Pepperkakor from Sweden, St. Lucia's Day

These cookies, that smell heavenly when they are baking, were originally Christmas cookies but are now eaten year-round. That explains why I first tasted one that a Swedish classmate gave me in the month of February.

On December 9th, December 13th, and on Christmas they are eaten the most. December 9th is Pepparkakor Day, whereas December 13th is St. Lucia's Day. 

The eve before St. Lucia's Day used to be Christmas, as well as the longest night of the year according to the Julian calendar. 

History

Gingerbread first arrived in Sweden from Germany in the 1400's. Originally, the dough contained pepper and was useful for curing many ailments. These biscuits used to be sold in pharmacies and were believed to cure indigestion and depression. 

Recipe from 

http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Food-drink/Swedish-culinary-classics/Saffransbullar-and-pepparkakor/

50 grams brown sugar

50 grams white sugar

50 grams molasses 

3 tablespoons water

2.5 ounces butter

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 tablespoon ginger

1/2 tablespoon ground cloves

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

9 ounces flour

Some of the traditional shapes to cut are gingerbread people, stars, and hearts. 

 Heat both sugars, molasses, and water. Add butter and melt it, then remove from the heat. Stir it, then add the spices, baking soda, and flour. Roll out thin and cut into shapes, such as hearts. Poke a hole off center with a lollipop stick or straw. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

 References
http://www.newsweden.org/luciahistory.htm
http://thougtforce.hubpages.com/hub/Scandinavian-style-Ginger-thins-tasty-accessories-to-gingerbread-cookies-gingerbread-cookies-recipe-and-history#

My gingerbread house for 2012

Swedish Cardamom Bread

I visited Pippi Longstocking's house, where she fried eggs and cooked pepperkakor cookies, as small children scrambled in and out of its jungle gym rooms. A short while later, I continued my househunting after timetravelling to see ancient Scandinavian wooden or straw house structures

inside Skansen park, (http://www.skansen.se/en/grid/countryside) or an ancient shipwreck at the Vasa Museet, which I followed with a trip on a boat in front of the Royal Palace, where Nobel Prizes have been presented year after year. After a piece of light green Princess Cake, I walked down the cobblestone streets of the magnificent Gamla Stan, a medieval center, where crowds would celebrate the midsummer night that very same evening. 

History

This milky bread is traditionally served during Christmastime. 

Recipe

1 tablespoon yeast

1/4 cup water (110 to 115 degrees C)

1 1/4 cup milk, warm

1/2 cup butter, soft

1/3 cup sugar

3 yolks

2 1/2 teaspoons cardamom

1/8 teaspoon salt

5-5 1/2 cups flour

Knead dough 8 minutes. Let it rise for one hour; divide it in half then in three parts. Roll each part into a 16-inch rope. Then braid three ropes together. Cover. Rise until doubled 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cut each loaf into 12 slices. 175 cal, 1 g fiber.

Filling

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup pecans, chopped

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cover the bread with the nut filling.

References

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/swedish_coffee_bread/

http://thisweekfordinner.com/2009/12/30/vetebrod-swedish-cardamom-bread/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamom_bread

http://www.momsway.com/2012/07/12/top-ten-places-to-visit-in-stockholm-sweden/