Greek Butter Food

KOULOURAKIA - GREEK BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter until light and fluffy.
• Add sugar and beat the mixture until it lightens in color and is creamy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Stop mixer and scrape down bowl.
• Add the whisky, vanilla, and orange juice.
• Turn mixer tow low speed. Combine the baking powder, baking soda, and salt with 1 cup of flour, and add it to the mixer. Scrape down bowl.
• Gradually beat in 3-4 additional cups of flour until a soft dough forms and the dough starts to release from the sides of the bowl. You want it to be a soft - not stiff dough - so once it starts pulling away from the sides of the mixing bowl, stop adding flour.
• Cover in plastic and let rest for 30 min. This step can be done a day ahead. Resting and refrigerating the dough is essential, or else you won't be able to roll out the cookies.
• Once the dough has chilled, form the cookies by taking a heaping teaspoon of dough and rolling it into a 5 to 6-inch long piece. Fold in half and twist together.
• Place 1 inch apart on a parchment or greased foil- lined baking sheet. Continue until all twists are formed.
• Whisk together 1 large egg with 1 tablespoon milk and glaze cookies with a pastry brush. Top with sesame seeds (optional).
• Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until golden in color. If you're baking multiple cookie sheets at once, place one on the top rack and one underneath and switch half way through.
• Remove to a rack and cool. Store in covered containers.

KOULOURAKIA (GREEK BUTTER COOKIES WITH SESAME)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Serve and enjoy!

GREEK BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease cookie sheets.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and egg until smooth.
• Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
• Blend in the flour to form a dough. You may have to knead it by hand at the end.
• Take about a teaspoon of dough at a time and roll it into balls, logs or S shapes.
• Place cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned and firm.
• Allow cookies to cool completely.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar.

GREEK BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix the garlic, oregano, dill and cayenne pepper in a bowl.
• Beat in the softened butter until well combined.
• Put the mixture on a piece of wax paper and roll it into a tube.
• Refrigerate for at least three hours to allow the flavours to blend.
• Allow the butter to come to room temperature before serving, so that it will spread easier.