Swedenroots - Sweden

Swedenroots - Genealogy for you

Testimonial

Swedish flag
Jerry Nelson

My Grandfather,
Gustaf Leonard Waldemar Nilsson,
was born in Kalmar,1880 and he emigrated 1896.
Since only my grandfather had children, out of the four siblings, so I wanted to know if there are cousins or other relatives in Sweden that I can contact when we visit Sweden next time.
I also would like to know more about the sisters who remained behind.
Now you have given me information about the family in Sweden and also found relatives that we can visit on our next trip to Sweden.

Thanks for your help!

Christmas tree cookies

When I was very young, these cookies were used to decorate the Christmas tree.
The recipe has to have originated at least as far back as the late 1800's.
Mormor Peterson’s surgrädde ingefärskakor
Grandma Johanna Peterson’s Swedish Sour Cream Ginger Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 F
2 Cup sugar
1 Cup molasses
6-7 Cup flour
1 tsp ginger (I double this and all spices)
1 tsp cinnamon
(I also add 1 tsp cardamom, but this was not in the original recipe)
1 Cup lard
3 eggs
1 Cup sour cream (8 oz)
1 and ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
½ tsp cloves

Cream together sugar and lard. Add 3 eggs and beat until smooth.
Add molasses and sour cream and blend together, add the spices and mix well.
Add 6 cups of flour, one at a time, mixing each into the batter.
You may have to add a cup of flour or so in order to make the dough stiff enough to roll out – use plenty of flour on the counter top when rolling out.
You will know to add some extra flour if the dough sticks to the rolling pin.
Roll the dough out to about ¼ or slightly more - you don’t want it to be too thin, then they burn easily and are hard – if you like hard cookies, roll out thinner but watch while cooking.
Cut into shapes using cookie cutters – you can sprinkle with colored sugar prior to baking or decorate after they have cooled.
Bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes or till done to the touch.
Shorter time makes for softer cookies.
This makes a huge batch!

Gustaf Leonard Waldemar Nilsson
Jerry Nelson Wyoming

Gustaf Leonard Waldemar Nilsson

The Nelson Family, early to mid 1940's, including Gustaf Leonard (known as Leonard or "Swede-Murphy" because of his reddish hair) and farmor Johanna Petersson, who came from Dalarna.