Gingerbread Boy
Posted on December 1st, 2008 – 10:15 AMBy Kay Krhin
My Swedish grandmother’s signature Christmas cookie was called Pepparkokar - a snappy little ginger cookie - sprinkled with pearl sugar or parlsokar (dang, where’s my umlaut key when I need it?) They were what Christmas tasted like.
I read this article on the front page on Thanksgiving. It’s about a grandmother who passed down her recipes, secrets, and techniques to the next generation - and it made me feel a pang of regret. I wish we had a roll up your sleeves and roll out the dough Pepparkakor 101 session before grandma became too ill. My grandmother told my mother the key technique to her Pepparkokar during her last days. “Roll them thin,” she said, “paper thin.” My mom and aunt are trying to keep the recipe going. I’m going to attempt to learn along with them when we go home for the holidays. I admit - I’m intimidated by the recipe. The pressure to do her proud is too much for me to do without a support system.
Well, this past weekend I turned on my Chrismix playlist on the old iPod and tried a new ginger cookie recipe along with Ben. I experimented with a thicker and more succulent gingerbread recipe that a friend shared with me recently. (Gingerbread Snowflakes recipe here) We made a floury mess, rolled out the dough and did cut-outs with some good ‘ol Vince Guiraldi in the background. Ben loved it. The cookies turned out so fabulous I don’t think they need any icing. Perhaps we just found our own little recipe to become a tradition and pass down.
Trying to sneak some dough.
BTW: If you are looking for more ideas and inspiration for cookie recipes - Taste staffers Lee Svitak Dean and Rick Nelson just launched a holiday cookie blog called the Cookie Exchange. They are featuring a cookie recipe a day through the holiday season. Check it out here: COOKIE EXCHANGE.
Do you have a sentimental cookie favorite you make each year? Or what cookies do you find easy to create with the little ones? Do share.
8 Responses to "Gingerbread Boy"
So many memories are tied to food and tradition. Doris, my great aunt, made the best oatmeal raisin cookies when I was a kid. I remember many an evening spent in her living room snacking on cookies and watching Wheel of Fortune. I craved them for years after she passed away. I asked everyone and no one had the recipe. Then years later when my Grandmother passed away I inherited her recipe boxes which included a box that had apparently been Doris’. Low and behold here was the recipe I had been craving…clipped from the back of an old Crisco shortening container. So much for Doris’ secret recipe…ha ha!
Nothing cuter than a little baker covered in flour!
I have a gingerbread recipe that I love, but those look better.
My personal favorite, when I have time, is a egg based sugar cookie that I season like eggnog. They are my signature cookie.
However, most years I’m so rushed I just do creative drop cookies, like cranberry, white chocolate, hazelnut.
Okay, my longest comment ever! One of my biggest regrets is not asking my mom for the “recipes” for my favorite foods before she died. Now I can’t make her lasagna, her broccoli cheese soup or her chili.
I too read that article on Thanksgiving and had it tug at my heart. I’m hoping to plan something similar with my mom’s aunts so I can master yeast breads.
Last year for Christmas, 5 years after my mom died, I finally attempted lefse, start to finish without her. It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was nice to bring that tradition back to my family.
And, onto the sweets. My favorite for a cookie tray is not a cookie, but Reeses Penut Butter Bars. Yum, yum, yum! As a busy mom, I’ll whip up a pan in 15 minutes, way faster than baking a batch of cookies.
1 CUP Butter, melted
1 CUP Peanut Butter
2 CUPS Crushed Graham Crackers (I buy pre-made crumbs because I am lazy)
2 ½ CUPS Powdered Sugar
Combine butter and PB, mix in sugar and graham cracker crumbs, pat into 9 x 13 pan.
Melt 1 bag chocolate chips and spread over top. Refrigerate until set. Cut into small squares and try not to eat the whole pan at once.
Kim, those sound fantastic! I’m printing them out right now. : )
As for a favorite cookie…I am a big baker, especially at Christmas. I usually make about 75 dozen cookies, bars, etc. and have been doing it every year for YEARS.
This year…? I’m taking the year off. I’ve decided it’s The Year of Katy (it also being the month of my 40th birthday has something to do with it) and much as I love baking, everyone needs a break once in a while.
I hope to re-enter the fray next year with renewed gusto! Until then, I will enjoy vicariously Kay’s undeniably adorable little boy. : ) Thanks for sharing!
PS Hope that does not make me a Scrooge. : )
Katy you are definitely not a Scrooge -
When birthday’s with zero’s in them roll around you can absolutely call the shots!
Go ahead and recharge your cookie battery and watch out Christmas 2009!
ps. Happy 40th. been there. done that. still doin it.
Thanks Kay! I was freaking out about turning 40 earlier this year (about the time I was also going through all the 3rd-baby-or-no-3rd-baby angst, so just in a general state of mid-life crisis)…but I think all is okay now. Much like your duathlon (biathlon…?) I am planning a triathlon to celebrate! I can’t wait.
