Makroud, Tunisian Date Pastry, a recipe from Gourmetpedia, for food lovers

Ingredients

• - 200 g (7 oz.) fine semolina
• - 2 g (1/2 tsp.) ground saffron
• - 100 ml (6 Tbsp.) vegetable oil
• - 20 g (4 tsp.) butter
• - a pinch of salt
• - 150 g (5 oz.) deglet nour dates (or other variety)
• - 1 orange
• - 2 g (1/2 tsp.) ground cinnamon
• - 150 g (5 oz.) powdered sugar
• - 75 g (3 oz.) honey
• - 1/2 lemon
• - 50 ml (3 Tbsp.) geranium flower water, or orange flower water
• - 250 ml (1 cup) water
• - Toasted sesame seeds
• - or ground almonds
• - oil for frying