Cure My Blues Cookies

I am not one with a sweet tooth. But, during times of despair, I find myself craving for something sweet and comforting to get me through the tough times and cheer me up a little.

Last week was one of those times. It was a typical "it never rains it pours" week. It felt like I am the ever so unfortunate female lead of a soap opera. (OK, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit but dramatising is in my genetic coding, I am both a woman and a Mediterranean.)

Unfortunately, I have never been one of those people who can easily satisfy their sweet cravings with a short trip to the supermarket's chocolate and confectionery isle. When I need something sweet it has to be something special and worth waiting for.

So, in search of my happiness, I wandered the pages of my recipe book and there it was - the ultimate cure to my blues!

Belgin Teyze'nin iki renkli kurabiyesi (Aunt Belgin's two colored cookies).

They are not cookies but rather little scented clouds of happiness.  They are not only great for bringing some sunshine to the grey skies of your mind but also as a special gift to a loved one, if you dare to share.


Belgin Teyze'nin iki renkli kurabiyesi (Aunt Belgin's two colored cookies)

Ingredients:

400 gr corn starch
2 eggs
250 gr margarine
1,5 cup icing sugar
8 tablespoons plain flour
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 packet baking powder
Finely grated rind of 1 orange


Here is how:

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees (fan forced 180 degrees).

Using your hands, mix the margarine, sugar and egg in a bowl until combined. Then add flour and baking powder and kneed until a soft, non sticky dough is formed. (As my mum would say "the dough should be in the consistency of your earlobe.")

Divide the dough into three equal parts. Put one aside.

Add the orange peel to the second dough and kneed to combine.

Add the cocoa to the third dough and kneed to combine.

Take an equal piece from each dough and roll them separately into small (about 5 cm long) logs. Then roll three logs into each other and form a small ball. You will end up with about 40 small cookies.

Place them 2 cm apart onto a well greased cookie tray and bake for 10 minutes until they crack open.

Turn the heat down to 110 degrees (100 degrees fan forced) and bake them for another five minutes.

Turn off the oven and leave the cookies in the oven until they cool down.

Once they are cool, enjoy as many as it takes to cheer you up!

Afiyet Olsun!