On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:43:36 +0100, "Jke" >
wrote:

>This is a Dutch version from
>http://www.hollandsepot.dordt.nl/dutch/dutch.html
>
> Peppernuts (pepernoten)
>
>Ingredients:
>1¼ cup flour, 1¼ cup self-rising f lour, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp. water, 1
>egg yolk, ¼ tsp. Each of cinnamon, nutmeg, powdered cloves, some anise
>seeds, a pinch of salt.
>Preparations:
>Knead all ingredients into a soft ball. Butter 2 baking sheets. Form about
>ninety marble-size balls. Divide them over the sheet, so that they are
>placed at equal distances from one another. Flatten each ball slightly. Bake
>about 20 minutes in a moderate oven (350° F.), or until done. (They are then
>very hard). On Dec. 5th "Pepernoten" are often thrown through the slightly
>opened door by a black-gloved hand, representing "Black Peter", St. Nicholas'
>faithful helpmate. All the children crawl over the floor on which a white
>sheet is spread and grab what they can, while singing one of the popular St.
>Nicholas songs. A loud doorbell ringing just before this procedure enhances
>the excitement.

What a delightful tradition! There doesn't appear to be any pepper in
the peppernuts though?!

TammyM