Sesame-Anise Cookies - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon anise seed
2 tablespoons boling water
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup soft butter
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
2 cups flour, sifted
1 large egg, beaten
1 ounce sesame seeds, toasted

Preparation

Combine anise seeds with boiling water and steep while mixing dough. Gradually blend sugar with butter and soda. Add 1 egg. Mix. Strain anise liquid into the mixture, discarding seed. Stir in flour, a little at a time. Mix well. Chill dough overnight or until stiff enough to handle. Shape dough into small balls (use 1/8 teaspoon measure as a scoop). Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with waxed paper and flatten to 1/8\" thickness with the bottom of a flat glass. By this time the dough will have softened and the waxed paper will stick, so place paper-covered sheet in or near freezer for 5 minutes. Peel off waxed paper. Brush tops with slightly beaten egg, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. (Toast seeds in shallow baking pan for 20 minutes in a 350* oven, turning frequently.) Bake cookies in preheated oven
400* about 7 minutes until lightly browned.