Gourmet Foods

• 3 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups sifted flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup ground poppy seeds

Cream the butter, gradually adding the sugar. Mix in the egg yolks and vanilla. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder and add to butter mixture. Pat into an 8 inch square buttered pan. (The mixture won’t hold together when you’re handling it, but will when baked.)

Beat the egg whites until they begin to stiffen, and then beat in the brown sugar. Fold in the poppy seeds. Spread over the dough.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until delicately browned and set. Cool and cut into squares.

• 1 pound poppy seeds
• 2 cups honey
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 cups chopped nuts
• ½ teaspoon powdered ginger

Have the poppy seeds ground for you when you buy them. If this is not possible, grind them in a food chopper or pound with a mortar and pestle.

Cook together the honey and sugar until syrupy. Stir in the poppy seeds and cook until mixture is thick, about 20 minutes. Stir frequently. (Drop a little on a wet surface; if it doesn’t run, it is thick enough.) Stir in the nuts and ginger.

Moisten hands; pat out mixture onto wet board to thickness of about ½ inch. Let cool 5 minutes, then cut into diamonds or squares with a sharp knife. When knife sticks, dip into hot water. Cool completely and lift from board with a specula.