the dough from the fridge and unwrap the cling film. Slice the dough into 1/4 inch slices and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350°F/180°C oven for about 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Use a spatula to move onto a cooling rack.