Greek Honey Walnut Balls Food

KOURABIEDES (GREECE): WALNUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toast the walnuts until golden brown and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then chop about half of the nuts (you should have about 1/2 cup chopped). Pulse the remaining nuts in the food processor until finely ground (about 1/4 cup ground).
• Stir the flour, baking powder, salt and nuts together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In another medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg yolk, brandy and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture gets light and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
• At low speed, stir in the nut mixture to make a crumbly dough. Cover the bowl and set dough aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or coat with nonstick spray.
• With a tablespoon, scoop out 1-inch pieces of dough and roll into balls between the palms of your hands. Pinch the ends of the balls to make a football shape. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies set and start to brown, about 18 minutes.
• Remove cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle them lightly with the orange water. (If you don't have a brush, simply dip your fingers into the water and flick it over the cookies a few times.) Take care not to douse them, just enough for them to carry the scent of flowers.
• Put the confectioners' sugar in a bag, and add 5 to 6 of the warm cookies to it. Very gently toss the cookies to coat with sugar. Remove them from the bag and cool cookies on a rack. Repeat with remaining cookies. Serve.
• Busy baker's tips: Dough can be frozen for up to 2 weeks. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Baked cookies can be wrapped in plastic, then aluminum foil, for up to 2 weeks. To serve, let cookies come to room temperature before dusting with confectioners' sugar.
• Cook's Note: If you can't find orange flower water, try specialty stores or online.
• Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved

GREEK DONUTS WITH HONEY

Steps:

• For the donuts: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the warm water, yeast and pinch of the sugar and whisk to combine. Let stand until the yeast is very foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Next, add the flour, warm milk, olive oil, salt and remaining sugar and mix until a smooth batter forms, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Set up your grill for even heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals evenly. If using a gas grill, heat both sides evenly.
• For the honey syrup: In the meantime, in a small saucepot on the grill, combine the honey, orange peels, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Bring to a strong simmer and stir to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside.
• Heat 4 to 6 inches of canola oil to 350 degrees F.
• When the batter is ready, dip a small ice cream scoop into the hot oil to coat, then scoop some of the batter out. Drop into the hot oil and repeat until the donuts are frying comfortably in an even layer. You may need to do this in 2 to 3 batches depending on the size of your pot so you do not overcrowd the pot. Fry until golden brown on all sides and puffed, about 2 minutes per side, using a spoon to flip them. Remove to a draining rack and repeat with the remaining batter.
• After the donuts have drained of excess oil, transfer them to a serving platter. Pour the honey syrup all over and sprinkle with the pistachios.

GREEK DOUGHNUTS WITH WALNUT HONEY

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: In a mixing bowl, add the yeast to 1 cup warm water, mix with a fork and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the flour, milk, sugar, olive oil, zest and salt. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth, 2 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and rest the dough in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Preheat the deep fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Dip a tablespoon measure in water, and then scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough. Wet your hands and roll the dough into balls, about 16 total. Place the doughnuts, a few at a time, in the fryer and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• For the honey: Place the honey, walnuts and 1/4 cup water in a pot set over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Coat the doughnuts with the walnut honey to serve.

GREEK HONEY WALNUT BALLS

Steps:

• Combine honey, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, cinnamon stick and whole cloves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes, uncovered. Strain syrup, discarding spices. Remove 1/4 cup syrup. Set aside remaining syrup.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine ground walnuts and orange peel in a medium bowl. Stir in 1/4 cup syrup; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds or until softened. Add half the flour. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, brandy, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and ground nutmeg. Beat until well blended. Beat or stir in remaining flour.
• Form dough into 1-1/4" balls. Using finger, press hole in center of ball of dough. Place about 1/2 teaspoon ground nut filling in hole. Bring dough up around filling, enclosing completely. Place seam side down on greased baking sheet. With knife, crisscross top, forming an "x," scoring surface only. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Bake at 350 F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until set.
• Remove from oven and let stand on baking sheet 1 minute.
• Rewarm reserved syrup gently over low heat. Brush tops of hot cookies with warm syrup, or dip tops into syrup. Sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts. Place on wire rack to cool completely.

LOUKOMADES (GREEK HONEY BALLS)

Steps:

• Mix ingredients all together.
• Drop a teaspoon at a time in hot vegetable oil until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towel, and serve with maple syrup or honey. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and cinnamon.

SWEET POTATO BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add sweet potatoes and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash with butter, sugar, milk, salt and lemon zest. Shape mixture into balls, with a marshmallow in the center of each. Roll in cereal crumbs and place in prepared dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to ooze.

GREEK YOGURT WITH HONEY AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Mix yogurt and vanilla. In 4 glasses, alternate layers of yogurt, then walnuts, then honey. Start with yogurt, end with honey.