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Ruth Gaskovski's avatar

Goodness me Kristin - your posts are beautiful! (this is the first I read since signing up) The sights and smells just jump off the page and you will have me running out for lemons tomorrow! We bake a traditional Swiss Christmas lemon cookie (although originally from Milan, Italy) called Mailaenderli:

250 g sugar

250g butter - whip together until smooth

3 eggs -combine

1 lemon - peel finely grated (not juice)

500 g flour

combine and cool for 1 hour

roll to 5mm thickness and use cookie cutters for shapes

brush with egg and bake for 10-12 min at 200 C

Maybe a bit much detail, but thought it was the perfect spot to share this delicious recipe :)

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Aw, thank you so much, Ruth! It's been so wonderful getting to connect with you! I'm glad you enjoyed...keep me posted on what you make with all the lemons you get :)

And THANK YOU for this marvelous recipe - printing it out now!

Ruth Gaskovski's avatar

Thanks for passing it on to your readers:) If you are in the mood fore more Swiss cookies, this site provides a great overview and recipes (we make almost all of these each year - especially the Zimtstern)https://z-nuni.com/swisschristmascookies/

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Oh my, that site looks like a gem...thank you!! There's something about a tin of Christmas cookies that really fills my cup!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

How am I supposed to return to my day, knowing this exists and that I need it in my soul?

Dixie Dillon Lane's avatar

We hang dried orange slices on our Christmas tree every year! I love how you use them here.

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

They're so perfect for Christmas! Do you make pomanders too?

Dixie Dillon Lane's avatar

Too poky an experience for me!! (But they are lovely!)

Diana Cantu's avatar

We've never celebrated St. Clement before but we will now!! Thank you!! 🍊🍋

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Yay!! Keep me posted!

Sylvie Vanhoozer's avatar

What a beautiful vision and execution of placemaking! Thanks, Kristin!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Thank you so much, Sylvie!

Yolanda Reischer-Bohanec's avatar

What a beautiful surprise to discover your writing! We bought our clementines and clementine marmalade on St. Clement’s at a little outdoor market stand in Purkersdorf, located on the outskirts of Vienna’s 13th district. It was fitting to stumble on this today. Thank you. The rhyme brought back childhood memories of playing this game at school in Pasadena, California. Wishing you all the best from Austria.

Margot Fisher Reagan's avatar

You have given me a precious gift by relating information about Saint Clement. My Irish Catholic grandfather’s middle name was Clement. His sister, my great aunt, took the name Clement when she professed as a Sister of the Holy Cross. Although I was very close to her, I never questioned the name and the reason she was Sister Clement. Now I have some new knowledge. Thank you!! Henceforth, I will celebrate St. Clement’s day every year with everything citrus !

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Oh Margot, I'm just over the moon to know that you've found such a meaningful connection with St. Clement! What a special thing it is to have the lineage of Clement's name both in your grandfather and your great aunt...thank you for sharing this beautiful connection with me.

Jolene Handy's avatar

I’m making these bells 🔔 🍊! I live in an apartment so I’m putting them inside the door! Congratulations on your Substack feature, Kristin, so well deserved! (I’m WAY behind on my reading) Wonderful!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Aw thank you so much, Jo - I'm so touched! (I'm also WAY behind on reading and need to figure out how to keep up!) I'm so glad you're making the bells...and they transition beautifully to Advent/Christmas decor, so it's win-win!

Jessica Leigh Allen's avatar

Oh Kristin, I'm only now getting around to reading your collection of Clementide posts! I've been doing some research into the Lesser Festivals and Commemorations of the Lutheran church and celebrating birthdays (and my mom, aunt & cousin have each had Covid) so needless to say...I'm woefully behind in keeping in touch.

I really enjoyed this essay -- wonderfully informative! Each winter, for many, I've decorated our home with dried citrus and last year, made my first pomander. I love the addition of bells! My husband bakes some wonderful orange cinnamon rolls this time of year which we could easily incorporate into Clementide! I'm also pleased to learn Clement is the patron saint of sailors -- as my great grandfather was a ship's carpenter. In fact, I was just discussing this with another Substack author. Small world! ♡

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Isn't it amazing how all these things come together? I'm so sorry your family is sick, & I hope everyone is on the mend soon! I'm also woefully behind on reading, so I'm hoping to catch up a bit this week. :)

I'm so glad you enjoyed the Clementide fun. Your husband's orange cinnamon rolls sound AMAZING!

Megan Hogg's avatar

I loved learning from this post! And am excited to try making those orange bells :)

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Thank you so much, Megan - I'm so glad you enjoyed reading! Keep me posted on how the orange bells go!

NotaBot's avatar

Thank you for this deep dive into Citrus and St Clement.

We make candied orange peels and dip half of the long peel in dark chocolate. Wonderful & gluten free.

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Oh my, that sounds wonderful!!

NotaBot's avatar

I think your shortbread cookies w toppers sound perfect! What kind of tea do you recommend to go with them?

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Ooo I'd say Early Grey!

Kara Cunnane's avatar

I have a son named Clement. After reading this, I'm tempted to make a citrus treat to celebrate his name day next week. Perhaps something simple with a citrus zest glaze! ☺️ At the very least, we'll be sure to pray the universal prayer attributed to St. Clement!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Oooo that sounds delicious and so very apt! What a beautiful connection!

Seaside Forager's avatar

Thank you very much for this, Kristin. Brian Day has a recipe for St Clement’Tarts. I’ll e-mail it 🍋🍊

Claire Sibley's avatar

I am SO enchanted by citrus stained glass!

Mairi Bontorno's avatar

I love this! And all the symbolism of the oranges and lemons. I’ve been to St Clement’s church in London! I’ll hunt down a picture to show you 😊

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Thank you Mairi!! And I love getting to vicariously travel through all your pictures!

Tsh Oxenreider's avatar

I love St. Clement. I love oranges and lemons. Now I know why! 😉 Seriously, though, this is so delightful — thank you for teaching us all this!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

It all comes together in one glorious, Clementy, citrus-y stew, right?! I'm so glad you enjoyed...thank you so much!