HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRYAN . . . and Ukrainian JAM SWIRL cookies

Bryan at 70!

Recently, we met more guys who wonder what to do with their days now that they're retired.  

They should try . . . 

Camping

Hiking

Family Trips

Reading

More Reading

Bryan only wishes he could fit in even MORE reading and researching. 

But he's the King of Hearts . . .  and of 

  BAKING  

and COCKTAILS!

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Cookies Bryan made:                                                         

UKRAINIAN JAM SWIRL COOKIES

     From FOOD & WINE magazine, December, 1995

2 ½  cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¼ pound butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

½ tsp vanilla

1/3 cup apricot jam (preserves)

1/3 cup raspberry jam

For dusting:  ¼ teaspoon sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons sugar

1.      In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

2.     In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

3.     With electric mixer, beat in eggs and vanilla.

4.     Stir in flour mixture and knead to make a soft dough.

5.     Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate from 2 to 4 hours.

6.     Grease a cookie sheet.

7.     Cut the chilled dough into two pieces and roll into cylinder shapes.

8.     Pat one cylinder into a 6 by 4 rectangle.  Place it between sheets of waxed paper.  Roll it into a 12 by 7 rectangle.  Peel off top sheet of waxed paper.

9.     Spread dough with one of the preserves, leaving a ½ inch border all around. 

10.Fold in the ½ inch border on the two short edges.

11.Roll the long edge of the dough up like a jelly-roll.

12.Place roll on cookie sheet.

13.Start oven preheating to 400.

14.Roll second piece of dough and the other jam into a log.  Place on cookie sheet.

15.Lightly brush the tops of the logs with water and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

16.Bake for 20 minutes until tops are golden.

17.Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack.

18. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

19. Slice logs into pieces about ¾ inch thick  -- like a biscotti.  Put pieces on cookie sheet.

20. Bake another 10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

YUMMY!

                                                           

BLOG INDEX starting from Sept. 29, 2016

For an index to my posts from Feb to Sept, 2016, go to http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/06/blog-index-from-february-2016_27.html

For an index to earlier posts starting in 2012, go to http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/12/index-to-recipes.html

This is my BLOG INDEX from Sept. 29, 2016  

BALKAN FOOD:

     Moldavian:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/san-antonio-bigfoot-castroville-and.html

     Soup:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/mom-nov-10-1981-and-balkan-leek-soup.html

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BEEF, GROUND

     Hamburger Stroganoff:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/more-fun-doins-in-laredo-and-kids-like.html

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BREAD

     German Pfeffernuss:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/guten-tag-letter-from-germany-and.html

     Mexican Bread of the Dead: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/nov-1-1978-and-mexican-pan-de-muerto.html

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COCKTAILS

     Brandy- Pineapple:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/12/combating-colds-with-pineapple-juice.html

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COLDS

     Pineapple Juice:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/12/combating-colds-with-pineapple-juice.html

   
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COOKBOOKS

    Bernard Clayton's Bread: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/guten-tag-letter-from-germany-and.html

     Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking:
          http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/12/bonjour-aux-visiteurs-francais-and-leek.html

    Please to the Table:   http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/please-to-table-great-christmas-gift.html

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DESSERT -- PIE

      Plum:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/seventy-years-old-and-plum-pie.html

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EASTERN EUROPEAN FOOD
    

     Polish: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/bryans-post-and-polish-buckwheat-groats.html

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FRENCH FOOD

Quiche:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/12/bonjour-aux-visiteurs-francais-and-leek.html

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FAMILY (Immediate) EVENTS/HISTORY:  See also Leschyshyn Family History . . . & . . . Stadnyk Family History . . .   & . . .  Mary Stadnyk's Letters

     Donald Stadnyk:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/05/salmonberries-george-donnie-and-duck.html

     Donald Stadnyk: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/08/for-donald-ukrainian-honey-cake.html

     Donald Stadnyk:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/donald-my-brother-july-21-1936-november.html

     General: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/06/the-summer-farmyard-hop-and-moms-kicto.html

     George Stadnyk:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/08/george-stadnyk-1935-2013.html

     George Stadnyk:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/03/for-george-ukrainian-eggplant-spread.html

     George Stadnyk:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/05/salmonberries-george-donnie-and-duck.html

     MARY & NICK STADNYK:  
         http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/golden-wedding-anniversary-and.html

         http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/more-golden-wedding-and.html

