Anne here, with the first of our "Christmastide" posts, Christmastide being another way of saying the twelve days of Christmas. Each day for the next 12 days, a wench will post a short holiday post. We hope you'll find time to drop in and join us, sharing your various activities and thoughts.
Today at my house, there's a delicious scent in the air — I'm baking gingerbread. I know, I should have made it earlier, but you do what you can, when you can. I hadn't planned to make it this year, in fact, but inspired by friend's posts on Fb and elsewhere, talking about the various different forms of gingerbread or ginger cookies beloved of different cultures. Surprisingly not all of these "ginger" products contain ginger, mainly because the word 'ginger' also means spicy and a little bit hot. Much as we also use the word peppery.
Perhaps one of the most famous and recognizable forms of gingerbread are gingerbread men. Some sources credit Queen Elizabeth 1 for the first gingerbread men — in the 16th-century elaborate court dinners often included marzipan (a sugary almond paste) shaped like fruit, castles and birds. The pic on the left shows marzipan shaped and painted like fruit. I always used to give a friend's mother a tray of marzipan fruit for Christmas because she loved it. (Recipe for home-made marzipan here.)
Ginger was still quite an exotic and expensive ingredient then, and there was also a royal gingerbread maker. Queen Elizabeth used to impress visiting dignitaries by presenting them with gingerbread men made in their image. (Recipe for gingerbread here. I usually put more ginger and spices in because I like it spicy.)
However gingerbread men in this time period were also sold as love tokens — eat the gingerbread man and win the man of your dreams, or present it as a love token. Ginger birscuits (cookies) were also made in heart shapes and beribboned, were sold at fairs, I suppose for the same reason.
But if you like ginger — and I do — they're also delicious. I particularly like gingernuts — a hard ginger biscuit (cookie), and I often have my heroes eating them. Copyeditors almost always query them, so I suppose they're not common in the USA. And now that I've mentioned them, I think I might also make a batch of gingernuts after the gingerbread. (Recipe here I also put more ginger in these, as well.)
What about you? Are you fond of ginger or not? What is your favorite Christmas baked treat?
Merry Christmas to you all!!
I like gingerbread cookies and ginger in my pie and most other things one would put ginger in, but I have some texture issues where I don’t like fresh ginger minced or zested in things. But then, I don’t like lemon or lime or orange that way for the same reason.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas to you all!!
I like gingerbread cookies and ginger in my pie and most other things one would put ginger in, but I have some texture issues where I don’t like fresh ginger minced or zested in things. But then, I don’t like lemon or lime or orange that way for the same reason.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas to you all!!
I like gingerbread cookies and ginger in my pie and most other things one would put ginger in, but I have some texture issues where I don’t like fresh ginger minced or zested in things. But then, I don’t like lemon or lime or orange that way for the same reason.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas to you all!!
I like gingerbread cookies and ginger in my pie and most other things one would put ginger in, but I have some texture issues where I don’t like fresh ginger minced or zested in things. But then, I don’t like lemon or lime or orange that way for the same reason.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas to you all!!
I like gingerbread cookies and ginger in my pie and most other things one would put ginger in, but I have some texture issues where I don’t like fresh ginger minced or zested in things. But then, I don’t like lemon or lime or orange that way for the same reason.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas !!!!!
I love it when my husband and son make gingerbread cookies or build a gingerbread house. I enjoy gingerbread cookies that are mild, not too spicy. My favorite cookies are Italian cookies, I love the flavor of Anise. Our neighbors were Italian and always prepared trays of cookies for my family when I was a little girl.
Merry Christmas !!!!!
I love it when my husband and son make gingerbread cookies or build a gingerbread house. I enjoy gingerbread cookies that are mild, not too spicy. My favorite cookies are Italian cookies, I love the flavor of Anise. Our neighbors were Italian and always prepared trays of cookies for my family when I was a little girl.
Merry Christmas !!!!!
I love it when my husband and son make gingerbread cookies or build a gingerbread house. I enjoy gingerbread cookies that are mild, not too spicy. My favorite cookies are Italian cookies, I love the flavor of Anise. Our neighbors were Italian and always prepared trays of cookies for my family when I was a little girl.
Merry Christmas !!!!!
I love it when my husband and son make gingerbread cookies or build a gingerbread house. I enjoy gingerbread cookies that are mild, not too spicy. My favorite cookies are Italian cookies, I love the flavor of Anise. Our neighbors were Italian and always prepared trays of cookies for my family when I was a little girl.
