Hamentaschen
3/4 cup sugar
4-1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup shortening
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup orange juice
Cream sugar and shortening. Then add remaining ingredients, and mix together well. Roll out dough very thin (approx. 1/8') on a floured board. Flour the rim of a glass (or, better yet, a tuna can with top and bottom cut off), and cut out circles. Spread your favorite filling in the middle. Fold up the edges of the circle in thirds to form a triangular base, and pinch the edges together tightly. Place on a well-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes until slightly browned.
Poppy Seed Filling
1 cup (about 5 ounces) poppy seeds
1/2 cup milk or water
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup dark raisins or currants
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Grind the poppy seeds in a blender, coffee blender, or with a mortar and pestle until most of the seeds are broken up. Put the ground poppy seeds into a small saucepan with the remaining filling ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture is very thick and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the filling from the heat and let it cool slightly. Then chill before using (You can make this ahead and refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days).
Other Possible Fillings
Jam
Chopped apricots
Chopped dates
Honey combined with chopped apricots or dates
Poppy seeds
