Now that Halloween is over and the kids (and adults) have picked over the best pieces of candy, it's time to turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving and then Christmas. More cooking and baking are done at this time of the year than any other. Everything from cakes to pies, from cookies to breads will be lovingly put together for celebrations and gatherings of all kinds.
In honor of all the bakers out there who are considering their menus for family and friends, I thought it might be good to write about those traditions that are influenced by generations of people from all over the world. It seems to me that every country, every nationality has a cookie, a cake, and a bread that best describes them and their traditions.
So over the next three weeks, I will bring you a cornucopia of tasty ideas for your holiday table. Maybe you have your own traditions that have been handed down for generations. Or maybe you are just starting out and are beginning your own traditions. Either way, it is fun and interesting to learn what is happening in kitchens all around the world. I know we will find that we have more in common than we might think.
Some of my favorites from childhood are chocolate chip cookies (with walnuts, of course), refrigerator cookies, shortbread, and, oh yes, those lovely pecan balls rolled in powdered sugar!!! (those are also known as Mexican or Italian Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Pecan Shortbread Powdered Sugar Cookies, or Pecan Powdered Sugar Drops)
There are literally hundreds of cookies out there that are part of cultures we may never get to know, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the baking and eating of these wonderful delights. Here's just a short list of cookies from all over that might be intriguing for you to look into:
- Lebkuchen (German Christmas Cookies) are believed to be invented by monks in Franconia, Germany in the 13th century.
- Danish Crispies are made with yeast so they are sort of like bread and sort of like cookies.
- Struffoli are small fried pieces of dough that are coated with honey. Crunchy and light and delish!
- Finish Butter Cookies (Pikkuleipienperustaikina) are light, buttery, and....well need I say more?
- Swiss Zimtsterne are star shaped cookies with a lovely cinnamon flavor.
- Austrian Linzer Cookies give you the pleasure of raspberry and toasted almonds in a beautiful sandwich style cookie.
- Sicilian Cuccidati are fig cookies. These beauties are name for Christmas, which is what cuccidati means.
- Glazed Pfeffernuese cookies bring honey, spices and powdered sugar together in one delicious treat.
And that brings us to today's recipe from my kitchen. I've always loved the butter, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of these lovelies. They are easy and take very little time to make. Be careful, though, as easy as these are to make, they are even easier to eat. You and your guest will be delighted in the results. And so we make Russian Tea Cakes:
What you need:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar (and more for coating)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
What you need to do:
In a large, deep bowl cream butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add pecans and mix. Add salt and flour and mix to combine. The dough will be soft. Place it in refrigerator for 30 minutes.Shape dough into balls, one inch in diameter. Place on cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake for 12-13 minutes, but do not let them brown. Remove and cool for 1 minute.
Quickly roll warm cookies in powdered sugar. Allow to cool completely and roll in powdered sugar again. You should get approximately 30 cookies.
Tis the season, everyone. It's time to make cookies as part of your party and celebration activities. Try something new.
Now, go out and make something good!
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