Zuccarini

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I don't remember who sent me this recipe. It was a long, long, long time ago. Thank you! ~Rue

INGREDIENTS:

    * 7 cups flour
    * 6 tsp. baking powder
    * 1-1/2 cups butter
    * 1-1/2 cups sugar
    * 6 eggs
    * 1 large eating orange and the grated rind
    * 1/2 cup orange juice

DIRECTIONS:

Cream butter and sugar together.  Add eggs, rind and orange juice using electric mixer.  With a wooden spoon, add flour and baking powder (that has been sifted together) a little at a time until it is all mixed well.  Knead about two minutes. The dough will be soft.
   
Take a piece of dough the size of a golf ball and roll into a 2 or 3" tube or rope-like shape .  Shape this rope into an "S" or circle.  Place on a cookie sheet about 1-1/2" apart.  Bake at 400 degrees 8 minutes on the middle shelf of the oven and about 4 minutes on the top shelf. Frost with thin frosting.
 
Note: For vanilla flavor, omit the orange rind and juice and substitute 2 tbs. Vanilla and 1/2 cup milk.

This same recipe using the vanilla and milk and 4 tsp. of baking powder instead of 6, can be used to make a filled cookie, kinda like a half round shape/crescent shape and filled with the following:

    * 1-1/2 boxes raisins (15 oz. size)
    * 1 pkg. dry figs on string
    * 1/2 lb. almonds (roasted)
    * 1/2 lb. walnuts (roasted)
    * 1 jar honey (8 oz.)
    * 1 orange (thick skinned)
    * 1 tsp. cinnamon
    * 1/2 tsp. ground cloves

     
Wash raisins and figs and dry overnight.  Chop nuts.  Grind raisins, figs, and orange (skin and all) together.  After grinding, add all other ingredients and mix well!  Take a piece of dough the size of a golf ball, and roll it around.  Flatten and fill with 1 tablespoonful of the mixture. Fold over and shape like a crescent.  Put seam side down and make a couple of slits in each side.  Place on cookie sheet 1-1/2" apart. Bake at 400 degrees, 7 minutes on the middle shelf and 6 minutes on the top shelf for a total of 13 minutes.