Shelly's Recipe

FINIKIA (GREEK NUT COOKIES)

Category: Cookies

For the syrup
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups water
1/4 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
1 whole clove
For the cookies

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 pound Crisco shortening
3/8 cup oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1 stick butter
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
4 1/2 cups flour
For the filling

1 1/2 cups finely ground nuts, divided
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup honey
Splash orange juice
For the syrup: Combine ingredients and heat to boiling, then lower heat. Syrup should be a little thickened.

For the cookies: Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix sugar, shortening, oil, orange juice and butter and beat until it looks like whipped cream. Add eggs.

In a separate bowl, mix baking powder, baking soda and flour.

In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of nuts, nutmeg and honey and very little orange juice to make a thick paste.

Heat oven to 350. Roll a piece of dough into a ball about the size of a walnut and flatten a little.

Push a depression in it with your finger, put a small spoonful of filling in the hole and then roll the dough around the nut mixture and shape like an oval or a football. Place on baking sheets and bake for 20 minutes. Cool.

Dip cookies, a few at a time, into hot syrup for just 5 to 10 seconds to coat well. Remove with slotted spoon and immediately sprinkle with more ground nuts. Makes about 75 cookies.