First snow = perfect baking day

On Saturday, the first significant snow fell in my area. 

This was just the start. We ended up getting about three inches, which still isn't much, but it was enough.

This means most people forgot how to drive in winter weather (pro tip:  don't tailgate, leave room to stop, pump the breaks instead of slamming them, and slow down).

It also meant it was a perfect day for baking.

I headed up to my parents' house, where we had planned an afternoon of learning to make kringla from my mom.  Six or so of my friends were supposed to join me but due to the weather, they all bailed.  Oh well.  More kringla for me!  And a batch makes about five dozen, so I had plenty.

Kringla (pronounced "kreenglah") is a Norwegian cookie that is a favorite in my family.  It's sweet but not too sweet, if that makes sense. I'd share the recipe, but my mom has some secrets, and I don't feel like disclosing them.  But the main ingredients are butter, flour, buttermilk, and sugar.  I mean, it's Norwegian, so what did you expect?  My mom had stirred up a batch Friday night because it's best to let the dough refrigerate at least three hours, but she prefers to let it sit overnight.

Then, we took little balls of the dough and rolled them out, forming them into a pretzel shape that is the sign of a bakery in Norway.  (Some people do figure 8s, we do the pretzel.)

Bake half the time on the bottom rack.  Then turn it 180 degrees and put on the top rack for the remainder of the baking time.  This helps them get nice and brown on the bottom and only lightly browned on the top.

They are so delicious.  I took them to work yesterday and everyone loved them.  This has been a theme whenever I take kringla to share.  Most people don't know what it is at first, but when they try it, they rave about it.

Do you have any family recipes or foods that are special?