       NICOLE:  
         http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/laredo-wedding-and-greek-ribs.html

         http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/more-fun-doins-in-laredo-and-kids-like.html

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LESCHYSHYN FAMILY HISTORY

     Baba Leschyshyn:
 http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2012/08/baba-leschyshyn.html

  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2015/04/ukrainian-soldiers-and-more-family-stuff.html

     Gedo Leschyshyn:
 http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2012/08/gedo-leschyshyn.html

http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/07/july-7-birthdays-and-chinese-meatball.html

http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/07/more-of-gedos-family-and-lemony-rice.html



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MARY STADNYK'S LETTERS

March or April, 1974:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/03/easter-1974-and-maple-cornmeal-biscuits.html

Sept 6, 1978: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/09/september-1978-on-farm-and-garlic-steak.html

Nov 1, 1978: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/nov-1-1978-and-mexican-pan-de-muerto.html

March 5, 1979: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/03/march-5-1979-and-ukrainian-chicken.html

Jan 17, 1981:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/01/mary-stadnyks-method-of-prepping-fresh.html

May 9, 1981:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/05/moms-letter-and-heritage-custard-pie.html

Sept 29, 1981: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/09/moms-letter-sept-29-1981-and-orange.html

Oct. 15, 1981:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/more-golden-wedding-and.html

Nov. 10, 1981:    http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/mom-nov-10-1981-and-balkan-leek-soup.html

Jun 21, 1982: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/06/sharing-letter-from-mom-and-recipe-from.html

August 11, 1982: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/08/30-years-ago-mary-stadnyk.html

Nov 8, 1982: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2014/11/from-mary-stadnyk-on-nov-8-1982-and.html

Dec 8, 1982:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/12/dec-8-1982-moms-letter-and-easy.html

Dec 31, 1982:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/12/moms-work-worry-and-wear-down-so-eggs.html

Jan. 11, 1983:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/01/mary-stadnyk-wrote-and-pineapple.html

Jan. 24, 1983: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/01/chinese-treasure-soup-inspired-by.html

Jan. 31, 1983: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/01/a-legacy-of-letters-contd-and-best-fish.html

 Feb. 4, 1983:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/02/marilyn-sent-picture-and-scrumptious.html

Feb. 19, 1983:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/02/mom-taking-break-and-peanut-butter-cake.html

Mar. 17, 1983:http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/03/ballymaloe-coleslaw-and-mary-stadnyks.html

Mar. 17, 1983, part 2: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/03/cabbage-soup-and-part-2-of-moms-letter.html

April 9, 1990:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/04/april-9-1990-moms-letter-and-raisin.html

Sept 7, 1990:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/07/cousin-maria-from-ukraine-too-soon.html

Dec 4, 1989: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2015/12/dec-4-1989-and-tuna-pizza-2015.html

Nov 23, 1996:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-letter-from-mary-stadnyk-to-diana-and.html

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MARY STADNYK'S RECIPES

     Borsch:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2012/10/one-hundred-years-ago.html

     Butterscotch Pudding:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2012/10/my-choice-today-butterscotch-pudding.html

     Custard Pie:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/05/moms-letter-and-heritage-custard-pie.html

     Dill & Potato Buns:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2012/07/pyrohi-real-ones.html

     Holubtsi:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2013/12/mary-stadnyks-holubtsi-by-request.html

     Holubtsi, Part 2:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/12/mary-stadnyks-holubtsi-part-ii-and-my.html

     Kicto:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/06/the-summer-farmyard-hop-and-moms-kicto.html

     Kutya: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/01/ukrainian-christmas-eve-kutya.html

     Matrimonial Cake:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/06/cousins-and-matrimonial-cake.html

     Nachinka:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/golden-wedding-anniversary-and.html

    PIE CRUST: basic recipe:   http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2013/06/company-and-pie-crust.html

     Tapioca Pudding:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2013/02/nannetta-and-mary-stadnyks-tapioca.html

     Vareniki:   http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2012/06/perogiesvarenikipyrohi.html

     Vareniki, Meat:   http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/more-golden-wedding-and.html

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MEAT

       Greek Ribs:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/laredo-wedding-and-greek-ribs.html

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MY RECIPES are the green ones.
  for example:    
Sauce:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/10/laredo-halloween-mood-and-rootin-tootin.html

