Benné (Sesame Seed) Cookies ...p102

"Open Sesame"

One thing I love about blogging is it satisfies my perpetual student desires.  After all, did you know that the term "open sesame", used in Arabian Nights, came from the way the sesame seed pod bursts open when ripe?  I can just envision some hungry desert nomad sitting alongside a sesame plant, imploring "open! sesame!" for tiny morsels of nutrient rich food.  I also just learned that African slaves carried benné seeds (their term for sesame seeds) to our shores, where it was readily assimilated into Southern cooking.  And, for a little pipsqueak of a seed, sesame packs a wallop in nutrients: manganese and copper, as well as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber.  Copper aids in the relief of rheumatoid arthritis by reducing inflammation.  For more info, check out whfoods.com.

and why did Southern Comfort change their logo?  I miss the Plantation!!!

These cookies are one of our favorite Christmas treats as much because of what they aren't as  what they are -  flavorful, delightfully crisp nibbles,  but NOT that sweet!  They're the perfect antidote to over consumption of sugar during the holidays.  We keep a tin full to nibble on.

My only negative comment would be the expense of sesame seeds - since this recipes calls for a cup (and you will want to make the entire recipe), I'd like to find a source for a cheaper purchase.  I actually ordered my pesto pine nuts through E-Bay and have enough pine nuts to last a year (another product I cringe at buying for their expense).

The critic really enjoyed these tasty cookies....a shot of bourbon helps, but next Christmas, I'll have to order the real stuff: Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon! 

Hardy Appetit!


BENNE COOKIES 

"delightful!"

1 cup sesame seeds
1 1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Heat oven to 300°.  Toast seeds on baking sheet 10-15 min, stirring to prevent burning.  In large bowl, combine butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, egg and cooled seeds.  Drop by 1/2 tsp onto greased, foil-lined baking sheet, about 1 1/2" apart.  Bake 12 min. in 325° oven or until lightly browned (if pale in center & puffed, the cookies are NOT ready).  Watch constantly to prevent burning.  Carefully peel cookies from foil and cool on paper towels.