The Spice is Right IX: Warm me up baby...

Want to eat a 100 year old cookie?

I do. It goes real good with my 40 year old milk.

Yup - that's what I said - 100 year old cookie.

Didn't know they would last that long, did ya?

Well, I am kinda fibbing. The cookies aren't 100 years old, just the recipe.

See - here is the scoop. Gail - you remember her - she of the awesome pecan sandies, wrangler of babies and coworker extraordinaire. Yeah her - you remember! Gail calls me up and says, "Rosie, have I got a treat for you! My sister found my great grandmother's Lebkuken recipe. I can't wait to make them for you...do you have any cider?"

"Awesome! Of course I have cider - what kinda friend would I be if I didn't?" I said.

So I ran to the store to buy some cider and headed over to Gail's.

I have to say I was intrigued by this whole lebkuken thing. Gail has been talking about these cookies for years. See - every good cook has their secret recipes. Things they only share with a few people, because the damn thing is just too good to let loose in the general public. You know the recipes I am talking about - your grandmother's chocolate cake, your great-aunt's zucchini pickles...those recipes that once lost can never quite be duplicated again. And here Gail was sharing one of her special recipes with me. And you know what - that gave me a wonderful warm feeling inside. Either that or it was the burrito I had for lunch - I am not sure now.

So sitting in my pantry right now is a big tin of these lebkuken. Not much to look at but they are mighty tasty. Supposedly, they taste better the longer they age, so I'll just have to keep roving hands out of the cookie tin for just a while longer so we'll have some left for Christmas.

I asked Gail if it would be alright with her if I posted this on my blog and she said sure - sometimes you have to share good things so they don't get lost. That and she can google the recipe next time instead of asking her sister.

By the way, this is exactly how the recipe was written down and handed over to Gail and her sisters. If you want a hands on training session, Gail is susceptible to bribes... I think she mentioned something about imported chocolate and liquor...but I may be mistaken....

LEBKUKEN COOKIES
1 pint cider
1 pound dark brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds light brown sugar
1 pint white sugar

Boil to form a syrup.

1/2 pkg raisins
1 1/2 lemon (grated fine)
4 eggs - well beaten
1/2 teas nutmeg
1/2 teas cinnamon
1/2 teas ground cloves
1 1/2 teas baking soda (dissolved in lukewarm water)
Nutmeats
1 pint lard (softened)
Flour to stiffen, just enough so your fingers doesn't stick

Mix together and let stand overnight.
Roll out and cut into triangles or with cookie cutters.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees till lightly browned.
Cool on cookie rack. Store in air tight container.