A Cypriot Christmas wouldn't be the same without Melomacarouna. These little gems taste of honey and have a beautiful aroma of cloves and cinnamon. I tried making these when I first got married....what an utter, complete disaster!!! It was so bad, I had to throw the oven dish away too!! Sadly, my husband left me since then, he said it was another woman, but I don't believe him, it was because of my melomacarouna, he just didn't want to hurt my feelings!!!! Anyway, don't be put off by my experience of 30 years ago, I was young and inexperienced….here's my friend Koulla's really simple recipe. Enjoy!!!
Ingredients
2 ½ cups oil
1 cup sugar
1 packet Self-raising flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Juice of half a lemon
Juice and zest of 11/2 oranges
3 tbsp brandy
Syrup
1 1/2 cup of sugar
1 1/2 cup water
3/4 cup honey
A few cloves
Finely chopped nuts, almonds or walnuts
Method
Beat oil with sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, b/p. and soda. Add juices and brandy and lastly the flour and kneed well. Roll into small oval shapes and lightly roll over grater to make small indentations on top of the cookies.Put onto grease-proof paper and cook in oven 185 for about 1/2 an hour until golden brown.
To prepare the syrup put water, sugar and cloves in a pot and bring to the boil. Once boiled add the honey and simmer. Once the biscuits are completely cooled, dip them into the syrup for a few seconds (not too long because they can get too soggy) and then place on greaseproof paper.
Finally sprinkle with nut mixture.
Androulla
xx
