Koralakiai....our first recipe from one of our "VIC's (Very Important Chef) LISA!!!!!! Not the same Lisa as our Web Designer. This Lisa is 100% Italian and like myself, she loves, loves, loves to cook.....and feed people!! I truly believe it is the Libra in us. I seem to attract Lisa's....I have many special Lisa's in my life and so grateful for each and every one!!! Anyway, Lisa makes these cookies every Christmas. Out of all the Christmas cookies people bring to my annual Christmas party, there are two that I will hide and not share with anyone. The first is this one, Koralakiai!!!! The second is a cookie from my friend Linda's mom,,,,Nanny!!! I do not know what the name is but I believe it is a Walnut cookie. I look forward to those two every year, there are to die for!! Funny thing about this cookie though....all these years I never knew they actually had a name. I would just call them...Lisa's Italian Twist Cookies. The day she came to make them with me, she told me that this recipe is actually a Greek cookie recipe. What??? Haha...yes a Greek cookie. A recipe that she got from a woman she calls....her second mom... and neighbor growing up. She remembers her beginning to make these cookies weeks before Christmas, probably because she made so so many cookies, and storing them in gift boxes in the top of her closet to hid them from everyone. They hold a lot of special memories for Lisa and her family. That's probably why they are sooo good....they are made with so much love!!
They are delicious and I hope you try them and they create special memories for your family as well.
KORALAKIAI
6 EGGS
1/2 LB SWEET BUTTER
2 CUPS SUGAR
3 TBLSP BAKING POWDER
4 TBLSP CRISCO
1 TSP VANILLA
6 TO 7 CUPS FLOUR (NOT SIFTED)
2 EXTRA EGGS FOR AN EGG WASH
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.... This recipe makes a tremendous amount of cookies. Approx. 5 dozen....so be prepared to eat. And do a few extra miles on the treadmill cause you will want to eat each and every one!!!
First, we begin with melting the butter, crisco and 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan, slowly over a low flame. When all melted and incorporated, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
They are delicious and I hope you try them and they create special memories for your family as well.
KORALAKIAI
6 EGGS
1/2 LB SWEET BUTTER
2 CUPS SUGAR
3 TBLSP BAKING POWDER
4 TBLSP CRISCO
1 TSP VANILLA
6 TO 7 CUPS FLOUR (NOT SIFTED)
2 EXTRA EGGS FOR AN EGG WASH
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.... This recipe makes a tremendous amount of cookies. Approx. 5 dozen....so be prepared to eat. And do a few extra miles on the treadmill cause you will want to eat each and every one!!!
First, we begin with melting the butter, crisco and 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan, slowly over a low flame. When all melted and incorporated, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
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Next, in the bowl of a stand up mixer.....beat the 6 eggs.
On a medium speed....add the other 1 cup of sugar. Then add the melted butter/crisco mixture. Just be sure it is cooled enough so you do not end up with scrambled eggs.
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Next, add the vanilla and baking powder. Now the tricky part....adding the unsifted flour. Add it slowly, one cup at a time. We say 6 to 7 cups because it just all depends on how it feels. Sometimes the temperature of your kitchen and humidity levels can play apart. So you want to continually add slowly, touching it as you go along. You are looking for a dough but not to the point where it all comes together in a ball.....just to the point where it is not sticky in your hands and you can roll it and work with it nicely. It will get thicker as you add the flour and will end up looking similar to mine,
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When you dough is at a good consistency to work with...you are ready to roll and twist!!! I worked on my granite counter top and it worked out great. Not the typical process of sprinkling flour on the counter....the opposite. It is almost better to leave it with nothing, As you roll the dough it will get a bit greasy, then that works perfectly. You will take a small ball in your hand like mine. The roll it out into a rope about 6 inches long.
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Lay it in an upside down "U" shape in front of you. Cross the two ends over each other to twist as you go. Usually three times does it.
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Great job!!!! Lay them on an ungreased baking sheet. Grab your 2 extra eggs and whisk them up. Brush the tops of each cookie with the egg wash.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. They will have a beautiful shiny golden brown top and a light brown bottom.
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Beautiful!!! Ok take my advice....first hid them. Second, when everyone leaves the house, make yourself a great cup of coffee. Now DUNK!!! OMG....you will be addicted. They are soooo delicious.
Thank you to Lisa for her first recipe in our Chef's Circle. It is a great one. Can't wait to bring you more recipes from my good friend!! ENJOY!!!!
