(no subject)

[nverland]

FROSTED NUTMEG LOG


INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg
1 egg
4 teaspoons rum extract
2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour
Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

Cream butter and sugar. Add nutmeg, egg and rum extract; mix thoroughly. Measure flour; sift and stir into creamed mixture with a rubber spatula (dough may be too stiff for a hand mixer).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Shape dough in logs 3/4 inch in diameter and 3 inches long; flatten slightly with fingers. Place logs 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool. Frost with Rum Frosting.

Makes two dozen.

Rum Frosting

1/4 cup softened butter
3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons rum extract
2 tablespoons milk or cream
Nutmeg for garnish

Spread (or pipe with a pastry bag) frosting onto cooled logs. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg.




Reminder-all information was found online, I have no idea how accurate this currently is

Christmas in Austria


The feast of St Nicholas marks the beginning of Christmas in Austria. The saint accompanied by the devil asks children for a list of their good and bad deeds. Good children are given sweets, toys and nuts. Gifts that are placed under the tree are opened after dinner on Christmas Eve.

Brass instruments play chorale music room church steeples, and carol singers, carrying blazing torches and a manger from house to house, gather on the church steps.

Silent Night was first sung in 1818, in the village church of Oberndorf. There is a story told of how Christmas was almost spoiled for the villagers that year.

On Christmas Eve, the priest went into the church and found that the organ was not working. The leather bellows that are used to pump the air through the pipes were full of holes. Christmas without music would not do so the priest showed the organist Franz Bauer a new Christmas hymn he had written. Franz quickly composed a tune for it that could be played on a guitar. So Oberndorf had music after all.

In Austria baked carp is served for the traditional Christmas dinner.

December 6 in Austria is when Heiliger Nikolaus or St. Nicholas, rewards good children with sweets, nuts and apples.

On December 24, the Christ Child brings presents and the Christmas tree for the children. The children wait until they hear a bell tinkling. Then they enter a special room where the Christmas tree is waiting all decorated with candles, ornaments and candies. The whole family sings Christmas carols and wishes each other:

- FROLICHE WEIHNACHTEN!
- FROHE WEIHNACHTEN!