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OLIVIA OTTER

      Page 1:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/08/bullies-school-story-page-1.html

     Page 2:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/olivia-otter-and-bullies-of-oolichan.html

     Page 3:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/olivia-otter-and-bullies-of-oolichan_20.html

    Page 4:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/12/olivia-otter-and-mean-girl-page-4.html

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PIE:  See DESSERT -- PIE

PIZZA

     THIN Crust:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/dining-in-laredo-and-thin-crust-pizzas.html

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PORK RIBS

      Greek Ribs:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/laredo-wedding-and-greek-ribs.html

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SALADS

     Orange: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/09/moms-letter-sept-29-1981-and-orange.html

     Zucchini: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/09/harvest-news-and-zucchini-salad.html

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SAUCES

     Yogurt:   http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/10/laredo-halloween-mood-and-rootin-tootin.html

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SOUPS

     Chicken & Dumplings: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/to-laredo-day-3-and-soup-with-bread.html

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STADNYK FAMILY HISTORY

     Gedo Stadnyk:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/02/gedo-stadnyk-and-bread-for-burgers.html

     Steven Falconer:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/my-nephew-steven.html

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TRAVEL

     Silverton, Colorado: Fireworks:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/to-laredo-day-3-and-soup-with-bread.html

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UKRAINIAN FOOD:  see also Mary Stadnyk's Recipes

Big Pyrohi:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2014/12/ukrainian-cottage-cheese-and-dill-buns.html

Borsch:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/donald-my-brother-july-21-1936-november.html

Nachinka:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/golden-wedding-anniversary-and.html

Nalysniki: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/09/moms-letter-sept-29-1981-and-orange.html

Perogies, Bean & Mushroom: http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2012/06/perogies-and-ukraine.html

 Perogies, Bean & Mushroom, Laredo-Style:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-alamo-and-ukrainian-bean-mushroom.html

Perogies, Carrot:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/close-to-us-in-spirit-and-spicy-carrot.html

Perogies, Meat:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2016/10/more-golden-wedding-and.html

Perogies, Potato & Cottage Cheese:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2012/06/perogiesvarenikipyrohi.html

Pork & Prune Stew:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/please-to-table-great-christmas-gift.html

Pyrizhky, Sauerkraut:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/08/more-victoria-and-ukrainian-sauerkraut_22.html

 Sauce, Mushroom:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2014/12/mushroom-gravy.html

OLIVIA OTTER and the mean girl . . . Page 4

When Mother knocked on the door, Olivia didn’t answer.  She was pretending to be asleep, but Mother came in quietly and sat on the bed.

     “Whatever the problem is, you need to talk about it,” said Mother.  “You know you can tell me anything.”

     “No,” said Olivia.

     “I want to help you,” said Mother, gently but firmly, “but I can’t if I don’t know what’s the matter.”

     “You can’t help me,” said Olivia, “and I don’t want to talk

about it.”

     “Now, now, Olivia Otter,” coaxed Mother, her tone lightly teasing, “don't be a clam.”  Patiently, Mother sat for a while softly stroking Olivia’s head.

     “Oh, Mom,” said Olivia, sitting up suddenly, "I hate school!”

     “Last week you said you loved it,” said Mother. “What’s happened?”

     “Emily Eagle sits behind me now,” moaned Olivia.  “She's really mean, and she’s always jabbing me with her nasty talons.”

     “Maybe she just wants to talk to you,” suggested Mother.

     “That’s what I thought,” said Olivia, “so I asked her to play at recess but she said no and flew off with Rhonda Raven. Then after recess she started poking me again.”

     “Did you ask her to stop?”

     “She just laughed and said, ‘Make me!’”

     “Have you told the teacher?” asked Mother.

     “No,” admitted Olivia.

     “Well, I think you should,” said Mother.

      Olivia agreed to give it a try.


(Story by Eleanor;   Illustrated by Nestor)

  Page 1:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/08/bullies-school-story-page-1.html

     Page 2:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/olivia-otter-and-bullies-of-oolichan.html


     Page 3:  http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.ca/2016/11/olivia-otter-and-bullies-of-oolichan_20.html

Combating Colds with PINEAPPLE JUICE

NICE TO KNOW . . .

According to DumpADay, “Pineapple juice is 500% more effective at helping you stop coughing than cough syrup.  Pineapples contain Bromelain, which can combat infections and eradicate the bacteria.”

