Italian Sesame Cookies for Boston Cookie Swap

I am going to Cookie Swap today organised by Boston Food Swap and Swap.com. What I like about this cookie swap is that for every cookie swapped, GLAD will donate 10 cents to Cookies for Kid's Cancer. Isn't this wonderful? This makes it all meaningful for this holiday season. I have made more than 30 of these wonderful sesame cookies and another 30 more coconut cookies for the swap. I hope everyone in the swap will get to try them and enjoy the season of giving!

I learnt this recipe from an 'Italian cookies' baking class in Boston Center of Adult Education. These cookies taste so good especially so for me as I LOVE Sesame seeds. The punch that the aromatic seeds have is really awesome. This cookies are great with coffee or tea. Can you picture yourself sipping a cuppa and munching on these lovely cookies on a fine Sunday afternoon? Interestingly, I always thought that sesame seeds are from the East!


Recipe (For 4 dozens)
Ingredients:
1 Large Egg
1/2 cup Shortening
1 1/2 cup Flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
3/4 cup Granulated sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
Sesame seeds, raw


Steps:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening with sugar, egg and vanilla essence.
2. Mix flour, baking powder and salt into the sugar mixture. Mix well.
3. Using hands, take a handful of dough and roll into a rope.
4. Cut it into 1 inch pieces. 
5. Coat the pieces with sesame seeds. 
6. Lay them on a cookie sheet.
7. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes or till light golden brown.