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Simsimeyeh (Sesame Treat)

Ibtisam Barakat is the author of <em>Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood</em>.
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Ibtisam Barakat is the author of Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood.

"This is my favorite snack. I write about it in the second chapter of my book. Children and adults alike love it, and children consider it a treat. I sometimes make simsimeyeh and take it to my readings so that the readers might get a taste of childhood in Palestine. It takes only 20 minutes to make." -- Ibtisam Barakat

Ingredients:

1 cup of raw, brown sesame (unhulled)

1 tablespoon honey

To Prepare:

1) Dry roast the sesame seeds by stirring them for 10 minutes on medium to high heat, in a non-stick pan until they become golden.

2) Add the honey, and stir it thoroughly to coat all the sesame seeds. (You will be surprised at how only one tablespoon of honey can cover that many seeds.) Using a wooden spoon is best.

3) Spread the honey-coated seeds on a large plate or a cookie sheet. They will be very sticky at this point.

4) Let the honey-coated seeds cool down for 3 minutes.

5) Shape the seeds into a flat square by pushing the edges together and smoothing the top.

6) Let the sesame square now sit for 5 minutes to harden.

7) Cut the large square into one-inch squares or triangles for bite-sized sesame treats.

Makes 24 one-inch sesame squares.

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