Need a recipe for Biscochitos

[stpalmer]

I miss New Mexico at Christmas! I loved Biscochitos, but I haven't been able to find a recipe that actually ends up with the same taste or texture. I'd love some recipes from anyone who knows.

Also, I got online and downloaded recipes for Anise cookies generally, and tried three. None were Biscochitos.

Anyone? Anyone?

[Tesha]

1. let us know if they're good

http://www.biscochitos.net/index.php?p=1_7_Recipe

Biscochito & Biscocho Recipe

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1 cup shortening
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2/3 cup sugar
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1 egg
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2 to 4 Tablespoons red wine, brandy or sherry (optional)
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1 to 11/2 teaspoons lightly crushed anise seed
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3 cups flour
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2 teaspoons baking powder, (optional)
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1/2 teaspoon salt, optional
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1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

Beat shortening with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in the 2/3 cup sugar, then the egg. Beat in 2 Tablespoons of the wine and the anise seed. Toss the flour together with the baking powder and salt, if using. Gently stir in, adding more wine as needed to form a soft dough. Let stand for 10 minutes or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1/4-inch thick and cut into shapes as desired. Dip the top side of each cookie in the cinnamon-sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending upon size, just until the edges turn a pale blond. Let cool a few minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool. Store in a cookie jar or airtight container.

[Warpy]

2. That looks like the one I have, but natives here will tell you

the shortening has to be lard, that there is no substitute. I've seen people use red wine or brandy, never sherry.

That's kept me from eating or making them, the lard.

[flamin lib]

3. In the scheme of things lard isn't all that bad.

Least healthy of the fats seems to be margarine because of the poly whatever fats.
Next is butter because it has such a high cholesterol content.
Lard comes in next.

Think I heard this from Alton Brown.

Then there's the vegetable oils and fish oils that actually may have health benefits.

Calorie count for all is basically the same. Fat is fat as far as that goes, 100% calories.