The Orchestra Pit
Flo, Kazi and Evan
Flo oversees the snack table
Flo's Spanikopita
Kazi's Snack
Kazi Pitelka is a violist with the LA Opera Orchestra. They are currently performing Wagner's Ring Cycle. The opera is over 17 hours long, performed over 4 nights. The musicians prepare by bringing snacks for the intermissions.
Flo Titmus' Melomakarona Cookies (Honey Walnut Stuffed Cookies)
First you must make a delicious Spicey Honey Syrup
1 cup honey 2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup sugar 3 whole clove
1 1/2 cup water Orange zest - more like big strips
In a small saucepan bring all ingreidiants to a boil and cook on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
Pre-heat your oven to 350
The next step is making the stuffing:
1 to 1 1/2 cup walnut bits 1 tsp vanilla or vanilla paste
2 Tablespoons honey 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Put ingredients in food processor and grind until it has a fine texture.
Cookie dough:
4 1/2 to 5 cups flour 2 tsp gr. cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground clove
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
sift these ingredients together into a large bowl
1 1/2 cup good quality LIGHT olive oil
3/4 cup sugar
Juice of one large orange
1 tbsp orange zest
1/4 cup cognac or grand marnier
Beat oil and sugar together for 10 minutes until you get a creamy texture. Add orange juice, zest and cognac and beat for another 5 or 6 minutes. Add flour mixture into liquid slowly and mix together until a soft dough forms. Knead, adding more flour if necessary, until dough is soft but not stiff.
Now for the fun part:
Shape Dough 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp dough into a large round in the palm of your hand, put a tsp of the walnut stuffing and wrap dough around it.
Shape into a round cylinder and place on greased cookie sheet.
I like to add a walnut half for decoration on top, press down.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes until golden.
Remove from Oven and cool on a rack.