Muzurkas

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
  
       Title: Muzurkas
  Categories: Cookies
       Yield: 36 servings
  
       1 c  Butter or margarine
       1 c  Sugar
       3    Eggs
   1 1/2 c  All-purpose flour
       1 ds Salt
     1/4 c  Almonds; ground or fine chop
       1 tb Orange peel; fine chop (opt)
       2 tb Sugar
       2 tb Cornstarch
   1 1/2 c  Orange juice or water
     3/4 c  Dried apricots; snipped
     3/4 c  Dried figs or dates; snipped
     1/2 c  Raisins or currants
     1/2 c  Walnuts or almonds; chopped
     1/4 c  Candied orange or lemon peel
            Chopped
            Powdered sugar icing
  
          Beat butter or margarine in a large mixing bowl with an electric
   mixer till softened.  Add the 1 cup sugar and beat till fluffy. Add eggs;
   beat well.  Add   flour and salt. Beat till just combined. Stir in ground
   or finely chopped almonds and finely shredded orange peel, if desired.
          Spread dough evenly in a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake in a
   350~F oven for 15 to 20 minutes   or till toothpick inserted near the
   center comes out clean.
          Meanwhile, for filling, combine the 2 tbsp. sugar and cornstarch in
   a medium saucepan.  Stir in orange juice or water, apricots, figs or dates,
   and raisins or currants. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and
   bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped walnuts or almonds and candied
   peel.  Spread   over the hot cookie. Bake 20 minutes or till filling appear
   set.
          Cool in the pan on a wire rack.  Cut into squares. Drizzle with
   Powdered Sugar Icing.  Makes 36 bars.
          Source:  BH&G Christmas Cookies.
          Powdered Sugar Icing:  Stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1
   tbsp. milk, and 1/4 tsp. vanilla in   a small bowl. Stir in additional
   milk, 1 tsp at a   time, to make an icing of drizzling consistency.
  
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