Meine Mutti's Lebkuchen Recipe

      If you are like most people, this recipe probably won't appeal to you.  My husband has a problem with most textures and tastes and doesn't care for it.  Does that keep me from making it? Absolutely NOT! While making it this year, I realized that it's one of the things that signifies it's Christmas time for me. This German Gingerbread isn't like the American stuff you make houses out of or little men and women characters.  (Honestly, I don't think Ty likes that either.) To me, its better.  You can decide for yourselves.  Last year, at the Relief Society Christmas dinner we were asked to bring our favorite Christmas treat.  I had a little bit of a battle with this because obviously my favorite is the Lebkuchen, but not many care for it as well.  So, I really made myself work and made Lebkuchen and some Peppermint cupcakes I'd been wanting to try anyway and brought both.  At least two people asked me for the Lebkuchen recipe and I can't tell you how excited and happy that made me.  I forgot to give that to them and so this is my way of making up for it.

      This is my mom's recipe that she cultivated after moving to the states and craving this yummy treat that made her think of home.  A few years ago, I was determined to learn how to make it because it's something I hope to pass on to my children.  I'll share the recipe, but also include a few tips that I learned. I wish I had some step by step pictures, but my kitchen is a disaster right now from all the treats I've been making.  Seriously, I don't want to go back in there.  It's too daunting.  So I'm going to procrastinate that job by sharing this recipe with you.  Win/Win.  Except the kitchen.  It definitely does NOT win.

Ursula Justesen's Lebkuchen Recipe

Ingredients

-1 tsp. baking soda

-1/3 cup hot honey*

-3 beaten eggs

-2 cups brown sugar

-3/4 fine chopped citron**

-3 cups flour

-1 tsp. salt

-1 1/2 tsp. cloves (ground)

-2 tsp. cinnamon

-1 tsp. ginger

-1 Tbsp. orange extract

-1 Tbsp. anise extract

-1 Tbsp. cocoa

*30 seconds in the microwave should do.  That's how long I did mine and I needed hot pads to get it out.

**This should really read fine chopped diced orange peel.  Diced orange peel is nearly impossible to find in a grocery store.  I've only found it one time at the Food Pavilion in Moses Lake and now that store is gone.  I finally did some Amazon searching and found some.  This is the brand I use.  To finely chop it, I would recommend a small food processor.  I bought a cheap one last year on Black Friday.  About half of a 8 ounce carton will be enough for one batch.

Directions:

Beat baking soda and honey until foamy.  Cool mixture and add eggs, sugar, citron, flour, salt, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, orange extract, anise extract, and cocoa.  Spread on a greased and floured cookie sheet.***  Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.  Brush with melted chocolate**** or a mixture of 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 can evaporated milk, 1 tsp. lemon extract.  Cool and cut into bars.

 ***When you are spreading out the dough, you will want to have pretty wet hands.  You will also have to continue to rewet them a few times.  When it starts sticking to your hands that's the sign your hands are too dry.  Just wash off the dough and shake hands a couple of times (you don't want them too wet) and continue. Also, DO NOT taste the dough. You will be tempted, but trust me. Anise is very strong and you will get a big taste of black licorice flavor in your mouth. Maybe that tickles your fancy, but not me. It will bake down in the oven so it's not nearly as strong, so don't worry about that. 

****We are chocolate people, so that's what we always did.  I don't remember trying it with the powered sugar mixture, but if you do please tell me how it is (though I have no doubt it will be yummy).

      If you make this, please comment and tell me how you liked it.  Or if there are any questions, let me know.  It's pretty simple and hopefully my tips will save you from learning anything the hard way.  Enjoy all!

“Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself.” Hubert de Givenchy

     I have really long hair.  I love it long.  Years ago, it used to be short.  I did not love it then.  You can't do much with short hair.  At least, I was never able to.  It's always been my opinion that longer hair is better because I get so bored of the same hairstyle over and over again.  (Except for now, as I wear it in a bun pretty much every day unless we go somewhere....like church.)  When I do my hair, I usually just dry, curl, and go.  Occasionally, I'll flat iron, it all depends on my mood.  I love that I have the options.

     I really would like to get more creative with my tools and see what fun things I can do.  However, I'm glad that at least can do what I can.  Can you imagine rolling your hair every night like they used to?  FOR-EV-ER!!!  Or putting the iron on the fire to heat it up?  That always makes me think of this scene in Little Women.

I'm thankful for my Hair Styling Tools because they help make me feel complete with my hair and it also makes it so much easier to do my hair.

A Walk in the Park

Well, I suppose in this case it's a "Walk on the Trail", but that just doesn't sound as good. : )

Sunday afternoon, I convinced Ty to go for a walk on part of the Spirit of America Trail here in Kennewick.

Here's little bit of what we saw.

This place should be divine in the Spring!

I think Ty and I will make this a habit/tradition to go on walks on Sunday afternoon.
In Germany (at least) they go on Sunday afternoon walks even in the Winter. I think it's a great way to (1) get out of the house and (2) enjoy the beauty in the world.

Christmas Eve in Moses Lake

So many pictures I have for you!!!
Let's get started.

Congregating while dinner is being made.

A German Wooden Pyramid. There are inserts you put in that will hold candles. When the candles are lit, the smoke spins it and the little display moves.

Sauerbraten. Mmmmmmm. It's the equivalent to roast beef in the states.

GRAVY!

Two things that should never be without each other.

My parents Advent Wreath all lit up.

It wouldn't be a celebration without the "Mormon Champagne", Sparkling Cider.

Rotkohl (red cabbage), Saurbraten, Spaeztle (Egg Noodles), Mashed Potatoes, Knoodle (dumplings) with herbs, and green beans.

I was soooo full. Full of GOOD food.

After dinner the kids got pretty anxious to open presents.

Which eventually led to rough housing.

Even the smallest were getting involved.

To occupy them until it was time, we tried to get a group picture.

Haha. This was the most successful.

When taking pictures failed us, we decided to start singing some Christmas songs.

"You better not pout", we have some amazing pouters here.

Grandma explained to the youngsters what we are celebrating and who this holiday is for.Then, my dad asked my oldest brother, Ben, to read a beautiful Christmas story called "That Thine Alms May Be in Secret", by George D. Durrant. I HIGHLY recommend it.

So cute. She had to do EVERYTHING he did.

My parents gave all of us married siblings a digital picture frame. I would just like to say that I am so glad to finally be in the Married Siblings Club. They get the BEST presents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

We each also received a gift basket my mom put together. Ty was pleased to find a small Transformer among our treasures.

This year instead of a Secret Santa, my mom really wanted to do a White Elephant. Ty and I came quite prepared with a Portable Ping Pong Set and a Nerf gun.

Perfect gift for my dad.

My sneeky mom ended up with the coveted Nerf gun.

Nana, my mom, gave this light thingy to Baby Jacob. His reaction was priceless!

Seriously?

Opening up their loot from Nana and Papa.

We asked her what she was going to call her doll. For the record her own name is Sammy. She said, "Her name is Sammy. This is me when I was a baby." Haha. I don't believe that she was ever that big as an infant.

Ben received the Nacho Libre Thumb Wrestling Masks. It could not have gone to a better person.

Thumb Cage Fighting.

Even though Steven lost the Nerf gun to my mom (and essentially to my youngest brother Michael) he still put it together anyway.

What I didn't take pictures of was DESSERT!
There were all kinds of delicious yummies including the Lebkuchen and Hazelnut cookies my mom and I made.
Yes, I got fat over Christmas.
No, I don't regret it. : )