Peanut Orange Zest Cookies

I have a friend who does not travel too much. Ask her about any city, any river, any monument or any hole-in-the-wall historical restaurant unique to a place and she knows most things about it. She has taught me that you can travel with your knowledge. Read Read Read. That is what she does. She reads the newspaper once a week, but wait, not the Sunday Times, but the entire week's newspapers. Because she reads with interest she retains everything.  And similarly she almost never cooks. But you ask her about Caesar salad canapes or 'Patrani machchi' or 'Khao Suey' or Alaskan pudding and she knows how to make it, or what are the key ingredients or who created the dish or who made it popular. Knowledge is power. I have seen this power. As my father's friend once said aeons ago, in this beautiful woman's eyes.

Sarbani loves my work. She admires my doings. She listens to my plans. And she collects recipe books for me. One such book came from her recent trip to Singapore. A book of interesting cookies. One recipe was this peanut orange zested cookies. Please do try baking them. They have a twist which raises an eyebrow and brings an instant  zesty smile. 

You will need; 

120 g butter

150 g brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

150 g flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp nutmeg powder

Grated zest of 1 orange, I used one and a half

40 g whole unsalted peanuts

100 g chopped unsalted peanuts

80 g oats

Now to the baking stage;

Pre heat oven. Line baking tray.

Beat butter and sugar in a mixing bowl together till creamy. 

Stir in the beaten egg.

Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon , nutmeg and orange zest together. Next add to butter mix. Blend.

Stir in whole peanuts , half cup of chopped peanuts and oats. Mix.

Take tsp size portion in hand and shape into round balls. Place balls on baking try. Sprinkle with remaining chopped peanuts. 

Bake for 15 mind or so until golden. Cool on a wire rack. 

Crunch time folks!