Iced Gem Cookies or Mont Pae Hlaw

Today I am drowned in waves of emotions, from acute homesickness to longing aches for the good old days and little bit of the age of innocence.

So, I made lots of iced gem cookies or mont pae hlaw (မုန့်ပဲလှော်) in Burmese, hoping such blast from the past will be a travelling ticket to times where happiness was as pure and simple as a recycled Ovaltine jar full of these tiny retro treats. They are nibble-sized savory crackers topped with dollops of bright, colorful icing, unnaturally sweet from saccharine sugar.

Burmese name for these cookies suggests you eat them like you're snacking and stuffing your face with nuts! Just like M&Ms, we are partial to certain colors though they are irrelevant in taste. Mine was yellow and I did what a child would do - ate the sweet tops and chucked the cracker or feed them to the dogs. Now as a responsible adult, I've grown to enjoy the cookie base more.

Getting iced gem cookies is impossible here in America yet whipping them at home is quite easy to do. This version has buttery shortbread cookies for the base, crowned with sweet vanilla meringue. Enjoy!

Feeling little closer to home now.