Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, December 05, 2008 00:14
Sinterklaas kapoentje
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank je Sinterklaasje.
We’ll admit it, for us the Christmas season really begins when we hear Kris Kringle sing that song with the little Dutch girl (so we’re shameless sentimentalists, sue us!). Did you know that in Holland, the feast of Saint Nicholas (or Sinterklaas as he is known there) is celebrated this evening (December 5th)? One of the treats associated with Sinterklaas Day are Dutch letters, which are shaped into an “S” for Sinterklaas.
The Jaarsma Bakery (Roadfood.com review) of Pella, Iowa was founded in 1899 by a Dutch immigrant. They’d be happy to send you a dozen Dutch letters for $20. These eight-inch puff pastries are filled with moist almond paste and sprinkled with sugar. Unless you’re Dutch there’s still plenty of time to place an order. Jaarsma also bakes fruitcakes and speculaas (Christmas spice cookies with an uncomfortably medical-sounding name) if you’d like to go the whole nine yards this Christmas (in fact, their website is currently offering a free dozen speculaas with online orders!).
