Pfeffernusse

editor's note - according to wikipedia, the name "translates to pepper nuts in German, Danish, and Dutch"

1 lb. 10x sugar
5 eggs
1/2 lb. citron
1/2 lb. nuts
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t cloves
pepper
2 t baking powder
Flour - enough to make stiff dough.

Kris Kringles

Ingredients:

1 - 6oz. pkg. chocolate morsels
2 T margarine
1 egg
1 c sifted powdered sugar
dash of salt
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 c flaked coconut
1/2 c chopped dry roasted peanuts

In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate and margarine over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, cool to lukewarm. Beat in egg till smooth and glossy. Add oowdered sugar, salt, and vanilla - mix. Stir in coconut and nuts. Chill. form into roll. Refrigerate overnight. Slice into 1/4 inch slices.

*Makes about 40 slices.

Almond Plaetzchen

Nana's note: "Stranger?" (According to a Google search, "plaetzchen" is German for "cookie.")

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 lb. butter
1 lb. sugar
1 lb. almonds - ground
grated zest of one lemon
1 1/2 lb. flour
vanilla
1 egg, beaten (to brush on top)

Bake at low heat - do not brown

Date and Walnut Kisses

Nana's note: Recipe from Mom 12/72

4 egg whites
1/14 c granulated sugar
1 c coarsely chopped walnuts
2 c snipped, pitted dates

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees. With electric mixer or egg beater, beat egg whites until stff but not dry. Add sugar slowly, beating constantly Fold in walnuts and dates. Onto greased cookie sheets, drop teaspoonfuls of dough.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until firm to touch.

*Makes 4 1/2 dozen

Viennese Cookies

Nana's note: "MY favorites" - but this is not written in Nana's handwriting...so it's probably the recipe giver's favorite.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 sticks butter
2/3 c sugar
2 c flour
1 3/4 c ground almonds
1/8 t cinnamon
5 T raspberry jelly
confectioner's sugar

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Then beat in flour, almonds, and cinnamon. Shape dough in a ball, wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Roll dough to 1/8" thickness. Cut circles with cookie cutter. In half of them, cut center hole with thimble. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until light brown. Cool for about 20 minutes.

Spread top of whole circles with jelly. Put "holy" ones on top. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Add a little more jelly into hole to cover sugar.

"They melt in your mouth!"

Healthy Nut Treat (walnuts)

Measure a teaspoon or two of a seasoning accent such as curry or cinnamon. Then heat with oil or a small pat of butter in a saute pan. Stir in 2 cups of walnuts, mixing constantly over medium - high heat for a minute to coat. Transfer to large baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes at 450 degrees F. Shake the pan once or twice until the walnuts have browned slightly and smell toasted.

Date Bread

Ingredients:

1 c dates
1 c boiling water
1 t baking soda
1 egg
1/4 t salt
2/3 c sugar
1 c nuts
1 T butter
1 t baking powder
2 c flour
1 t vanilla

Add soda to boiling water, pour over chopped dates. Add sugar, butter, and beaten egg. Sift flour, salt, baking powder and add nuts and vanilla. Let stand 15 minutes in greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.