Ghourabia

Ghourabia is like an Armenian sugar cookie made with simple ingredients and a touch of Oghi (like Greek Ouzo). Typically you might see these in a form of a circle, but medz mama likes to make them in a shape of a "S". Every year she takes pride in making these for the Armenian Food Festival at St. Andrew Armenian Church.

Ingredients:

• 16oz container of Crisco
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 4 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon Oghi (Arak)

Preparing the Dough:

• Sift 2 cups of powdered sugar into a bowl and set aside for later

• In a separate bowl, empty the entire 16oz Crisco container into a large mixing bowl and start mixing the crisco with your hands and smoothing it out against the inside of the bowl to create a smooth consistency
• Add 1 tablespoon of Oghi and continue to mix in 
• Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time for a total of 2 cups and mix with your hands until incorporated
• Add 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• Add in 4 cups of flour one cup at a time to slowly incorporate. You will need to knead the dough until it all comes together. It will still feel a little sticky in the end but shouldn't feel too loose or overly sticky. The mixing process does take a while until it all comes together nicely. Make sure to clean the sides of the bowl with a spatula

Forming the Cookies:

• Take a little piece of the dough and squeeze so that it forms together. Then roll it super delicately with your finger tips into a long strip. If you push too hard the dough will crack and crumble. If you you do it very softly the dough should almost feel like its melting into its form
• Then shape the strip into an "S" shape and put it on a cookie pan to bake. You don't have to spray the pan because the cookie is naturally oily
• Once you have formed all the cookies cook it in the oven for about 20 minutes in a 300 degree oven. The cookie SHOULD NOT brown. It should keep it's white color.