Once upon a time there was... Hamantaschen

Today is Purim - the celebration of the Jews escaping the evil Haman. Haman wore a funny looking triangular hat, so to celebrate/make fun of him, we eat delicious triangular Hamantaschen cookies! This recipe is from Cal's Jewish mother and makes about 30 cookies.

ingredients

2 eggs

3/4 c sugar

1/2 c vegetable oil

2 3/4 c flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

1 jar dessert filling

Cal's tip: The exact dessert filling is very important! Jams and jellies will not work, and we havent had good luck with anything but this brand:

We also recommend making this recipe three times - a good excuse to make many flavors of Hamantaschen!

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325. Beat eggs. Add sugar and oil and beat again.

2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly add to egg mixture. Add vanilla. Mix well.

3. Roll on floured surface. Cut into 3" circles.

Cal's tip: If you don't have 3" circle cutters, a drinking glass works great!

4. Fill with about a tsp of filling.

5. Shape into triangles.

Cal's tip: To do this with human hands, place your thumbs together at the bottom of a cut-out. Put your forefingers about 1/3 of the way around from the top (think 2 and 10 on a clock). Lift the dough and pinch your fingers towards the center. Where your thumbs and forefingers meet forms two of the points of the triangle. Shape the 3rd side carefully and seal each corner so none of the filling leaks out.

6. Bake for about 25 minutes.

So there you have it: Hamantaschen - the cookie that is as fun to say as it is delicious. We'll spare you the nutritional facts...