Pfeffernüsse- a little bit of heaven

One of the most beautiful memories of my life was my first Christmas while living in Germany.  I lived in a very small-- hamlet-like-- town and a few blocks from my house was the Marktplatz- a gathering place for local vendors.  Little did I know that each year they held a Christkindlmarkt (Christ Child Market).  While I made weekly treks to the market for my local produce, this particular day was the first day of Christkindlmarkt.  A light snow was falling, the air had a slight chill, and the aroma of hot chocolate being made in large kettles over fire filled the air. 

I thought life couldn't get any better....then I tasted my first Pfeffernüsse. 

I. Was. In. Heaven! 

Here is a recipe that a neighbor shared with me and one that I make every year. 

Pfeffernüsse
Preheat oven to 350°

4 cups white flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 cup light molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 (1 stick) butter
2 eggs, beaten
powdered sugar

Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Heat molasses and butter in a small saucepan and stir until butter has melted. Cool to room temperature and stir in beaten eggs and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Cover and chill dough overnight or for 4-5 hours.

Shape chilled dough into small balls (approximately 1 1/2 inches) and place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

Makes about 50 cookies.

Favorite Sinker Dumplings

Now that temperatures are dropping people will be dragging out their crockpots and stew pots and creating warm, brothy elixers.  Now, the perfect addition to these steaming pots of soups or stews is a dumping. 

There are few things better than a good dumpling.

My gram used to put dumplings in everything from bean soup to pork roast and sauerkraut. 

And. I. Couldn't. Get. Enough. Of. Them!

There are as many different recipes for dumplings as there are for soup but my favorite was my gram's Sinker Dumplings.  I hope you agree! 

Gram's Sinker Dumplings
Ingredients:
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg beaten
1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour

Cooking instructions:
Bring salted water to boil (or if putting on soup, bring it to a boil)

1.In large bowl, mix salt, eggs, and milk. After you are done mixing that, add the flour in slowly, while mixing it in. Beat it from underneath to push air in to the dough.

2.Once you have your dough made, drop dough by spoon, one by one, into the boiling water.

3.When you have finished dropping the dough into the pot, put a cover on, and boil for about 15 minutes.

4.When the time is up, carefully pour the dumplings & water into a strainer. Do NOT rinse with cold water!

5.Pour brown gravy over dumplings, and serve!