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     I've noticed a worrisome trend lately.  I eat a lot of my desserts while I'm making them.   It was quite obvious the other day when I made the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Tart.  I licked every bowl clean.  Today, after I pulled these cookies from the oven, I tried one.... and then I tried another.  I can't tell you how many I finally finished off, but this is one good cookie.  If you like lemon you will love these.  The lemon is intense and I always like cookies or crusts that incorporate cornmeal for its crisp grittiness.  The black pepper is an interesting addition.  It's not obvious, but it certainly adds another dimension. 
     The dough for this cookie is shaped into a log and sliced.  They spread quite a bit while baking so make sure to leave enough space on the baking sheet between the cookies.

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                          Lemon-Black Pepper Cornmeal Cookies
                    a recipe from Luscious Lemon Desserts by Lori Longbotham

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 3/4 teaspoon fresh, coarsely ground black pepper
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup finely grated organic lemon zest (I used 6 small organic lemons)
• 2 large egg yolks

1.  Whisk the flour, cornmeal, black pepper and salt together in a medium bowl.
2.  Beat the butter, sugar and zest in a medium bowl with an electric mixer, starting on low speed and increasing to medium-high until light and fluffy.  Add the egg yolks and beat to combine.  Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and continue to beat on low speed until just blended; the dough will be somewhat crumbly.
3.  Press the dough together with your hands and divide it in half.  Place each half on a sheet of plastic wrap and form each piece into a log approximately 10-inches by 1 1/4-inches.  Chill, wrapped in the plastic, until firm; about 3 hours.
4.  Preheat the oven to 400˚F.  Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
5.  Using a sharp knife, cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick round and arrange the rounds 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.   On the middle rack of the oven, bake, 1 sheet at a time, for approximately 10 minutes.  Watch closely.  Bake until the edges of the cookies are golden.  Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and cool.


 


Comments

01/21/2010 8:29am

I love black pepper in cookies, I am making these today!
Thanks Eileen! (let's see how many I can eat!).

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Shan
01/21/2010 12:08pm

How many does it make? They sound wonderful!

Reply
Eileen
01/21/2010 12:12pm

Shan- the recipe says it makes 6 dozen. I probably got about that amount. Unfortunately, I can't count for you now because we have eaten so many of them ;P

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ELLY STURGIS
01/21/2010 12:52pm

These cookies and soup sound amazing. I want to make the carnitas soon.

See you tonight! Elly

Reply
Carol
01/21/2010 2:58pm

First of all, I love the new look of Living Tastefully..Second, send a few of those cookies with Bill tomorrow...Love, Carol

Reply
Elly
01/22/2010 12:51pm

Eileen
the cookies are delicious- thank-you!
I meant to tell you my sister is a big fan and tonight she is making chicken almondine over mashed potatoes and loves the lentil salad w/ fried eggs. I am getting so hungry even thinking about your recipes that I am cooking all weekend.
Also-- you are welcome to use my kitchen- when does construction begin?

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Carol
01/23/2010 10:21am

Eileen, the cookies were worth the wait..Yummy

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01/24/2010 6:54am

Pepper in cookies is spectacular... lemon too, ooh la la! What a great recipe!

Reply
01/24/2010 10:00am


Dear Eileen,
have you look at your post this way:
http://livingtastefully.weebly.com/2/post/2010/01/lemon-black-pepper-cornmeal-cookies.html#comments
with just this newest post of yours open?
I love the look, so elegant and winsome,
the black and the yellow-caramel shades,
bravissima!

Now to the cookies:
From the look and your description, it is a wonder you managed to leave enough of them to be able to photograph this fantastic image! I can't wait to make them, anything with lemon I find irresistible, especially knowing that they must be outstanding, having found your stamp of approval! I love cookies that are that easy to make, no rolling and such. ;-)

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01/24/2010 10:49am

Eileen, I'd make these right now if Boz and Gracie were not so relentless in their barking and pacing. What are they saying? "Hey, Bucko, we're late for our walk!"

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