Baked Delights

The Christmas holidays of 2013 are now a memory.  This past season made my tenth year of celebrating the holiday in Florida.  I found that this year I had a few things I missed about Christmas in the North;  no not the thought of a “white Christmas”.  This year it seems I missed certain foods I always associated with the holiday.

Growing up in Chicago, my step-grandmother always made walnut roll and poppy seed roll.  I am not a fan of poppy seed roll.  When I moved to Northeastern Pennsylvania in my twenties, both walnut and poppy seed roll were big items for not only Christmas but Easter as well.  There is nothing better than a slice of walnut roll, or nut roll as some call it, and a cup of coffee in the morning or even in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, I can not get this item here in the Sunshine State.  The area where I reside has no family owned or privately owned bakeries that would produce such a delicious bake good.  Most baked goods are purchased in the bakery departments of the local grocery stores.

This year I had what you would call a ‘hankering’ for nut roll.  I began my search early in December by approaching the bakery departments of the grocery stores.  None made or sold it. In fact one person told me straight out that she had been doing baking for this store chain for over 20 years and never heard of such a thing as nut roll or walnut roll and does not even think it existed. 

Not only did I have the craving for nut roll, but also for homemade kielbasa.  The stuff we get is made by a large company pre-packaged and can be picked up in the same location as hot dogs.  No doubt missing certain items is the price one pays to live in sunny Florida.

What I don’t understand is with all those who locate to Florida, why none of the store owned bakeries do not make nut roll during the holidays.  I am sure if they did, they would make a nice tidy profit.

Since I wanted nut roll, I ended up calling a family member in Pennsylvania who has finally gotten around to sending it to me.  Okay I did not have it for Christmas but will have it in time for Orthodox New Year which will be January 14^th.  One thing I already plan to do; take a photo of the walnut roll before it is sliced, then another photo after it is sliced.  I plan to take these photos to the baker who told me she never heard of such a thing and show her it does exist.

Well time to go now, my lunch is ready.  My husband made pork barbeque sandwiches like we get up in Pennsylvania.  I hope we have enough relish to put on them.  Bon Appetite.