Lebkuchen á lá Emelye

Here's a recipe that I developed after researching a number of German Lebkuchen recipes. While this is more like a little cake rather than a crispy cookie, it's flavor is delicate and subtle and meant more for an adult palate, especially if real rum is used in the glaze. Enjoy!


Lebkuchen á lá Emelye

• 150 g sugar (300 g if not using Splenda)
• 30 g Splenda (abt 3/4 cup)
  
• 1 Tbsn unsulphered Molasses
• 1 Tbsn Vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 2 Tbspn Rum or equivalent amount of rum extract
• ½ tspn ground clove
• ½ tspn ground cinnamon
• ½ tspn ground ginger
• ½ tspn lemon zest
• Pinch of Cardamon
• 60 g candied lemon peel (chopped small, abt 3mm (1/8") chunks)
• 60 g candied orange peel (chopped small, abt 3mm (1/8") chunks)
• 275 g finely ground almonds
• 220 g flour
• 1½ tspn double acting baking powder

* Cream the eggs, sugar, molasses and vanilla until slightly frothy. Add the spices, zest and rum.
* Stir in the candied peel and ground almonds.
* Gradually sift in the baking powder and flour, mixing until the batter is thick and stiff. Allow the batter to rest ½ hour.
* Using two spoons drop mounds of dough about 2 inches (5 cm) to 3 inches (7½ cm) across onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
* Garnish with almonds, halved or slivered (doesn’t matter), if desired, and bake in a 350ºF (180ºC) oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until brown at the edges. (Keep an eye on the first batch, all ovens are different!)

* Frost the cookies with a thin frosting made from powdered sugar and milk flavored with almond extract, lemon juice or rum.

NOTES:

> Makes about 2 ½ to 3 dozen depending on how big ya make ‘em.
> Very sticky batter
> They don’t spread much in the oven, rather, they rise into a dome shape
> 8 cookies per sheet works well

Oh, by the way, our esteemed Governor Paterson has announced today that he will sign an order making discrimination on the basis of gender identity/expression illegal when it is perpetrated against state executive's employees. After hijacking the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act (GENDA) last April, in favor of same sex marriage legislation, Gov. Paterson has throw the gender variant community some crumbs. Big Deal! This order affects a microscopic portion of the state's trans citizens and for yours truly this is way too little and way too late as well as completely irrelevant.

Thanks again for nothing, Governor! When will the gender variant community in New York State get a REAL advocate in state government?

Marrige equality fails in New York

The vote was 24 to 38.

In a published statement, Senator Thomas Duane said,

“Today’s vote against Marriage Equality makes me very angry. Promises made were not honored. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, and all fair minded New Yorkers have been betrayed. I am enraged, deeply disappointed and profoundly saddened by the vote today."

I know how he feels. (I've noted that in blog comments here and there and have been accused of holding "sour grapes" in order to trivialize my rage, disappointment and sadness.) The gender variant community in New York State have been feeling that way since before 2002 when the GLB politicos decided to throw us under the bus to pass non discrimination law that covers sexual orientation while excluding gender identity and expression. Broken promises are all we've seen since then. This year is no exception.

In his speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Duane said,

"People have said to me 'now is not the time'. There's always time to be on the right side of history."

But never the right time to truly fight for the gender variant people in New York State, Sen. Duane? Why didn't GENDA (Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act) get onto the extraordinary session agendas? Why didn't you raise hell about that? Why didn't your allies in the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) say anything either?

After June, GENDA disappeared in favor of the marriage equality law in the communiques from the ESPA, the governor and from the state legislature. Somehow, the "coup" attempt by the Republicans in the senate was turned back. Was GENDA sacrificed in a deal in order to get the marriage debate and vote? Such treachery won't be admitted by anyone. We'll never know for sure but it sure looks that way.

The state legislature has gone home until the new session starts next year. It's doubtful Gov. Paterson will call any more extraordinary sessions. I guess it wasn't time yet to "come back" for the trans community. It seems it's never time if the GLB politicos can gain an advantage for themselves by sacrificing gender variant people in New York. The GLB community have had protections for seven years already. Your civil rights are protected, Mr Duane. Mine aren't. And it's apparent you think that's perfectly alright.