Honey Cookies (Traditional Greek Christmas Cookies)

1 1/4 cups light olive oil
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup orange juice
3 to 4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups semolina
1 grated lemon rind
1 grated orange rind
1 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup honey

Topping
1 cup walnuts, coarsely ground
2 teaspoons ground cloves

Beat olive oil with sugar. Add orange juice. Mix 2 cups of flower with baking powder and add to oil and orange mixture. Beat in brandy, semolina, orange and lemon peel, cloves, and cinnamon. Knead dough on floured surface, adding more flour as needed for strong elastic dough. Let stand covered for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Shape dough into oval cookies about 2 1/2 inches long. Bake on oiled cookie sheet for 25 minutes. Let cool.

In saucepan bring sugar, honey and water to a boil. Simmer 10 minutes and remove from heat. Mix walnuts with cloves and sprinkle over cookies. Cool before serving.