1 pound poppy seeds
2 cups honey
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups chopped nuts
1/2 tsp. powdered ginger, optional (my mother’s mother made them with ginger too!)
Have the poppy seeds ground for you when you buy them. If this is not possible, grind them in a food chopper or pound them with a mortar and pestle.
Cook together the honey and sugar until syrupy. (Be sure to use a big enough pot and that it is heavy enough or the mixture will boil over when you add the poppy seeds!)
Stir in the poppy seeds and cook until mixture is thick, about 20 minutes. Stir frequently. (Watch carefully the last few minutes or the mixture may burn!) Drop a little on a wet surface; if it doesn’t run, it’s thick enough. Stir in the nuts and ginger.
Moisten hands; pat out mixture onto wet board to thickness of about 1/2 inch. Let cool 5 minutes (maybe longer!), then cut into diamonds or squares with a sharp knife. When knife sticks, dip into hot water. Cool completely and lift from board with a spatula.