Sweet Anticipation

It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house . . .

The Wenches are kicking off our annual Twelve Days of Christmas posts today, and the classic lines above reminded me that when I was very little, all through the house wafted the scent of my Swiss grandmother's cookies. One of her traditional recipes called for a (complicated) yeast based dough that neded to sit for several hours under tea towels before having a design pressed into them with carved wooden cookie molds—I was allowed to help! Then we popped them in the oven to bake . . .

Another traditional family favorite is a cookie called "Hasselnuss Stengeli". It's quite simple and quite delicious, so I thought I'd share it with you as you anticipate Santa's arrival in the midnight hours by leaving a plate full of goodies by the chimney!

2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 sticks butter
8 oz. ground hazelnuts
1 T lemon extract
4  cups all-purpose flour

Cream butter, add sugar slowly and beat until light. Beat in eggs, ground nuts and extract. Add flour and mix well.

Chill for an hour.

Roll out dough into fingerthick logs. Cut into 3 inch lengths. Place on buttered and foured cookie sheets. Baste with egg white. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees

Brush with a glaze of lemon juice and confectioners sugar.

So, do you have a special childhood memory or tradition from Christmas Eve? Please share!

Happy Holidays, everyone! May you all find lots of good books under the tree tomorrow!