The Ancient Pepparkaka

It is said that as early as the mid 1400's, the nuns at Vadstena Cloister baked and ate pepparkakor to aid their digestion. The original cookie was made with honey and spices and even pepper was included, as it was considered a remedy for nervous disorders, poor eye sight and indigestion. During the 16th century the cookies were sold in medical stores and bakeries. Doctors prescribed pepparkakor to improve the mood of the patients. During the 19th century the pepparkaka became a favorite Cristmas cookie, and today, as the saying goes, "ju mer man ater, desto snallare blir man" which translates into "the more you eat (pepparkakor that is), the nicer you become!" Have another pepparkaka!! Submitted by Ann-Marie Kinnison. Pepparkakor are also eaten broken up into smaller pieces and mixed with Kefir (better than yougurt, Kefir tastes just like the Swedish "filmjolk"). Go to this site for a recipe for pepparkakor http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,183,145173-251192,00.html