Hrstule

The following is my grandmother's recipe for a cookie often made at
Christmas time in the Dalmatian coastal region of Croatia.

Hrstule: pronounced hurst'-uh-lay

4 eggs
4 half eggshells of sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
3 cups flour (all purpose)
4 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbs. brandy
Anise flavoring to taste.
Olive oil for deep frying

Break eggs into bowl, reserving one eggshell half (fat end) with which
to measure sugar. Add rest of ingredients and mix into a consistent dough.
Have ready a floured board or marble. Take a small portion at a time and
roll out until the dough is thin enough to read newspaper headlines through
it. Take a ravioli cutting wheel and cut strips 1 inch wide and 9 inches
long. Tie strips into an overhand knot (like a pretzel) and deep fry a
few at a time. Don't let the olive oil heat to smoking. Fry to a light
yellow-tan; don't brown. Let cool. Sprinkle with sugar.

This should be enough for the usual large family Christmas gathering.


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