Les Mendiants

Ingredients

21 1/2 oz butter
5/8 c confectioners sugar
5 eggs
3 3/4 c flour
1 5/8 c sugar
3 lemons
35 prunes
3 oz almonds
3 oz hazelnuts
6 walnut
6 oz raisins
70 candied orange peel

Instructions

*Torte Pastry*

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, cream together butter and sugar until light. In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg. Pour 1/2 of the whisked egg into butter and sugar mixture, reserving the remaining half for another use. Add the remaining whole egg and blend mixture well. Remove paddle and replace with a dough hook. Add flour, mixing thoroughly. Form dough into a ball, wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate 2 hours. Roll dough out to a thickness of slightly more than 1/8 inch. Cut dough into 35 1 1/2-inch ovals with pointed ends and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 15 to 20 minutes, or until cookies are a light caramel color.

*Lemon Cream*

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat combine eggs, sugar, butter, lemon juice and lemon zest. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring continually with a wooden spoon. Boil gently for 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a bowl, cover and chill thoroughly.

*Assemble*

Spread each cookie with 1 heaping tablespoon of lemon cream and top with 2 prun halves, 2 almonds, 2 hazelnuts, 2 walnut halves, 7 raisins and 2 pieces candied orange peel. Makes approximately 35 cookies.