Anisette Love Knots Food

ANGINETTI, ITALIAN LEMON KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• If you prefer, dough can be made the day before which makes it nice and chilled to work with, or you can start scooping them right after you make the dough but probably you will have to chill it for a while as you're making the cookies and the dough stays out. I sometimes stick it in the freezer for a few minutes to get it to firm up again.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, add eggs one at a time, then the extract and zest.
• In a smaller bowl whisk the flour, salt and baking powder, then slowly add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, you might not have to use all the milk.
• When everything is incorporated, let the dough rest for 5 minutes or wrap and chill overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. and place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• To form the knots I like to use a cookie scoop so all will be similar in size, then take the scoop of dough and roll it into a log about 5 or 6 inches, it's the length of a bench scraper, that's how I measure mine.
• Then take one side of the log and spiral it into a circle, you can tuck the other end down or up, it doesn't matter.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes according to your oven, mine took exactly 12 minutes, you want the underneath to be golden brown, not dark brown.
• Cool on racks.
• LIMONCELLO ICING
• One and one half cups of powdered sugar
• Five tablespoons of limoncello Liqueur
• zest of 1 lemon
• TRADITIONAL LEMON ICING
• One and one half cups of powdered sugar
• zest of 1 lemon
• One half teaspoon of lemon extract
• and lemon juice to get the right consistency.
• I always taste my icing to make sure it has the right amount of lemon, you can always add more, and I also like to brush my icing on instead of dipping., personal preference.
• After frosting immediately put your sprinkles on and then let the whole cookie dry for about an hour.
• You can keep them in tins with wax paper in between, or you can freeze them in an airtight container right after they bake and cool down, then frost them a day or two ahead before you'll be eating them.

ITALIAN KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a mixer, add melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix the flour with the baking powder and salt. Change to dough hooks and add flour mixture. Add the warm water and mix until it forms a smooth dough. Make 11/2 inch balls with dough. Roll balls out to about 4 inch worms. Bring one end over the other, then underneath and through the middle, like a knot. Place on baking sheet, four rows of four. (16 cookies on each sheet). Bake in 350F oven for 13 - 15 minutes. Let cool before icing. To Ice: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Add a little water until desired consistency. Dip cookie upside down into icing, then turn over onto waxpaper. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles.

ANISETTE

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle, or a resealable bag and rolling pin, crush anise pods and fennel and coriander seeds. Toast together in a skillet over medium-high until fragrant, about 1 minute. Divide between 2 quart-size glass jars, then divide vodka evenly between jars. Let cool completely. Screw lids onto jars, shake gently, and let stand in a cool, dark place 5 days.
• Strain vodka mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth; discard solids. In a small pot, boil sugar and 1 1/4 cups water just until sugar dissolves; add to strained vodka. Let cool completely, then refrigerate until cold, 1 hour. Divide among eight 8-ounce gift bottles. Bottles will keep in refrigerator up to 6 months. To serve, pour 1.5 ounces directly over ice, or add 1 part anisette and 3 parts cold water to a glass filled with ice.

ANGINETTI

Steps:

• With a mixer, combine the granulated sugar, butter, olive oil and lemon zest . Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat for 1 minute.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix into the lemon mixture until a soft dough forms. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Divide the dough into thirds. Cut each third in half, then repeat. (You should have 12 small pieces of dough.)
• On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll each piece out into a 1/2-inch-thick log, then cut each into 3 pieces. Coil each piece into a small bun shape, bringing the end up over the top and pinching to seal. (Don't worry if they look funny; the glaze will cover any screw-ups.) Repeat with all the pieces, then arrange on the prepared cookie sheets at least 3 inches apart.
• Bake in batches, rotating the pans halfway through, 18 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and break up any large clumps with a whisk. Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon and whisk until a smooth glaze forms (if the glaze is too thick, add a bit more lemon juice; if it is too thin, add a bit more sugar).
• Dip the tops of each cookie into the glaze and allow the excess to drip back into the bowl. Place on a wire rack to dry, then store in an airtight container. Cookies will keep for 5 days at room temperature, or 3 weeks frozen.

ANISETTE LOVE KNOTS

Steps:

• Cookies:.
• In bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Toss lightly with a fork. Add eggs and sugar - mix well, (mixture will be crumbly). Add melted butter, 3 teaspoons anise extract and warm water. Stir until mixture forms a ball. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until dough is smooth. Chill for one hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pinch off pieces of dough about the size of large olives and roll into logs. Tie each into a knot shape and place on aluminum foil approximately 2" apart. Slide foil with cookies onto cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms are pale brown. When done, slide aluminum foil off cookie sheets and let cookies cool on foil until cool.
• Glaze:.
• Stir milk and remaining two tablespoons anise extract into confectioners sugar. Consistency should be like heavy cream, if needed, add drops of milk. Dip cookies upside down into glaze; turn upright and dry on cookie rack over waxed paper for one minute, than sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Makes about 50 cookies.
• Store in a waxed paper lined cookie tin, approximately one week.

ANISETTE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
• In a large bowl, beat eggs.
• Blend in vegetable oil, orange juice, almond extract, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and anise flavoring.
• Sift the flour with the sugar and baking powder.
• Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture.
• The dough will probably be sticky.
• Add additional flour until dough no longer sticks to your hands and can rolled.
• Pull off a piece of dough about the size of a walnut.
• Roll it into a rope and shape it into a knot.
• Place finished knots 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes.
• Bottoms should slightly brown.
• Cool cookies on a wire rack.
• If desired ice with confectioner's sugar icing.

PEPPERED BACON KNOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Line a broiler pan with foil to facilitate cleanup. Position broiler rack on top and coat with vegetable cooking spray.
• Tie each bacon slice into a loose knot and place in a single layer on prepared broiler rack.
• Brush with honey and top with a generous grinding of black pepper. Bake until bacon is crisp and honey is bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer, honey side up, to paper towels to drain and cool. Peppered bacon knots can be held up to 3 hours at cool room temperature. Serve in a napkin lined basket.