Cardamom Cookies- Shakar Lama شكر لما

These are very delicious cookies similar to sugar cookies.

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
 ½ teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
 ½ teaspoon baking powder
Blanched almonds for decoration
Preheat oven to 350 degress F.
In a bowl, whip the butter and sugar and set aside.
 In another bowl combine all the dry ingredients.
 Add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar. Mix well using your hand or a wooden spoon.
Take a walnut size of the dough. Roll it in your hand, and press it flat.
Put a slivered almond on each cookie.
Arrange these cookies in a pan lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
Makes 24 cookies.
When cool, store in a plastic container.

Coconut Macaroons-Joz il-Hind معجنات جوز الهند

For this recipe, you could add 2 tablespoons of rosewater if you prefer.

3 1/2 cups shredded unsweetened coconuts
4 large eggs (egg whites)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons cornstarch or flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Put the coconut in a bowl and add flour, baking powder and cardamom. Whisk the egg white and add sugar and beat for 2 minutes. Pour over the coconut and mix by hand and shape into a walnut size balls.
Line a pan with parchment paper. Arrange the macaroons on the paper. Bake for 20 minutes
Remove the pan from the oven and leave the macaroons to cool for 10 minutes.

Make 3 dozens