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Week 26: Eid al-Fitr - Manalsama (walnut-filled pastries)

       It took me a while to find what I wanted to make.  I ended up renting a book from the library.  It is The Complete Middle East Cook Book by Tess Mallos.  I ended up making a cookie.  The main recipe is a date filled cookie, there is an alternative that is walnut filled.  That is what I decided to make.


It is basic batter similar to a pie crust.  There is no sugar in it.  The walnut filling is where most of the sugar is.  The recipe says to knead the walnuts and sugar (all the ingredients) into a paste.  I do not know how that is supposed to make a paste.  Some of my walnuts were old (and I assume less oily).  I added more oil halfway through stuffing the cookie but it did not help.  I have no idea how to make that into a paste.  It was very hard to fill the cookies, the walnuts kept crumbling out.  I have so much left over walnut and sugar. I am currently eating it with a spoon.  


Next I had to shape it.  If I had the tool I am sure it would have been quicker.  Instead I had to push down the top of the ball of dough a little.  Then using a fork decorate the edge into a conical shape.  Picture below.  Between this and filling of the cookie, it took forever.


Ug now I feel a little sick from eating the sugar and walnut mixture.  Most recipe I come aross only call for a dusting of powered sugar on whatever I am making.  This one called for a drenching of powder sugar.


And there is the cookie



Recipe below.  This weekend I will be making week 25.  I will not post this on Reddit until I have posted the other one.



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