Christmas is Stollen

Christmas is Stollen. It is my most consistent tradition. Fitting, given my family, that it would revolve around food. On some of our tree-less west coast christmases stollen was like the anchor. I remember when Cliona was a newborn we stayed up late making stollen on christmas eve, the two new parents now turned into little elves.

I am especially grateful to be celebrating christmas this year, with a TREE and my mom and sisters. Undoubtedly there will be snow as well. Its all coming togther . . . well, we will see about the list of hand made gifts still unfinished.

Until then, I am posting my Stollen recipe. I got it from my mom, who probably got it from a cook book, but I don't know which one.

Stolen

2 1/2 c flour
2 t baking powder
3/4 c sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 t mace
5-6 cardamom pods rushed OR 1 t ground cardamom
3/4 c ground blanched almonds
1/2 c butter, cold
1 c cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
1/3 t almond extract
2 T brandy (can use rum)
1/2 golden rasins
1/2 golden currnts
1/4 c chopped candied lemon rind or diced dried apricots
** can substitute other dried fruits like rasins, citron, dried cherries or dried cranberries.

• sift togther dry ingrediants, stir in almonds
• cut in butter until mixture is the consistancy of coarse sand
• combine liquids in blender, pour into bowl and add fruit
• gradually add flour to this mixture snf work dough into ball. Knead for a few minutes on a floured board just to get it into a bowl.
• shape into oval 10x8 inches at least 1 inch high
• use blunt edge of a knife to crease lengthwise in the center, fold smaller side on top of other side
• put on grease baking sheet, can brush with melted butter
• bake 45 min in pre-heated 350 oven
• cool and dust with sugar

In our family, this is usually made on christmas eve and eaten for breakfast on christmas moring, while opening presents. Ahhhh, the sweetness of it all.