Each month, we highlight recipes from R365 employees who share them and the memories they signify. This month is no different as we spotlight this holiday nut roll recipe, courtesy of Dave Yakubik, Director of Customer Support, and learn about the longstanding family traditions he works to keep alive each holiday season.
A key part of Restaurant365’s culture and a common thread between all the members of our community is an affinity for food.
Each month, an employee’s recipe is shared throughout the organization. These recipes are more than just a list of ingredients and instructions, they give us a sneak peek into the lives of our coworkers. We have the opportunity to see special recipes that hold memories, stand the test of time, and claim a significant place in someone’s heart.
What better way to bond and share pieces of our personal lives than with our core value of Love Good Food?
Now, enjoy this family recipe shared by our very own Dave Yakubik, Director of Customer Support.
Nut rolls were a staple of my Ohio upbringing. I always liked them, but I didn’t attach special importance to them because they were so common in my grandparents’ homes (especially during holidays), at school bake sales, and at parties hosted by family friends, most of whom were also of predominantly Eastern European ancestry.
After I moved to Texas, I made it to Ohio less consistently for holidays. The older generation passed on. The younger generation started new families. Along the way, holiday traditions fractured and died. Reflecting on this in adulthood,I’d recall nut rolls with nostalgia because they reminded me of the happy and safe childhood feeling that family holiday gatherings once provided.
Luckily one of my aunts preserved my grandmother’s recipe (learned from her Slovak immigrant mother) and I now try to make it every year.
So many European immigrant families lost touch with their origins. Their ancestors were poor and trying to get away from something, and they prioritized assimilation to avoid discrimination. A simple tradition like nut rolls reminds me that my family came from a particular place with its own culture, and that I can stay in touch with that culture if I choose.
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This recipe can make 4 smaller rolls or 2 larger ones. Use a lightly floured surface and achieve a squarish shape with a rolling pin. Trim if necessary (doesn’t have to be perfect). Sometimes nut rolls are individual, like a ladyfinger, but I prefer this version because it shows off the swirl.
Portion filling evenly among the sheets and spread to uniform thickness, leaving edges bare. Roll fairly tightly, like a scroll, and seal the dough seam (use water or milk if necessary). Before baking, place on a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper and cover with a dish towel or moist paper towels to allow a rise of 30-45 minutes. Then brush exposed surface with milk or beaten egg.
Bake at 350° for about 45 min, until golden brown. When finished, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar. Slice and eat!
The simplicity and humbleness of the confection is appropriate. Mildly sweet, it pairs perfectly with coffee or tea. It’s also recommended to this recipe warm. Freshly-baked, you can still taste the yeast in the dough. Užívať si!
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