3/4 cup oil
1/3 cup water + 1 tbsp — divided
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups flour — (up to 3 cups)
2 cups ground blanched almonds
3 tablespoons honey — (up to 4 tbsp)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch cloves SYRUP: 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup honey
1/2 cup water
OVEN: 350
Combine oil, 1/3 cup water and sugar; add enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead til smooth. Divide dough into 35 pieces. Set aside.
FILLING: Mix together almonds, 1 tbsp water and enough honey to make a stiff paste. Add cinnamon and cloves.
Press a piece of dough into a 4- inch round and fill with 1 tsp filling. Fold and seal. Repeat with remaining 34 dough pieces.
Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or til light brown.
TO SERVE: Boil travados 3 minutes in syrup in batches. Drain and cool.
SYRUP: Add all syrup ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Source: Kyra Effren/ Universal Press Syndicate via The Naples Daily News 9-5-96