Schnecken, Rugelach and Memories

I started my working life as a County Social Worker in Southwestern Wisconsin. I was employed by the Grant County Department of Children and Family Services, located in Lancaster, the County seat. I rented a room in a home in the town of Platteville. 

Having grown up in the eclectic and diverse neighborhood of Hyde Park, in Chicago, this was the first time in my life that I realized I was totally out of my milieu. My office was located there in what had once been either an IGA or Piggly Wiggly.

In the early 1980’s, Lancaster Wisconsin was a typical Midwestern town, with a square centered by the Courthouse and bordered with shops, bars and some offices. 

While baking rugelach and thinking of my early work-life the other day, I remembered one midmorning back in Lancaster, when coffee and something sweet was definitely needed to take off the stresses, if you know what I mean. 

I vividly remember going into the one and only bakery in Lancaster for the first time, and being thrilled to see Schnecken on the shelf.  And as I am apt to do, I said out loud, “wow that Schnecken looks great”.  With a slight scowl, the woman behind the counter said, “ I don’t know what Schnecken is, but we have Pecan Rolls”. 

“Schnecken are a type of sweet bun or roll of German origin. Today schnecken can be commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Israel, southern Brazil and the USA. The name Schnecken means snails in German and refers to the shape of the pastry.”

I was both crest fallen that she did not know what the hell I was talking about, but also thrilled because I love the combination of pecans with buttery dough no matter what it’s called. 

So be it called Schnecken, a Pecan Roll, or Rugelach the magic of dough meeting nuts rolled up with something sweet, never fails to bring a smile, and a memory that lasts. 

To pass along a smile, evoke new memories and deliver a little love, try our Chocolate Ganache Cherry Raisin Pecan Rugelach.

Just call this delicious! 

Enjoy, El