Bretzelis: A holiday give-away

Ruth Hirschi was my Merrie Miss Primary teacher in the Van Nuys Third Ward. She taught me how to knit and crochet and she invited me over around Christmas to help her make bretzelis, a traditional Swiss cookie (Ruth was born in Switzerland). The cookies are made on an iron and then Ruth would put them on a rolling pin to cool and to give them a round shape. The ingredients are basic: butter, sugar, eggs, flour, vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon. They. Are. Delicious.

When I moved to Boston I decided I wanted to make some bretzelis so I called Ruth to get the recipe and to find out where I could buy one of the irons. She explained that the irons were very expensive and hard to find in the U.S. but suggested I buy a pizzelle iron instead (used to make Italian cookies). So one December night after work I took the subway to the North End (Boston's Little Italy), found a hardware store, and purchased my own pizzelle iron for $19.99.













To ring in the holiday season I'm going to have a random drawing Thursday night at midnight for a tin of bretzelis. But here's the catch: the person who wins has to give me the name and address of a friend/family member/acquaintance and they will receive the tin of cookies. I'm going to Bake it Forward.

Happy Holidays!