Tough-tough

Taai-taai

230 grams/1½ cup unsifted flour
100 grams/2/5 cup brown sugar
65 grams/1/5 cup honey
½tsp salt
½tsp baking powder
10 grams speculaaskruiden*
almond halves, blanched
raisins

Sift the flour, the baking powder and the spices. Make an indent in the top.

Pour the sugar with the honey and 1¼ cup water in a saucepan and boil until the sugar has dissolved.

Pour the mix into the indent in the flour/spices and quickly but thoroughly stir in the flour from the sides, until the dough is smooth. If necessary, finish kneading the very sticky dough by hand.

Put the dough ball into a bowl and cover it with a wet tea towel. Store it in a cool place for 4 - 6 days (!) but make sure that the tea towel is made wet every day to prevent the dough from drying out.

When ready, knead the dough again by hand. If you have specific, shallow molds, dust the insides with flour, press in the dough and level the top. Dump the dolls (or other shapes) onto a greased cookie sheet.

If you do not have specific molds, roll the dough (between two greased aluminum or paper baking sheets) and cut figures or letters (initials) or use cookie cutters.

Decorate the dolls or other shapes, with almonds and raisins.