J.R. Ewing And A Found Recipe For Poppy Seed Cookies (2024)

J.R. Ewing And A Found Recipe For Poppy Seed Cookies

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J.R. Ewing And A Found Recipe For Poppy Seed Cookies (1)

Aunt Ida and Uncle Julie in Winthrop Beach, Mass., in the 1940s. Courtesy of the Brass Sisters hide caption

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Courtesy of the Brass Sisters

During the holidays, family kitchens are ground zero for intense craziness: mixers whirling, timers buzzing, knives flying. So yes, it's understandable that many of us just stay out of way of the experienced cook — especially when the knives come out and Mama is talking under her breath.

But by staying out, you're missing out.

As part of All Things Considered's Found Recipes series, we asked the Cambridge-based Brass Sisters, the so-called Queens of Comfort Food, about collecting family recipes.

And they say, don't shy away from that holiday kitchen!

Instead, they urge you to gently interrogate your elders about their favorite dishes, and write down those family recipes, before it's too late.

That's what they did to get the recipe for their Aunt Ida Tucker Katziff's Poppy Seed Cookies, and though Aunt Ida could be grumpy and intimidating, they're glad they did.

"We used to spend every Friday night with Aunt Ida," says Marilynn Brass. For nearly 15 years, they'd chit chat, watch the prime-time soap opera Dallas (the original, when J.R. got shot) and eat.

"We would have a bagel and we'd have turkey," Brass says, "but the best part was when she'd go to her postage-stamp-sized freezer and brought something out and heated it up in her trusty toaster oven."

Ida was a self-taught baker. "She had what we call goldeneh hendts. That's Yiddish for golden hands," Brass says. "Whatever she baked, whatever she cooked came out superb. And I have to tell you, her poppy seed cookies were like manna from heaven."

The cookies were crunchy, with toasty-tasting poppy seeds and a sandy texture, and the Brass Sisters say you couldn't eat just one.

After many years of Friday evenings, Marilynn's sister, Sheila, got up the courage to ask Aunt Ida for the recipe. Not only did she get it, but Ida gave her nieces two special instructions — keep the poppy seeds in the freezer to keep them fresh, and don't overwork the dough.

When Aunt Ida died, the Brass Sisters arranged a special tribute to her: They made copies of the recipe and baked the cookies and shared both with friends and relatives at Ida's funeral.

"It turned out the family and friends sat around talking about Ida during [her] memorial week, reading her recipe for poppy seed cookies and crunching those wonderful cookies!" says Marilynn Brass.

And now you can, too. Here's the recipe from Heirloom Baking With The Brass Sisters.

Aunt Ida's Poppy Seed Cookies

Our Aunt Ida baked this cookie for more than 60 years, to the delight of four generations of our family, transporting them to parties in covered tins. We baked these cookies and served them at Aunt Ida's memorial gathering after her funeral since this recipe is part of her legacy. She always stored her poppy seeds in the freezer to keep them fresh.

J.R. Ewing And A Found Recipe For Poppy Seed Cookies (2)

Poppy seed cookies bring back memories of watching Dallas with Aunt Ida, the Brass Sisters say. Maren Caruso/Getty Images hide caption

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Maren Caruso/Getty Images

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup poppy seeds

1 cup peanut oil

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a 14 X 16-inch baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Coat the foil with vegetable spray or use a silicone liner.

Sift together flour and baking powder; add poppy seeds.

Separately, whisk peanut oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix to combine. Chill the dough in the refrigerator one hour, or until firm enough to handle.

With floured hands or wearing disposable gloves, break off teaspoon-size pieces of dough and roll into small balls. Place dough balls on baking sheet about 2 inches apart, or 12 cookies per sheet. Pat into circles with your fingers (rather than rolling or stamping). Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned around edges. Let cookies cool 1 minute on baking sheet on rack and then transfer cookies to a rack. Cookies will become crisp as they cool.

Store between sheets of wax paper in a covered tin or freeze in a tightly sealed plastic bag or container.

Yield: 60 cookies

J.R. Ewing And A Found Recipe For Poppy Seed Cookies (2024)

FAQs

Why do you have to soak poppy seeds before baking? ›

At least 30 minutes (or up to overnight) before making the batter, stir the poppy seeds into 1/4 cup (60 ml) hot water (this step softens the poppy seeds so they are more digestible). Let sit at room temperature. Then strain.

