Illicit Casa Amora Lemon-scented Cookies

In Lisbon I stayed in a most wonderfully different, endearingly eccentric, sort of pension, the Casa Amora. On arrival I was welcomed by Juan, who met me at the door of an unassuming terraced house, and took me up to a comfortable area with a sofa and chairs which was open plan with the kitchen.

My room at Casa Amora came equipped with all my needs: a cast iron claw foot bath, a bottle of wine, and a mobile phone which contained all sorts of local information as well as a hotline to Juan.
I also had access to the kitchen where there was an honesty bar, and where there was also, my downfall, a glass cookie jar.
One of them contained the most glorious lemon-scented cookies. I’d arrived in Lisbon having missed lunch, and so, while Juan was busy elsewhere with other guests, reader, I plundered it. And I found the contents to be pretty damn good.
So, the following night, after considerable investigative research into local cocktails (see Tangerine Fizz) I found I had the munchies and the jar (which thankfully in the meantime had been replenished) was plundered yet again, and with the same feeling of illicit pleasure.
So I can vouch for these cookies. I asked Juan for the recipe and this was his helpful reply.
Recipe for Casa Amora lemon cookies
Dear Saucy Dressings,
Those were simple lemon cookies, below you’ll find the recipe:
Ingredients
- 3 cups of flour + more if needed
- 1 cup of sugar
- 3 eggs (room temp)
- 6 tbsp of margarine or butter
- 2 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp grated lemon peel or anise liqueur (optional) (Pernod, ouzu or raki)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Soften the butter and mix with the sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and lemon and beat for about 1 minute. Add the flour and baking powder to the sugar and mix with a dough hook for about 3 minutes until the batter forms into a ball. *You may need to add a little flour if you find the dough too soft depending on your butter or the size of your eggs.
I hope you enjoy them.
Regards
Juan
