Having been given a jelly roll and a quilting book for Christmas 2010, there is no excuse not to get on with quiltmaking.

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Saturday, 8 September 2012

Melomakarona - Honey Cookies

Ok - so who's hungry?  Time for some Christmas Cookies?  Yes? Thought so!

So, here's the tale: Mrs P sometimes has these great international cookery nights with her family where a letter is pulled out the hat and they have a meal based on a country beginning with that letter - what a hoot!

I like cooking and recently took an international cookery course at our local adult education centre.  When the course ended, I wanted to do more, so every Wednesday evening I have my very own international cookery night, taking one country at a time and putting a few typical dishes together.  It was 'G is for ... Greece' this week, and one of the dishes I cooked was 'melomakarona' or honey cookies with nuts.

They are typically eaten at Christmas in Greek homes, so that makes them pretty spot on for our quiltalong day!

Ingredients for the cookies:

  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • Zest of one orange
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup walnuts, ground coarsely
  • Ground cinnamon for sprinkling

  • Ingredients for the syrup:
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3-4 whole cloves
  • 1-2-inch piece lemon rind
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

  • Combine the orange zest with the sugar - use your fingers to rub and combine to release the orange oils into the sugar. Add to the oils in a large bowl and beat.  Add the orange juice & brandy and mix well.

    Gradually incorporate the flour, sifted with baking powder & soda
    Pinch walnut sized pieces off the resultant dough and roll into ovals (like a small egg) and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork then bake at 350F  for 25-30 mins ill lightly browned.

    meanwhile, make the syrup but simmering the ingredients in a small pan for 10-15mins.  Remove cinnamon stick, clove and lemon rind and pour the syrup into a shallow bowl or dish.

    When the cookies come out of the oven and while still very warm, float them in the syrup and allow them to absorb syrup on both sides.  Fish the cookies out with a fork or spatula, place on a platter & sprinkle with ground nuts & sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

    Store in airtight container (not in the fridge).



    Make these!  They are lovely!

    10 comments:

    1. They sound divine but I ~hate~ recipes like this.

      In the real world inhabited by Hobbits, how much oil is a 'cup', how much flour, etc ... Bag End needs proper measurements in ML and grams (or preferably ounces but you are a young flibbertygibbit and probably don't do imperial!)

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      Replies
      1. I had to convert all the cups into ml/g too, Bilbo, and then I divided everything by 4 as I didn't want to make 60 of these when I wasn't sure if they freeze - you should see my scribbled workings on the printed out recipe!

        Let me know if you would like a translation - they are certainly worthwhile.

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    2. They sound yummy. Bilbo I have a couple of good conversion sites bookmarked, plus a set of cup measures, so I can do this type of recipe. Sticks of butter do fool me though!

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      Replies
      1. Sticks of butter out of my know-how too, Sue! This recipe was very different for me as it used oil rather than butter/marg (I guess hard fats don't stand much of a chance in a hot country like Greece). Texture is very nice, though.

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    3. that sounds really good and it is in a format that I use..that makes it much easier

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      Replies
      1. They are very fragrant with the orange and cinnamon, Mrs P - very tasty.

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    4. Those do sound delicious. Thank you for the recipe. I'll give them a try, Chef Hazel.

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      Replies
      1. Ha! Not all of by International Cookery Night recipes are such a success, Joanna! It's a fun way to learn about new things, though, and I enjoy my Wednesday nights and blogging about the results too.

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    5. Replies
      1. No worries, Donna - I've had to put the box in the cupboard - too tempting on the side!

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