Cooking up a storm in Naperville, 1980.

With the Sinterklaas celebrations just a few weeks away, we came upon this recipe for Gember boterkoek found in "Culinary Collectibles" by Mary Lou Cowlishaw in The Naperville Sun, April 9 1980. It features Hanna's mum, Nancy Kist.

The Naperville Association of the Woman's Board of the Art Institute of Chicago will join with the City Associates Group next Tuesday to hear lecture "Going Dutch:-Paintings from 17th Century Holland" to be presented by Mary Wax of the Department of Museum Education at the Art Institute.

The Napervillians will travel to the Art Institute by bus, leaving at 9:30 am from the Mormon Church on Naperville-Wheaton Road, and returning by 3:15 pm. For this trip, on which a few reservations are still open, non-members of the Associates will be welcomed.  To make a reservation call Marty Schwab at 355-8265.

An active member of the Naperville Associates who will take a special interest in the Tuesday lecture  is Nancy Kist of 200 E Porter Ave. Mrs. Kist and her husband Nico (Nicolaas) are both of Dutch ancestry. He was born in the U.S. but was raised and educated in the Netherlands. His father, Professor H.J. "Opa" Kist, now retired, is currently visiting his son's family here for the fifth year in a row.The professor's wife  was an American who lived for 43 years in the Netherlands until her death in 1975.

"Kitchen Goddess"
in the Philippines.

Nico Kist, having held both U.S. and Dutch citizenship until he completed his studies at Delft University in 1953, had then to choose one citizenship and type of military service. He chose the U.S. and U.S. Navy Officers' Candidate School, which led to three years of Navy duty, principally in the Philippines and Yorktown, Va.

The Kists, who were married in 1954 moved to Naperville in 1967, coming here from seven years of residence in The Hague, Netherlands. They have three daughters- Katy, who is presently studying Art History at the University of Leiden in Holland: Hanna, who is at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, studying recreational resource management; and Susy, who was born in The Hague, a junior at Naperville North High School. Kist is an engineering consultant and president of his own company, N.C. Kist Associates, Inc. Mrs. Kist's college degree was earned in art history and French. She has served as a substitute teacher and a s a tutor for home-bound students in District 203. Mrs. Kist said, "My Dutch ancestors were of the kind that came "early-on" to America. They brought with them this recipe for Gember boterkoek, which must have been known in 17th Century Holland."

Gember Boterkoek (Dutch Butter Ginger Cake)

• 2 cups flower
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 beaten egg (divided into two equal portions)
• 1/2 t. salt
• 6 t. (about 3 oz.) finely chopped ginger.

Knead to a smooth dough the flour, butter, sugar, half of the beaten egg, salt, and ginger. Press dough into a buttered 8 inch pie-plate, brush the top with the remaining beaten egg, and lightly score the top in squares with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. While cake is still hot, press it down in the middle with the back of a spoon. Cool. When firm to the touch, turn out on a wire rack.

"when baking this rich creation, I let the cake get dark golden brown," Mrs. Kist said. "I watch it closely between the "golden" and "dark golden" stages. It should be soft, but done, on the inside and crisp outside. The candied or crystallised ginger is available from the spice islands in supermarkets, the Napercurian shop or Marshal Field's candy department."

I need a photo of the finished product, Nancy!