GREEN TEA-HONEY COOKIES

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sliced blanched almonds
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 cups wildflower honey
2 tablespoons Sencha tea (needle-like leaves)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 4 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Mix the flour, cloves, cinnamon and almonds in a large bowl. In another large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter until fluffy. Add the sugar, beaten eggs and honey and beat until the mixture is smooth. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in several batches, blending completely after each addition. Add the dry Sencha leaves and blend just to incorporate.

Drop generous teaspoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the cookies are a rich golden color.

Remove the cookies from the oven, let sit for 1 minute on the baking sheets and then carefully transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. The cookies will keep for several days in an airtight container.

Makes about 40 cookies
Source: Green Tea by Mary Lou Heiss