Melomakarona:recipe from Greece

Ingredients:

- 7 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 3/4 cup of mild olive oil

1 1/4 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of cognac

3 oranges zested and juiced

4 teaspoon of freshly ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground clove

3/4 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg

Syrup:

- 1 pound of honey-

1 cup of sugar & 1 clove

- 1 1-inch piece of cinnamon

- 1 lemon zested & juiced-

1 cup of water

Topping:

- 1/2 cup of shelled almonds

- 1 tablespoon of sugar

- 1 teaspoon of freshly ground cinnamon

Making:

Syrup:

put honey, sugar, cinnamon, clove, & lemon zestin a saucepan

- add water, bring to boil & simmer for 5-10 minutes

- add lemon juice & chill

Preparation:

- sift flour, baking soda & salt together

- put the olive oil & sugar in a large bowl & beat togetherwith a wooden spoon

- beat in the Cognac, orange zest, spices, & juice from2 oranges (about 1/2 cup)

- beat flour into bowl, a few spoonfuls at a time, until thedough is malleable, add more flour if it is too soft & moreorange juice if it is too stiff

- turn dough onto a floured surface & knead for10-15 minutes until very smooth

- pinch off pieces of dough (approx. 2 tablespoons) & forminto flattened oval shapes

- bake in an oven preheated to 400-425 F for about 20 mins.on oiled or non-stick baking sheet until golden browncool to 'hand' temperature, dip in syrup for approx. 1 minute& then place with a slotted spoon on a tray to cool

Sprinkle with chopped almond mixture