Lebkuchen

These cookies have been a family tradition for Christmas as long as I can remember. They are my father's favorite and both my parents now make these cookies together. They are a long involved process but worth it in the end. Don't let the amount of ingredients scare you, or the fact that you are using Potash and Baking Ammonia for making these. You will likely find these ingredients at a German specialty shop. Don't bother explaining what you are looking for in your local grocers, they will think you are off your rocker wanting to cook with Potash and Ammonia. In Winnipeg where I live you can find it at Market Place on Henderson Highway, or the Bake Oven on Edison Ave. (Try to read the recipe with a German Accent ;o) it is written the way my mom told it to me).

• 5 teaspoons Potash/ dissolve in 3/4 cup of warm water
  
• 1 tablespoon of baking ammonia/ dissolve in 3/4 cup warm water, let both stand
• (I know I know, what is with more recipes with baking ammonia and now Potash too! I will get lots of questions regarding this but have never had them without the baking ammonia or Potash. If nothing else this recipe is posted for our family. So we have it documented for future generations. I have looked for recipes to compare it too with out and all of the traditional recipes include these ingredients :-)
  
• 4 orange zest
• 1 lemon zest
• 3 cups of sugar
• 2-1/2 cups of liquid honey/ cook with the sugar and let cool
  
• 1 teaspoon of cloves
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 6 cups of flour/ mix with spices and zest
  
• 1/2 cup of oil
• 3 well beaten eggs

1. Mix all ingredients well with a wooden spoon.
2. Dough is very firm.
3. Add 4 -5 cups of flour again after dough is well mixed, total amount about 11 cups of flour.
   
4. Dough is now even firmer.
   
5. Let stand in refrigerator for 2 hours, knead well again.
6. Put in fridge over night.
7. Roll out on to floured counter and cut into circles.
8. Bake at 325 for 7-10 minutes.

Frosting:

• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 egg white
• 3 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (optional)
  
• 1/8 of a teaspoon of cream of tar tar

1. Cook all ingredients including the egg white over a double boiler and beat for 5 - 7 minutes.
2. Icing it will be ready when it spins like a thread.

or alternate frosting

• 2 egg whites beaten stiff
• 2 tablespoon hot honey
• 1 1/2 cups of sifted icing sugar, don't cook and schmear over cookie.