Merry Christmas !!!!!
I love it when my husband and son make gingerbread cookies or build a gingerbread house. I enjoy gingerbread cookies that are mild, not too spicy. My favorite cookies are Italian cookies, I love the flavor of Anise. Our neighbors were Italian and always prepared trays of cookies for my family when I was a little girl.
I still like marzipan, but when I was a child I ADORED it, it was absolutely my favorite treat. I loved getting the little baskets of miniature fruits and vegetables.
I still like marzipan, but when I was a child I ADORED it, it was absolutely my favorite treat. I loved getting the little baskets of miniature fruits and vegetables.
I still like marzipan, but when I was a child I ADORED it, it was absolutely my favorite treat. I loved getting the little baskets of miniature fruits and vegetables.
I still like marzipan, but when I was a child I ADORED it, it was absolutely my favorite treat. I loved getting the little baskets of miniature fruits and vegetables.
I still like marzipan, but when I was a child I ADORED it, it was absolutely my favorite treat. I loved getting the little baskets of miniature fruits and vegetables.
Happy Christmas, Theo. I watched the Muppet Christmas special you so very kindly sent me and enjoyed it all over again. Thank you so much. I hope the holiday weather is kind to you.
Happy Christmas, Theo. I watched the Muppet Christmas special you so very kindly sent me and enjoyed it all over again. Thank you so much. I hope the holiday weather is kind to you.
Happy Christmas, Theo. I watched the Muppet Christmas special you so very kindly sent me and enjoyed it all over again. Thank you so much. I hope the holiday weather is kind to you.
Happy Christmas, Theo. I watched the Muppet Christmas special you so very kindly sent me and enjoyed it all over again. Thank you so much. I hope the holiday weather is kind to you.
Happy Christmas, Theo. I watched the Muppet Christmas special you so very kindly sent me and enjoyed it all over again. Thank you so much. I hope the holiday weather is kind to you.
Maryellen, a gingerbread house is a wonderful thing isn’t it? A friend makes one, but I always think it’s too pretty to eat. I’m with you on loving the flavor of anise, too. It’s peach season here and as well as eating them fresh, I like to lightly poach peaches in a syrup with a few spices and some star anise. It goes perfectly with peaches. Happy Christmas.
Maryellen, a gingerbread house is a wonderful thing isn’t it? A friend makes one, but I always think it’s too pretty to eat. I’m with you on loving the flavor of anise, too. It’s peach season here and as well as eating them fresh, I like to lightly poach peaches in a syrup with a few spices and some star anise. It goes perfectly with peaches. Happy Christmas.
Maryellen, a gingerbread house is a wonderful thing isn’t it? A friend makes one, but I always think it’s too pretty to eat. I’m with you on loving the flavor of anise, too. It’s peach season here and as well as eating them fresh, I like to lightly poach peaches in a syrup with a few spices and some star anise. It goes perfectly with peaches. Happy Christmas.
Maryellen, a gingerbread house is a wonderful thing isn’t it? A friend makes one, but I always think it’s too pretty to eat. I’m with you on loving the flavor of anise, too. It’s peach season here and as well as eating them fresh, I like to lightly poach peaches in a syrup with a few spices and some star anise. It goes perfectly with peaches. Happy Christmas.
Maryellen, a gingerbread house is a wonderful thing isn’t it? A friend makes one, but I always think it’s too pretty to eat. I’m with you on loving the flavor of anise, too. It’s peach season here and as well as eating them fresh, I like to lightly poach peaches in a syrup with a few spices and some star anise. It goes perfectly with peaches. Happy Christmas.
Karin those marzipan fruits are so pretty, aren’t they? I’m not terribly fond of marzipan, but I always used to enjoy picking out the colorful fruits to make up a box for my friend’s mother.
Karin those marzipan fruits are so pretty, aren’t they? I’m not terribly fond of marzipan, but I always used to enjoy picking out the colorful fruits to make up a box for my friend’s mother.
Karin those marzipan fruits are so pretty, aren’t they? I’m not terribly fond of marzipan, but I always used to enjoy picking out the colorful fruits to make up a box for my friend’s mother.
Karin those marzipan fruits are so pretty, aren’t they? I’m not terribly fond of marzipan, but I always used to enjoy picking out the colorful fruits to make up a box for my friend’s mother.
Karin those marzipan fruits are so pretty, aren’t they? I’m not terribly fond of marzipan, but I always used to enjoy picking out the colorful fruits to make up a box for my friend’s mother.
