mamool cookies

mamool cookies are a christmas tradition in my dad's family and we consider them lebanese. however, i have had more than one heated scandinavian argue with me that these are actually swedish or norwegian. who the hell knows, with a pound of butter there is enough rich deliciousness for everyone. i am making them for my office holiday party tomorrow.

sitty's mamool cookies

1 lb. softened butter
2 c. powdered sugar
3 T. orange blossom water (you can find this at middle eastern or mediterranean specialty stores, or some regular grocery stores)
3 3/4 c. flour
1 c. walnut pieces (broken up but not too much)

mix the butter and 1 c. powdered sugar with a hand mixer (i don't have one so we will see how that works out for me) . then add the orange blossom water and mix. then mix in the flour. then fold in the walnuts. refrigerate until it gets hard. try not to eat all the dough at this point. it is delicious and you will be tempted.

make small balls and flatten them, or if you felt like rolling the dough into a log before refrigerating, slice off cookies from the log. bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are slightly golden brown around the edges. cool the cookies for a while.

sift the other cup of powdered sugar onto a plate. dip each cookie in powdered sugar. eat, or refrigerate, or freeze. i think it's pretty key to refrigerate them soon if you are not going to be eating them within a few days.

readers, you now hold in your hands the key to the universe and world peace. these cookies can work miracles, i am not kidding you.

while i am waiting for my butter to soften i am getting really excited about the holidays coming up. i am going to be reliving my college days in east lansing, then spending time with family and friends in the detroit area (we are going to visit the newly redone detroit institute of arts which i am very excited about), and then partying it up in chicago for new year's.

last year my friend marc had an awesome new year's party. it was truly one of the best parties i have ever been to. here is what i remember of the party:
1. arrive at the party (drunk already from making cocktails in our hotel room)
2. drink more, dance, sing fight song
3. laugh at a guy who looks like a leprechaun
4. david pukes all over the sink and stairs
5. countdown to midnight while cleaning up david's puke
6. avoid annoying nerds trying to make out with me
7. make fun of leprechaun
8. 2-3 hours of dancing and emptying champagne bottles into my mouth
9. pee in bushes
10. lavine photographs me peeing in bushes
11. still more drinking and dancing
12. chase the dog around and try to convince her "i'm not drunk"
13. sit on couch and stare at people and wonder why the room won't stop spinning
14. drive home, "straight" guy makes out with gay "best friend"
15. pass out
16. after the party, friends tell stories of the leprechaun (now referred to as "the midget leprechaun") setting on fire. i don't remember any of this.

partying like it's 2007

marc is going to have the party again this year. unfortunately a lot of people can't make it this year but it should still be fun. i just love new year's, it is possibly my favorite holiday. i always have so much fun. i feel like it is the one night of the year where everyone just totally lets loose and acts completely ridiculous. i plan to celebrate new year's with lots of drinking and debauchery for many years to come. you are never too old to make a fool of yourself!