CHOCOLATE HANUKKAH STARS

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
powdered sugar

In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar and eggs on medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until well-blended. Cover; refrigerate dough until firm enough to handle.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness; cut with star-shaped cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Cook for 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

BEEF BRISKET FOR HANUKKAH

1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix
1 1/2 cups Burgundy wine
1/3 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons sugar
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (4-lb.) brisket of beef, fat trimmed
1 lb. mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

Preheat oven to 300ºF.

In a roasting pan, combine dry soup mix, wine, marmalade, water, flour, basil, thyme, sugar, garlic and pepper. Add brisket. Spoon some of the sauce over the top of the brisket. Cover and bake for 3 hours, basting with sauce once each hour.

Stir in mushrooms and bake for 30 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Slice meat. Spoon fat from sauce and serve sauce with meat.

To make ahead: Prepare roast as directed above; do not add mushrooms. Remove roast from pan; place on a piece of heavy-duty foil. Let roast stand 30 minutes to cool. Wrap in foil and refrigerate overnight. Pour sauce into a bowl; cover and refrigerate.

To serve, preheat oven to 325ºF. Return meat and sauce to pan; stir in mushrooms. Cover and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until meat is heated through (160°F) and mushrooms are tender.

Serves 8