My mother loved both marzipan and ginger. To be more precise, she LOVED ginger; I would give her a bag of crystallized ginger and it would quickly disappear. While I like the smell of gingerbread and the very occasional gingersnap, I am not a fan of ginger (nor of marzipan). Now chocolate …. As regards a baked treat, I’m fond of shortbread and of apple tart.
My mother loved both marzipan and ginger. To be more precise, she LOVED ginger; I would give her a bag of crystallized ginger and it would quickly disappear. While I like the smell of gingerbread and the very occasional gingersnap, I am not a fan of ginger (nor of marzipan). Now chocolate …. As regards a baked treat, I’m fond of shortbread and of apple tart.
My mother loved both marzipan and ginger. To be more precise, she LOVED ginger; I would give her a bag of crystallized ginger and it would quickly disappear. While I like the smell of gingerbread and the very occasional gingersnap, I am not a fan of ginger (nor of marzipan). Now chocolate …. As regards a baked treat, I’m fond of shortbread and of apple tart.
My mother loved both marzipan and ginger. To be more precise, she LOVED ginger; I would give her a bag of crystallized ginger and it would quickly disappear. While I like the smell of gingerbread and the very occasional gingersnap, I am not a fan of ginger (nor of marzipan). Now chocolate …. As regards a baked treat, I’m fond of shortbread and of apple tart.
My mother loved both marzipan and ginger. To be more precise, she LOVED ginger; I would give her a bag of crystallized ginger and it would quickly disappear. While I like the smell of gingerbread and the very occasional gingersnap, I am not a fan of ginger (nor of marzipan). Now chocolate …. As regards a baked treat, I’m fond of shortbread and of apple tart.
I do like both gingersnaps (hard ginger cookie) and gingerbread as a cake with a dab of real whipped cream on top. My favorite cookies are Pfeffernuesse and Anise Biscotti. But then I also like a good hard or soft sugar cookie, peanut butter cookies and …. Ok, I just like cookies.
I do like both gingersnaps (hard ginger cookie) and gingerbread as a cake with a dab of real whipped cream on top. My favorite cookies are Pfeffernuesse and Anise Biscotti. But then I also like a good hard or soft sugar cookie, peanut butter cookies and …. Ok, I just like cookies.
I do like both gingersnaps (hard ginger cookie) and gingerbread as a cake with a dab of real whipped cream on top. My favorite cookies are Pfeffernuesse and Anise Biscotti. But then I also like a good hard or soft sugar cookie, peanut butter cookies and …. Ok, I just like cookies.
I do like both gingersnaps (hard ginger cookie) and gingerbread as a cake with a dab of real whipped cream on top. My favorite cookies are Pfeffernuesse and Anise Biscotti. But then I also like a good hard or soft sugar cookie, peanut butter cookies and …. Ok, I just like cookies.
I do like both gingersnaps (hard ginger cookie) and gingerbread as a cake with a dab of real whipped cream on top. My favorite cookies are Pfeffernuesse and Anise Biscotti. But then I also like a good hard or soft sugar cookie, peanut butter cookies and …. Ok, I just like cookies.
Kareni, my parents and my godmother used to love crystallized ginger too, and dad and my godmother also loved it dipped in chocolate, so that was always a good little extra present for them. Thanks for all your comments through the year. Happy Christmas.
Kareni, my parents and my godmother used to love crystallized ginger too, and dad and my godmother also loved it dipped in chocolate, so that was always a good little extra present for them. Thanks for all your comments through the year. Happy Christmas.
Kareni, my parents and my godmother used to love crystallized ginger too, and dad and my godmother also loved it dipped in chocolate, so that was always a good little extra present for them. Thanks for all your comments through the year. Happy Christmas.
Kareni, my parents and my godmother used to love crystallized ginger too, and dad and my godmother also loved it dipped in chocolate, so that was always a good little extra present for them. Thanks for all your comments through the year. Happy Christmas.
Kareni, my parents and my godmother used to love crystallized ginger too, and dad and my godmother also loved it dipped in chocolate, so that was always a good little extra present for them. Thanks for all your comments through the year. Happy Christmas.
Jeanette, I think gingersnaps are what we and people in the UK (and probably elsewhere) call gingernuts. Certainly the photos on the web look the same. Until I looked them up just now, I always assumed gingersnaps were a gingery form of brandy snaps — which are thin, crisp, rolled-up biscuits(cookies) into which you pipe whipped cream. Deeeeelicious. I haven’t made them for ages, but maybe next time I have people for dinner I might make them. And yes, cookies of all kinds are yummy, I agree. All the best for Christmas.
