Peppernuts!

A favorite holiday tradition - making Peppernuts!!  (also known as pfeffernuesse)  I literally grew up making these delicious, bite-sized Christmas treats - and am excited to continue this traditionin our family.  These treats originated and are very popular in Germany (appropriate for both Patrick and my family origin!), Denmark and the Netherlands (and hey, I studied abroad there)

Anyway, I have very distinct memories growing up and my sister and I chopping Peppernuts, as Mom rolled out the weenie-rolls of dough for us, all as we listened to the YMCA Christmas mix cassette tape (Mom - do you still have this?!  They really need to make this in a CD/mp3 - those songs were all so good - and full of many memories!) 

Many people don't really understand how to eat a peppernut - the best way in my opinion, is to suck on the hard-like candy, soften it up and savor the flavor, until it finally dissolves and you are ready to pop in t he next one.  Careful - they are addictive (and shoot - when you actually make it from scratch, you realize they are not the most healthy----no wonder I always gain that holiday weight..... :))

Over the last couple years - I have recruited Patrick to join in the tradition and he was a great help!! He helped roll out all the dough, and even chopped up a few baking sheets worth.  (I realized in the first couple years how nit-picky I was about the size/width of these peppernuts... my Mom raised us with setting high expectations for the perfect peppernut size, and would hold us to it - I guess I was just passing down the orders :))  Took us most of the morning, as it's quite the process of rolling, chopping, sorting on the baking sheets, baking, scraping off peppernuts, and letting sheets cool.  Anyway, was fun to have Patrick's help, and I'm excited for Will to join in....maybe next year!

Happy Holidays to all!