During the month of March the Jewish holiday of Purim is celebrated.  Children dress up in costumes, sing songs and give baskets full of goodies to friends and family.  It is customary to eat cookies called hamentashen, which come in a variety of fillings such as raspberry, apricot, prunes and halva.

Hamentashen Medley

Makes 22 Hamentashen

Ingredients

3 eggs

3 cup of all purpose flour, plus extra to dust the working surface

3/4 cup of sugar

2 tsp orange extract

1 stick cold unsalted butter,cut into small cubes

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

For the filling

10 ounce jar of raspberry filling

10 ounce jar of apricot filling

1 pack of halva

10 ounce jar of prune filling

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees

1.  In a food processor combine the flour, baking powder, butter, sugar and salt.  Pulse until the mixture combines well and you have a small crumb like texture.

2.  Add the eggs, orange extract and pulse for a few more minutes until the mixture combines well.

3.  Remove from food processor and place onto a lightly floured surface and form the dough into a disk.  Place into a plastic bag and refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and sprinkle flour on the work surface.  Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness.

5. Use a 3 inch circle cutter, or cup, and cut the dough into circles, then place on a non stick baking tray.

6.  Take 1 teaspoon of filling, of your choice, and place into the center of your circle.

7.  Fold the sides of the dough towards the center to form a triangle, and pinch to seal.

8.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.

Happy Purim & Happy Cooking!!

The Petite Gourmande

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