After School Peppernut Baking Party

I went to sleep last night with an old song by Steve and Annie Chapman
(changing the words to fit my sentiments . . . )
I count it as a privilege, I count it cause for praise.
To pick these girls up from school
and be greeted by their smiles!
For I know too soon  the time flies by
and older they will be.
Making memories is for today
to be part of us for life.

 When a Grammy gets reminded and asked . . .
you know it's important and it's time.

Peppernuts . . . Pfeffernuese . . . Paepanaet . . .

whatever you call them . . .

I did not grow up with these tiny German Mennonite spice cookies -
maybe because we lived far from extended family -
but they are becoming an adopted tradition now.
It's never too late.

The name reflects the size and the fact that you tend
to eat them by the handful, like nuts . . .

strangely addictive.

Depending on the amount of time they are baked,
they can be a little chewy or crunchy
and they keep for weeks at room temperature.

When I've made them before, I rolled snakes, about the thickness of my ring finger,

but we found it a lot easier to simply cut thick strips and slice them,

skipping the rolling. 

So, as in any good party, there was a goody bag for each girl to take home

and I have a feeling they were guarded like candy.

I wanted to try something new with the same dough, since it keeps so well.

Before baking them I punched a little hole in them, using a plain piping tip.

(the hole tends to close while baking, but is easily repunched with a toothpick while still warm)

These were done up in a hurry, but  they could make 

fun gift tags or rustic tree ornaments.

Natalie, Lacey and Teddy . . .

Thank you for such a great time around the baking peninsula . . .

where the seating order is important and special

where flour is liberally sprinkled, getting on sleeves and laps,

where cookie dough gets sampled again and again

and where stories and giggles abound.

I count it as a privilege.