What is a good substitute for poppy seed paste? ›

Chia seeds: Chia seeds have a mild, nutty flavor and can be used as a substitute for poppy seeds in many recipes, although they have a slightly crunchier texture. Flax seeds: Flax seeds have a nutty flavor and can be used as a substitute for poppy seeds, although they have a much stronger flavor.

What is a substitute for poppy seeds in salad dressing? ›

Flax seeds, hemp seeds and chia seeds are all possible substitutes for poppy seeds.

What is a substitute for poppy seeds in lemon cake? ›

I understand, some of you may have difficulty getting poppy seeds. You can replace them with any seeds, chia seeds, flex seeds, or even nuts to go with the lemon flavour.

What happens if you don't soak poppy seeds? ›

Failing to soak poppy seeds won't affect the taste of your bread or other baked goods. However, soaking them in water can help remove their hard outer shell, making them easier to digest.

How long to soak poppy seeds for baking? ›

Poppy Seed Cake DIRECTIONS
  1. Soak poppy seeds in milk for 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Grease and flour a bundt or angel food cake pan.
  4. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. ...
  5. In an electric mixing bowl, cream butter and eggs. ...
  6. Add sugar to the blended butter, eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
Oct 30, 2020

Why do bakers use poppy seeds? ›

Poppy seeds perform several functions in baked goods such as: Flavor: provide a rich nutty flavor, may be intensified by toasting. Aroma: provide a mild nutty aroma. Texture: contributes a crunchy texture.

Which is better white or black poppy seeds? ›

Many consider the black poppy seed flavor and aroma to also be quite strong, and it is often compared to pepper. It has a spicier smell and taste. Black poppy seeds are preferred to blue or white poppy seeds in some traditional Eastern European and Jewish dishes.

Why can't you eat poppy seed bagels? ›

Service members may want to hold off ordering that "everything" bagel. It's not an urban legend: Eating poppy seeds can cause diners to test positive for codeine on a urinalysis, Defense Department officials said in a memo released yesterday.

Can I skip poppy seeds in a recipe? ›

We should never skip any ingredient, instead we should replace it with the ingredients that are easily available. That's why measurement also matters a lot. You can use melon seeds instead of poppy seeds. However, there will be a difference in the flavour compared to the actual recipe.

What is in Panera poppyseed dressing? ›

Detailed Ingredients

Water, Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Orange Juice Concentrate, Contains Less Than 2% of Dried Onion, Mustard Flour, Poppy Seeds, Salt, Sodium Alginate, Soybean Oil, Stevia Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Natural Flavors.

Are poppy seeds good for you? ›

Poppy seeds are great sources of many of the nutrients the body needs to stay healthy. These include protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. The seeds do come from the same plant that manufacturers use to make opioids such as heroin. Sometimes, they may be contaminated.

Can kids eat lemon poppy seed muffins? ›

Yes, food-grade poppy seeds are generally recognized as safe by the United States Food & Drug Administration when used in amounts typically used in cooking. Avoid purchasing and consuming unwashed poppy seeds (generally available from private sellers online), as these carry a high risk of opiate exposure.

Will you fail a drug test if you eat a lemon poppy seed muffin? ›

Do poppy seeds affect drug tests? Poppy seeds don't have nearly enough opiates to intoxicate you. But because drug tests are exquisitely sensitive, consuming certain poppy seed food products can lead to positive urine drug test results for opiates – specifically for morphine, codeine or both.

Which poppy is best for baking? ›

Best Poppy Seeds for Baking | Color

Blue poppy seeds have the best flavor and the best harvest comes from the European climate. Other countries have attempted to match the flavor profile of the European Blue Poppy Seeds, but the unique weather makes it impossible.

What is the purpose of soaking the poppy seeds? ›

Poppy seeds are used to make poppy seed tea by washing or soaking large quantities of seed to remove the residual coating of opioid and debris from the seeds [2].

Should you soak seeds before baking? ›

Soaking seeds and grains (especially grains) before you bake with them is important for many reasons: 1. It makes them soft so they are more pleasant in the mouth and easier to chew completely so they won't break your teeth, take out your fillings, and are easier to digest. 2.

Should poppy seeds be toasted before baking? ›

Many bakers are used to toasting nuts and sesame seeds before baking them, and poppies are no different. “Since the temperature of most finished doughs doesn't exceed 210ºF,” says Pellicano, “I usually toast the seeds first in a 300ºF oven.

Is it safe to bake with poppy seeds? ›

Before Papaver somniferum seeds can be used in baking, they are carefully dried and prepared. This process also removes the possibility of serious side effects by greatly reducing the amount of the opium alkaloid they contain that allows them to be legally used in your kitchen.

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