Toasted Black Sesame  Seed Cookies:
Yield: 2-1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
3/4 cup palm shortening (or vegetable shortening)
1 ¼ cups palm sugar plus ½ cup, divided
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg or (Energy Egg Replacer- 1-1/2teaspoon replacer plus 2 Tablespoon warm water)
1 ¾ cups gluten free all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1-1/4 cup black sesame seeds, ground plus 2/3 cup

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350F.In a large bowl, beat  ¾ cup shortening and 1-1/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in  2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 large egg (or EnerG Egg Replacer, 1-1/2 teaspoon replacer plus 2 Tablespoon warm water.)
2. In another bowl mix 1-3/4 cup flour, ½ teaspoon xanthan gum, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Slowly incorporate dry mixture with wet mixture. Be careful not to over beat the batter or it will change the texture of the cookie.
3. Dump 1-1/4 cup ground sesame and mix until evenly dispersed throughout cookie dough.
4. Chill dough for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine reserved ½ cup palm sugar with 2/3 cup whole sesame seeds.
5. Remove dough and begin forming tablespoonful balls.  Roll the balls in the sesame-sugar mixture.
6. Place cookies 2-inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake 7-9 minutes for chewy cookies or 10 for crisp cookies. Remove from oven and cool on cooling rack.

These cookies were served for dessert with Herbal Masala Tea last Saturday’s Wellness Dinner.  So delicious!
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, black sesame seeds are associated with the kidney and bladder and help tonify the blood.  A great source of calcium, black sesame seeds, when eatern regularly, keep hair dark!