Italian Sesame Cookies

Every time I visited my Nonna's house she had these sesame cookies.  Of course, she always had chocolate cookies, pasta, pizza and everything else I can imagine.  She was always saying, "Mangia, Mangia."  There was always food on the table at my Nonna's.  You never went hungry over there!

Nonnu, Nonna and I - October, 1970

 

I recently came across this photo and I love it!  My Aunt Lily is in the background.

 

 

The ingredients for the sesame cookies are:

 

 

3 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

3 eggs

3/4 cup shortening

1 teaspoon vanilla

sesame seeds

 

Optional - Anise - Italians love Anise!  If you like it, add a little into the mix (1/2 teaspoon ground anise).

 

To begin, mix the shortening and sugar together.  Add in the eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and flour.

 

 

 

On a floured surface, roll a piece of dough into a snake-like rope

 

 





 

 

Cut the rope into pieces - about 1 1/2 inches long.  Dip into milk and then sesame seeds.

 

 

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.  Take caution - if you over cook these cookies they will be hard as a rock!  You want them to remain soft so make sure they don't cook too long.  If they are starting to brown, they have been in too long.

 

These cookies aren't too sweet and are a staple in an Italian household.

 

 

 

Mangia!