When a family is dealing with Alzheimer’s, holiday memories often center around the good times and particularly – food. One of my favorite memories is making peppernuts with Mom.
The smell of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon merged together with enough flour to break my arm when I stirred the giant bowl full of dough. We started on the peppernuts right after Thanksgiving when the kitchen was the warmest room in the house and the Oklahoma winds howled around the window frames.
Mom added the ingredients while I stirred, again and again. More cups of flour – practically an entire sack full. The recipe called for a “stiff dough” – no definite measurements.
But Mom knew exactly when to quit adding flour as she pinched off a piece of the dough and handed it to me. “Not too sticky,” she said. “You have to be able to roll it into a tiny ball.” Even now, I know exactly when to stop adding ingredients and begin making those tiny Christmas treats.
Peppernuts (“pfeffernusse” in the traditional Mennonite German lingo) are a phenomenon that traveled with my ancestors to America. With the traditional Christmas spices, including pepper, they taste great with coffee or tea. And with time, they harden into tiny bits of yumminess that will last for years in a glass jar.
Each family seems to have its own recipe. Some add anise, to give a distinctive licorice flavor while others focus on more of the spiciness. Our family was the latter as we doubled the spices for each single recipe.
It takes an entire day to make peppernuts, but that is one of the secrets to their flavor. Those of us who make them know the time and effort required. So they are a gift of not only taste but also of quality.
I often make mine while listening to Christmas albums and revel not only in the music but also in the memories of family life. Dad, sitting in his recliner, his head turned to catch every note from the violins on the stereo. Mom with her wooden spoon in hand, directing the work in the kitchen. My siblings sprawled next to the Christmas tree, reading books or dreaming about the presents soon to be bought and wrapped.
After the peppernuts baked, we stored them in giant jars. Then as Christmas neared, we transferred them to smaller jars and wrapped colorful bows around the lids. The mailman, the piano teacher, the school teacher, friends and other family all received peppernuts every year.
And now…I bake my peppernuts and think about the past…about the changing of seasons and the traditions that still endure.
The secret to our family peppernuts? Double the spices and triple the love.
©2013 RJ Thesman – “The Unraveling of Reverend G” – http://amzn.to/11QATC1
I’ve taken an eclectic approach to peppernuts. We have a couple family recipes, one that is a favorite, but I like variety. So, I typically make a couple different kinds. My personal favorite is one with gumdrops, but those wear me out to make so they didn’t make the cut this year. We also enjoy giving them as gifts.
I’ve never heard of the gumdrop variety. Sounds like we need to get together a bunch of us peppernut-makers and swap recipes!
RJ,
I love traditions and this one sounds like a good one! Thanks for sharing this memory. I will pass the idea on to the daughter of my mother’s best friend.
Amy
Thanks, Amy. Wish you were closer – we’d have a peppernut-making day!
We should compare flavors. Although, I like the star anise. So, we might not “appreciate” each others. Never mind. Pfeffernusse blessings to one and all. –sk
Isn’t it interesting how we all have our specialty flavors? We probably need to go to a good old MCC sale and try different varieties!
We are making peppernuts today. Ken bought a huge peppernut press that looks like a giant caulk gun. It extrudes 3 ropes of dough and has a cutter that slides down the tube and cuts them off at the right size. This is definitely a man with his tools preparing peppernuts that will taste like his mother’s.
Wondering where you purchased your press?
My goodness! What a great way to eliminate the hours of rolling and slicing! Hope you’re enjoying some fresh-baked peppernuts with coffee or tea.
I did not see the recipe. My grandmother used to make these every Christmas. I used to get my own paper bag full (only boy), with my four sisters to share their own. I had a chance to make them with her once, shortly before she died. The dough had been chilled and was very stiff, we had to roll it into logs. I have been looking for the recipe ever since (when she had to move to an assisted living home following a stroke, few items went with her, including her GREAT memory). Some are close, some don’t look quite right, most fall far short. This picture looks closest to the memory I have. Would you please share your recipe? I am a very good cook, though not normally a baker. Even if it is not exact, I think I can figure out the rest from the recipes that have come the closest to make it just like she did.
What is your email addy, Tom? It would be easier to send you the recipe via email.