Jeanette, I think gingersnaps are what we and people in the UK (and probably elsewhere) call gingernuts. Certainly the photos on the web look the same. Until I looked them up just now, I always assumed gingersnaps were a gingery form of brandy snaps — which are thin, crisp, rolled-up biscuits(cookies) into which you pipe whipped cream. Deeeeelicious. I haven’t made them for ages, but maybe next time I have people for dinner I might make them. And yes, cookies of all kinds are yummy, I agree. All the best for Christmas.
Jeanette, I think gingersnaps are what we and people in the UK (and probably elsewhere) call gingernuts. Certainly the photos on the web look the same. Until I looked them up just now, I always assumed gingersnaps were a gingery form of brandy snaps — which are thin, crisp, rolled-up biscuits(cookies) into which you pipe whipped cream. Deeeeelicious. I haven’t made them for ages, but maybe next time I have people for dinner I might make them. And yes, cookies of all kinds are yummy, I agree. All the best for Christmas.
Jeanette, I think gingersnaps are what we and people in the UK (and probably elsewhere) call gingernuts. Certainly the photos on the web look the same. Until I looked them up just now, I always assumed gingersnaps were a gingery form of brandy snaps — which are thin, crisp, rolled-up biscuits(cookies) into which you pipe whipped cream. Deeeeelicious. I haven’t made them for ages, but maybe next time I have people for dinner I might make them. And yes, cookies of all kinds are yummy, I agree. All the best for Christmas.
Jeanette, I think gingersnaps are what we and people in the UK (and probably elsewhere) call gingernuts. Certainly the photos on the web look the same. Until I looked them up just now, I always assumed gingersnaps were a gingery form of brandy snaps — which are thin, crisp, rolled-up biscuits(cookies) into which you pipe whipped cream. Deeeeelicious. I haven’t made them for ages, but maybe next time I have people for dinner I might make them. And yes, cookies of all kinds are yummy, I agree. All the best for Christmas.
Idea for another Wenchly Christmas collaboration: stories revolving around food. Such as: based on questionable myth, heroine attempts to bake her way to hero’s heart; suddenly poor heroine secretly starts an unusual food business (fronted by childhood friend/aristo hero); heroine has unique punch recipe and hero tries to steal it, but falls for her instead; hero is food reviewer/critic who disses heroine’s catering business (and she’s out for revenge, grr). Each tale should include an authentic Regency recipe, of course. Tasty!
Idea for another Wenchly Christmas collaboration: stories revolving around food. Such as: based on questionable myth, heroine attempts to bake her way to hero’s heart; suddenly poor heroine secretly starts an unusual food business (fronted by childhood friend/aristo hero); heroine has unique punch recipe and hero tries to steal it, but falls for her instead; hero is food reviewer/critic who disses heroine’s catering business (and she’s out for revenge, grr). Each tale should include an authentic Regency recipe, of course. Tasty!
Idea for another Wenchly Christmas collaboration: stories revolving around food. Such as: based on questionable myth, heroine attempts to bake her way to hero’s heart; suddenly poor heroine secretly starts an unusual food business (fronted by childhood friend/aristo hero); heroine has unique punch recipe and hero tries to steal it, but falls for her instead; hero is food reviewer/critic who disses heroine’s catering business (and she’s out for revenge, grr). Each tale should include an authentic Regency recipe, of course. Tasty!
Idea for another Wenchly Christmas collaboration: stories revolving around food. Such as: based on questionable myth, heroine attempts to bake her way to hero’s heart; suddenly poor heroine secretly starts an unusual food business (fronted by childhood friend/aristo hero); heroine has unique punch recipe and hero tries to steal it, but falls for her instead; hero is food reviewer/critic who disses heroine’s catering business (and she’s out for revenge, grr). Each tale should include an authentic Regency recipe, of course. Tasty!
Idea for another Wenchly Christmas collaboration: stories revolving around food. Such as: based on questionable myth, heroine attempts to bake her way to hero’s heart; suddenly poor heroine secretly starts an unusual food business (fronted by childhood friend/aristo hero); heroine has unique punch recipe and hero tries to steal it, but falls for her instead; hero is food reviewer/critic who disses heroine’s catering business (and she’s out for revenge, grr). Each tale should include an authentic Regency recipe, of course. Tasty!
Merry Christmas!
I love gingerbread cookies. Where I originally come from, Latvia, we have piparkūkas (literal translation: pepper cakes).
