Filled Melomakarona - Honey Cookies with a Nut Filling
Makes 6 dozen cookies

Dough:

1 ½ c. oil
½ c. butter
1 c. sugar
¾ c. orange juice
1 ½ c. ground walnuts (for filling)
8 c. flour
4 T. water
4 T. cognac or whiskey
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Syrup:

1 ½ c. honey
1 ½ c. sugar
1 ½ c. water
Peel of 1 orange
1 cinnamon stick
2 or 3 whole cloves

Sift together 4 cups flour, baking powder and soda. In separate bowl, cream butter, oil and sugar. Add orange juice,
water and cognac. Beat until very fluffy. Gradually add sifted flour mixture. Stir in remaining flour with a wooden spoon
until soft dough forms. Shape into ovals the size of a tablespoon. Indent the center and place ½ teaspoon of walnuts,
cover and pinch together. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Prepare syrup by boiling ingredients for 5 minutes over medium heat. Skim off foam that forms. When dipping cookies in
syrup, reduce heat to a low simmer.

Remove cookies from oven, let cook slightly and lower 5 or 6 cookies into syrup with a slotted spoon. Leave in syrup 1
minute. Then remove and place on platter. Sprinkle with ground walnuts.