TA S T E M A K E R S
Comfort and Joy CAN W E AGREE that food is a jack-of-all trades, of sorts? It can be the salve the heals and comforts what ails our bodies and souls, the tie that binds and connects us through generations and the initiator of great joy among friends and family. While many of us have our favorite dishes, is anyone else a little curious about what everyone else is serving family and guests this holiday season? We decided to pull back the kitchen curtains to take a glimpse at what some members of our Editorial Advisory Board (and me!) are making, baking and cooking up this year. We asked for recipes that bring comfort, joy or both!
To view complete recipes, visit lakeminnetonkamag.com. Eg g Su rp ri se
“This is something we have always enjoyed as a family breakfast on holidays when I was growing up, and we still make it every Christmas. My grandma got this recipe from her neighbor 50 years ago. It is a great recipe to make ahead and heat up in the morning. I hope the readers enjoy it as much as our family does.” —Jenny Bodurka, assistant director, Minnetonka Community Education K i ss Co o k i e s
“Growing up, Kiss Cookies were always placed on Santa’s plate in hopes that the holiday spirit and warmth of some extra kisses would win us exactly what my siblings and me had on our Christmas wish list. I don’t remember a holiday season without Kiss Cookies. My mother usually doubles or sometimes triples this recipe. It’s the perfect cookie to freeze and package them up for friends, family and neighbors as they visit. They’re everyone’s favorite!” —Brooke Beyer, director of community events and marketing, Wayzata Area Chamber
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Po tato, Corn a n d Kra u t Gratin
“While it’s neither fancy nor trendy, this dish is present on our Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas tables without question. This gratin is the epitome of comfort food: Creamy buttermashed potatoes, studded with sweet corn kernels and the unmistakable umami of kraut. I’ve enjoyed them all together on my plate for as long as I can remember, but it was time for an update. I grew up in a German farm family. Gathering around the table to enjoy meals together was always a priority—especially around the holidays. “The matriarchs in my family have always been incredible cooks, who outdid themselves for the holidays. They built their traditional tables around well-loved dishes that provided the perfect foundation for our big family dinners, and I do my best to carry on that tradition. “No matter what other mains or sides show up, three dishes are always present for our family: mashed potatoes with butter, sweet corn and sour kraut. (That’s how my family referred to it. Today, it’s more commonly known as sauerkraut.) “I hold my grandmother’s homemade kraut responsible for shaping my palate. When she was no longer here to make it, there was a noticeable void in our dinners. When I started hosting family dinners of my own, I wanted to bring that traditional flavor back and always make sure good kraut is on the menu.” —Michele Phillips, blogger, writer and photographer P fef fern ü sse
“A very important Christmas cookie recipe to me is Pfeffernüsse. My mother would make it every year. She learned how to make them from her mother, Augusta Harjehausen, who came over from Germany when she was 15 years old. My mom remembers my grandmother dropping a couple of these little cookies into
December 2022
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