Springerle: (Hard cookies, anise flavor)

4 and 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
1 lb powdered sugar
1 tbsp grated lemon rind
Anise seed -- ground, 1 tbsp
Anise seeds coarsely crushed --- to sprinkle on top of cookies before baking
Sift the flour and baking powder. Beat the eggs until
light and lemon colored. Add sugar and beat again. Add ground anise,
lemon rind then the flour mixture. Mix well, then chill about an hour or
until firm enough to handle easily. Then, on a lightly floured cloth-covered
board, roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Traditionally, you must have a
rolling pin with springerle designs. Actually you can cut the dough into
small shapes of any kind. Place on a cookie sheet 1/2 inch apart. Leave
exposed to air overnight, first sprinkling with anise seed. Then bake
at 350F for about 30 minutes.