Our German-born grandmother lived with my brother Johnny and me on Long Island since we were born. She was a young widow and my mother an only child. “Nana” had owned a German restaurant and bakery and was an excellent cook and baker. She taught us German when we were very young.

Starting months before Christmas we all baked so many holiday cookies with our grandmother. We loved making Spitzbuben and Lebkuchen cookies. Spitzbuben are made from two layers of deliciously crumbly, buttery dough filled with red currant or raspberry jelly. In America these are called Linzer cookies. Our second favorite to make were Lebkuchen;: gingerbread cookies.

At Christmastime Johnny and I would bring tins of our cookies to neighbors and friends. They were always a big hit!

Today I made German gingerbread cookies and I felt Johnny was with me.
Auf Wiedersehen bis zum nächsten mal — Until we meet again in the future.
-Your sister, Marlene