Yakshemash - Polish Amaretti - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia!

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Now playing: Korn - Blind
via FoxyTunes
(....Because I got this recording from my Polish friend Marchin, while working at The Clive.)


Yakshemash!

The next Christmas cookie is from, you guessed it, Poland. Polish Amaretti is served with a hot drink to friends that drop by, or in-between huge feasts. I really recommend this one and here is a link to the recipe:

http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/polishdesserts/r/Almond-Cookie-Recipe.htm

"* 7 ounces sugar
* 2 large egg whites
* 7 ounces ground almonds
* 2 to 3 drops almond oil or 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
* Pinch cinnamon

1. In a medium bowl, whip the egg whites until they are stiff. Gradually add half the sugar while continuing to whip. The meringue should be so stiff, you can cut it with a knife.

2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a separate large bowl, mix together the ground almonds with the rest of the sugar, almond oil and cinnamon. Stir in a dollop of meringue mixture to lighten the nut mixture. Then, gently fold in the remaining meringue mixture, trying not to deflate the volume.

3. Using a scoop, drop equal portions of cookie batter onto a parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake about 15 minutes or until cookie bottoms are lightly brown and the tops are crackly. Cool completely on a wire rack."

The only thing I can add, is to dip a spoon in warm tap water (have a glass of warm tap water handy) and gently rub down rough edges with the back of the spoon, they turn out much nicer. Don't use too wet of a spoon!



The crockery is a previous birthday gift from Lucie. It is a pretty, blue, lidded bowl from Poland. These cookies are perfect for this bowl!



dziekuje -( jen-ku-je) Thank you!


The other Polish phrases I know from my co-workers at The Clive don't need to be on here. ;-)

This is dedicated to my friends Marchin and Joanna, also Jerek and Ella, wherever you are now. Rumour has it that both couples each have their first baby.

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"The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin." -Jay Leno (Reminds me of a Scouser joke.)