Melomakarona: Greek Christmas Honey & Spice Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups olive oil

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup orange juice

• 1 cup fine semolina

• 1 kg soft flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

• Lemon and Orange zest

• Simple syrup: (In a pot, mix together 1 cup each of water, honey and sugar and bring to boil while stirring constantly.)

• Crushed walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 200c

2. Beat oil well with mixer, then add the sugar, both zests, orange juice, semolina, and then, a little at a time, the flour mixed with the baking soda.

3. Form the dough into small shapes, as the pastries will get quite big while baking.

4. Make sure the oven is hot before baking, otherwise the pastries will flatten. Bake for about 30 minutes until pastries are firm and golden brown.

5. When completely cooled, arrange in rows in a pan and pour warm syrup over them.

6. Sprinkle with crushed walnuts.

7. Ready to serve.