Melomakarouna (Honey Mounds)

2 cups extra virgin olive oil

1 cup sugar

1 tbl. baking powder

1 cup fresh orange juice

¾ cup brandy

1 tbl. cinnamon

¼ tsp. salt

½ tsp. ground cloves

8 to 10 cups all-purpose flour

1½ cups syrup (recipe follows)

Chopped walnuts

SYRUP:

1 cup sugar

2 cups water

Peel of 1 orange

Peel and juice of ½ lemon (reserve juice)

2 cinnamon sticks

5 whole cloves

1½ cups honey

3 tbls. lemon juice

1. To make cookies: In large bowl cream together the oil and sugar. Dissolve the baking powder in small amount of water then stir it into oil and sugar mixture. Add orange juice, brandy, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.

2. Fold in the sifted flour a cup at a time. Knead dough until very smooth.

3. Shape cookies into desired shape and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until light brown. Remove from oven and place on baking racks to cool.

4. When cookies are cooled, dip them into hot syrup and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

5. For syrup: In a saucepan combine sugar, water, orange and lemon peels, cinnamon and cloves. Cook until syrup thickens slightly.

6. Add honey and lemon juice and mix. Set aside to dip cookies into.