Spanish Roccos (Galletitas Navidanas) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups orange peel (1 inch squares)
3 tablespoons anise seed
1 cup shortening
1 cup muscat wine (or favorite dessert wine)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 lbs flour
powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350.
Heat oil in a small sauce pan.
Add orange peel and fry until the pith (white part) is golden brown.
Add anise seed to orange oil and fry for 2 or 3 minutes more.
Strain the oil into a glass bowl and discard the orange and anise.
Add shortening to oil. Stir till melted.
Add wine to oil.
Add sugar to oil.
Place bowl of oil in refrigerator until cool.
Add flour 1/2 pound at a time. Mix well.
Roll out dough till about 1/2 inch thick.
Cut cookies with 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter. Traditionally we make a doughnut shape with about 2 tablespoons of dough.
Place cookies on un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
Let cool and dust heavily with powdered sugar.