Lenten Recipes:Orange Sesame Crisps (Nareenchi Shooshmayov Pleet)

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1/4 cup solid white shortening (such as Crisco)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (such as Mazola)

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups flour, plus flour for dusting work surface

2/3 cup orange juice, or more

1/2 teaspoon orange or lemon extract

Glaze:

3 tablespoons undiluted frozen orange juice

1 tablespoon water

3 tablespoons sesame seeds

1. In a large bowl, beat together the margarine, shortening and oil, using a wooden spoon.  Blend in sugar.

2. Add baking powder to flour, and then sift into the bowl.  Add juice and extract and stir well.  Finish mixing, with hands if necessary, until it is well incorporated and dough is smooth.

3. Divide into 3 balls and set aside for 10 to 15 minutes, lightly wrapped with waxed or plastic paper.  Heat over to 350 degrees.  Combine the frozen orange juice and water for the glaze, and have sesame seeds ready.

4. Taking one ball of dough at a time, unwrap and roll out on a lightly floured surface to a square or rectangular shape, about º inch thick.  Sprinkle surface lightly with the sesame seeds, then brush with the orange glaze.  Cut dough into 1/2" x 3" strips.  Place these strips, about a 1/2 inch apart, on cookie pans lined with baking parchment.

5. Bake cookies for about 20 minutes or just until they begin to turn brown.  Then remove tray from oven and continue baking remaining cookies.  When all cookies are baked, turn off oven heat, place the trays back into the oven, shut the door and leave the cookies in the oven for another 30 to 45 minutes to crisp the cookies.  Remove pans and bring cookies to room temperature before serving or storing them.

Yields: 7 dozen cookies

Note: An interesting shape to try is the traditional "S" shape.  Once you have cut the dough into strips, simply turn the ends in opposite directions to make the "S".

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The 40 Days of Lent: Selected Armenian Recipes by Alice Antreassian Order from St. Vartan Gift and Book Store (212) 686-0710 Item # CB007 $14.50 $9 shipping $1.50 each additional item

Try these other Lenten recipes:

Spinach Soup (Shomini Aboor)

Armenian Potato Salad (Haygagan Kednakhuntzori Aghtsan)

Stuffed Grape Leaves (Derevi Patooyt or Yalanchi)

Broiled Fish Kebob (Khorovadz Tsoog)

Rice Pilaf with Eggplant (Sumpoogov Prinzi Yeghintz)

Peas in Tomato Sauce (Loligov Volorn)

Petites Choregs (Manr Choregner)

Orange Sesame Crisps (Nareenchi Shooshmayov Pleet)