Monday, December 12, 2011

Der Christmas Cookies

My Dad was big on Christmas cookies. Shortbread, pepparkakker (sp.?), those lacy deep-fried ones you make with the snowflake shaped iron, vanilla sugar cookies, molasses cookies, Lucia bread. Throughout the holidays there was an ever-present plate of cookies around. He bought them (I never once saw him bake anything) from a Danish bakery in Bay Ridge. When I started cooking I made Christmas cookies but they didn't compare. Dad joined the choir eternal before anything I made was very good. As time passed I played with the recipes. No matter how good the cookies I made were, they still weren't the originals. Memories of good things can screw with what you've got in the present too. But then the internet came along. And today I found this article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/11/nordic-christmas-baking-recipes

And holy cow, there they are, most of the Christmas cookie recipes I've been working on for so long. And there, right there, are the little tweaks in ingredients and method that make a huge difference.

I don't know if I'll get to them before Christmas. There's so much to do. But I'm thinking a couple will make it to the Alka Seltzer Party on New Year's Day.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bonanza!!!!! Your Dad will be watching and smiling as you bake your traditional cookies.

Austan said...

Yeah, Lawless, he will. I hope he can still smell them, even if eating them is out. :)

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

There is nothing that says "Happy New Year" like an Alka Seltzer party. You might want to wait on the cookies until the 2nd.

Austan said...

Arleen! Well, we've all slowed down a lot and few need the Alka Seltzer much anymore. But there are a couple younguns and some hearty ones, so we'll have entertainment. ;)

paulg said...

Pop, pop.
Fizz, fizz...

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I'd say that finding those recipes was an early Christmas present for you. Congrats!

Austan said...

Paul- I expect you there! (though the invites haven't gone out yet)

Susan- the early Christmas presents are gooduns this year! ;)