Merry Christmas!
I love gingerbread cookies. Where I originally come from, Latvia, we have piparkūkas (literal translation: pepper cakes).
Merry Christmas!
I love gingerbread cookies. Where I originally come from, Latvia, we have piparkūkas (literal translation: pepper cakes).
Merry Christmas!
I love gingerbread cookies. Where I originally come from, Latvia, we have piparkūkas (literal translation: pepper cakes).
Merry Christmas!
I love gingerbread cookies. Where I originally come from, Latvia, we have piparkūkas (literal translation: pepper cakes).
Thanks for the suggestion, Mary — I’ll pass it on to the other wenches. Or maybe you should write some of these stories yourself? Sounds like you like coming up with plots.
Thanks for the suggestion, Mary — I’ll pass it on to the other wenches. Or maybe you should write some of these stories yourself? Sounds like you like coming up with plots.
Thanks for the suggestion, Mary — I’ll pass it on to the other wenches. Or maybe you should write some of these stories yourself? Sounds like you like coming up with plots.
Thanks for the suggestion, Mary — I’ll pass it on to the other wenches. Or maybe you should write some of these stories yourself? Sounds like you like coming up with plots.
Thanks for the suggestion, Mary — I’ll pass it on to the other wenches. Or maybe you should write some of these stories yourself? Sounds like you like coming up with plots.
Natalija I looked up a recipe, and it looks good. I love all the different spices, not just ginger. I’m especially fond of cardamom.
https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/latvian-christmas-gingerbread-141311
Thanks so much, and Merry Christmas to you as well..
Natalija I looked up a recipe, and it looks good. I love all the different spices, not just ginger. I’m especially fond of cardamom.
https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/latvian-christmas-gingerbread-141311
Thanks so much, and Merry Christmas to you as well..
Natalija I looked up a recipe, and it looks good. I love all the different spices, not just ginger. I’m especially fond of cardamom.
https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/latvian-christmas-gingerbread-141311
Thanks so much, and Merry Christmas to you as well..
Natalija I looked up a recipe, and it looks good. I love all the different spices, not just ginger. I’m especially fond of cardamom.
https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/latvian-christmas-gingerbread-141311
Thanks so much, and Merry Christmas to you as well..
Natalija I looked up a recipe, and it looks good. I love all the different spices, not just ginger. I’m especially fond of cardamom.
https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/latvian-christmas-gingerbread-141311
Thanks so much, and Merry Christmas to you as well..
I love ginger but the flavor our family overindulges in is cinnamon. It is one of our 3 C’ you cannot have too much cheese, chocolate, or cinnamon.
I love ginger but the flavor our family overindulges in is cinnamon. It is one of our 3 C’ you cannot have too much cheese, chocolate, or cinnamon.
I love ginger but the flavor our family overindulges in is cinnamon. It is one of our 3 C’ you cannot have too much cheese, chocolate, or cinnamon.
I love ginger but the flavor our family overindulges in is cinnamon. It is one of our 3 C’ you cannot have too much cheese, chocolate, or cinnamon.
I love ginger but the flavor our family overindulges in is cinnamon. It is one of our 3 C’ you cannot have too much cheese, chocolate, or cinnamon.
How interesting, Sue — I can identify with the cheese and chocolate (both of which I’ve been giving up lately and oh, its hard!), and I like cinnamon, but wouldn’t call it essential. Happy new year.
How interesting, Sue — I can identify with the cheese and chocolate (both of which I’ve been giving up lately and oh, its hard!), and I like cinnamon, but wouldn’t call it essential. Happy new year.
How interesting, Sue — I can identify with the cheese and chocolate (both of which I’ve been giving up lately and oh, its hard!), and I like cinnamon, but wouldn’t call it essential. Happy new year.
How interesting, Sue — I can identify with the cheese and chocolate (both of which I’ve been giving up lately and oh, its hard!), and I like cinnamon, but wouldn’t call it essential. Happy new year.
How interesting, Sue — I can identify with the cheese and chocolate (both of which I’ve been giving up lately and oh, its hard!), and I like cinnamon, but wouldn’t call it essential. Happy new year.
Pfeffernusse are our family’s favorite holiday spice cookie.
Pfeffernusse are our family’s favorite holiday spice cookie.
Pfeffernusse are our family’s favorite holiday spice cookie.
Pfeffernusse are our family’s favorite holiday spice cookie.
Pfeffernusse are our family’s favorite holiday spice cookie.