Thank you, Donna, for this hopefully useful information!

Pineapple-based Cocktails tonight :)

Bryan's recipe:

This drink is a variation of a classic Club Cocktail popular in the 1930’s

2 oz    brandy

½ oz   lemon juice

½ oz   maraschino liqueur

2  dashes Peychaud’s bitters

3 oz pineapple juice

1.       Fill mixing glass with ice

2.       Add ingredients

3.       Shake

4.       Strain into a Collins glass

5.       Add ice

6.       Garnish; Maraschino cherry

Bonjour aux Visiteurs Français . . . and LEEK QUICHE

I have been pleased to see in my Blog History that I get a number of visitors from France.  

My first visit to France was as an employee of the Canadian Government.  I was blown away by the Rose Window in Chartres Cathedral.

In Paris, I stayed at the Grand Hotel, and the ensuite bathroom obviously made quite an impression because I still have a mind picture of a room tiled black and white and a bidet.

Then, Bryan and I visited Paris on our honeymoon in 1974.  We stayed in a small hotel on the Left Bank.

Memorable Gastronomic experiences?  On the government’s dime:

. . . my first oysters on the half shell: what a struggle with that waiter's all-knowing eye on me.

. . . ris de veau in a fancy restaurant. I didn't actually know what I was ordering except that it was veal.

As a newlywed:

. . . baguette and cold cuts on the Champs Elysée . . . 

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My latest creation:

LEEK QUICHE (FLAMICHE --  QUICHE aux POIREAUX)

from:  MASTERING the ART of FRENCH COOKING  by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck

1 lb finely sliced white of leek

½ cup water

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp butter

3 eggs

1 ½ cups whipping cream

Pinch of nutmeg

⅛ tsp pepper

½ tsp salt

a 9 inch partially-baked pie crust  

¼ cup grated Swiss cheese

1 tbsp butter cut into tiny pieces

• Make and bake the pie crust for only 8 minutes (partially baked).  Use Mary Stadnyk’s pie crust recipe:  
   http://eleanorstadnyk.blogspot.com/2013/06/company-and-pie-crust.html
•  Let cool.
• Boil the leeks over moderately high heat in a covered saucepan with the water, salt, and 3 tbsp butter until liquid has almost evaporated.  Then lower heat and stew over minimum heat for 2 to 30 minutes until leeks are very tender.  
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Whisk the eggs, cream and seasonings to blend.  Gradually stir in the leeks.
• Pour into pie shell.  
• Spread on the cheese and distribute the bits of butter.
• Julia says bake for 30 minutes but mine needed 15 more minutes.

Fantastique! 

Serve with a salad or Julia’s amazing Tomates à la Provençale, page 507.   Yes, you really need to get her book.  

Kepler ate the quiche, too!

P.S. Note the Cobalt Blue Pyrex Pie Dish circa 1974? I found it in a Thrift Shop in Laredo!

GUTEN TAG! A letter from Germany . . . and GERMAN PFEFFERNUSS BREAD

When I was in high school, Mr. Kupp, the school principal, set up a penpal program with students in Germany.

One of Horst’s letters.

In 1968, on a damp, gloomy day, I was in Berlin so Horst picked me up with his little 3-wheeled car.   We drove on the Autobahn and he treated me to lunch at his university’s cafeteria. I remember a rich, dark sauce on the meat.  Perhaps it was sauerbraten?

Another mind-picture that has never left me from that trip was of display cases full of cakes covered with fluffy, whipped cream. 

   This is one of  the dresses I bought in Germany on that trip.  Pale blue chiffon: I hardly got to wear it because someone was smoking at a party.

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Bryan and I visited Germany together about ten years ago.  Such good memories!  So:

A CELEBRATION DINNER: 

SAUERBRATEN with SPAETZLE

BRAISED TURNIPS 

 WILTED SPINACH SALAD 

PFEFFERNUSS BROT

Making gingersnaps: we ground some of them up and added them to a sauce for Sauerbraten

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PFEFFERNUSS BROT (Pepper Spice Bread)

            From BERNARD CLAYTON’S NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BREADS, page 432

Flavored with molasses, aniseed, allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, and walnuts!

·        The book is available online for less than ten dollars Cdn.   This Pfeffernuss Bread is worth the price alone!  Serve it with a salad and soup and you'll have a complete, delicious light dinner.