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Lee Becker's avatar

Thank you, Jessica. Nice memories. I'm so glad you have enjoyed sharing these dolls with Willa and Zadie. I could not have hoped for anything more.

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Monique Mulligan's avatar

Love this post, Jessica. My family migrated to Australia from Germany in the 1950s. I grew up with many German traditions, especially around Christmas time. Now I try to keep these traditions alive and my own Christmas table.

Today I made stollen Blondies - a brownie texture without the yeast. They are delicious interpretation. I’ve also made Bethmännchen, speculaas and Elisen Lebkuchen.

It’s very hot here in Australia at the moment and I find myself thinking of Christmas last year, when I visited Germany for the first time, and experienced a winter Christmas with extended family.

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Stollen blondes sound delicious! That’s a great concept—I’d love that recipe! Thank you for sharing a little of your story and happy solstice 😊

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Monique Mulligan's avatar

My pleasure.

It’s delicious - here you go:

https://thelemonapron.com/german-stollen-blondies/

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Stacy Boone's avatar

What it means to cook into the nostalgia, while also creating new memories. Dolls, small precious gifts with their own creation stories a father enjoyed sharing with his daughter.

I think I will replace the layer of the trifle being made for tomorrow's solstice gathering with your recipe.

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Oooh I love trifle—cake AND pudding! Let me know how it turns out.

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Janice Hauenstein's avatar

Happy Solstice Jessica! Wishing you a beautiful night sky tonight! You have such great memories with your Dad and your own daughters. and your gift for story telling. I have German relatives and grew up eating German food when visiting them or my Mom’s cooking. No one ever made the sweet treats and I regret that experience. I was giving collection dolls when I was a child, and I smiled when your Dad gave you all the dolls he had collected in his travels. My parents did the same when they moved to AZ. I never showed them to my kids, and I will share them this holiday. I always enjoy your thoughtful

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Janice Hauenstein's avatar

Oops the word gods ended my comment before I was ready.

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Thank you! Happy Solstice!

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