Pockets of German culture in America have always fascinated me. I wonder why and when the group arrived in the United States, how they live (and how much different their new home is from Germany), and what parts of Germany do they hold onto. The Pennsylvania Germans go back to the time before there even WAS a United States.…
Author: karenanne
Susanne Bacon’s Wycliff Novels- Books that Sooth the Soul
Sometimes when things get just a little too heavy or overwhelming, it’s good to sit in a comfy chair with a cup of tea and a feel good book. Susanne Bacon’s Wycliff Novels, starting with “Delicate Dreams” are exactly what I needed to find my center again after a very busy week. No bloody murders, no overwhelming crisis, no smart-aleck…
German Hot Dogs- The History of an Iconic “All American” Food
People who study these things say that the average American eats 60 Hot Dogs each year….grilled, steamed, boiled… flung from peddlers in Ballparks, off a rolling cooker in a 7-11, or out of a vendor’s cart. But the BEST hot dogs are the German Hot Dogs. These snappy wonders, with their tight casings that burst with flavor when you bite…
German Cherry Streusel Cake Recipe (with CHOCOLATE Streusel!)
Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs. The basic building blocks of most cakes and pastries. The infinite variations, combined with a few flavorful additions, never cease to amaze me. Try this recipe for a Kirsch Streusel Kuchen, a German Cherry Streusel Cake with both chocolate and vanilla Streusel. Those four basic ingredients, with the addition of a few tablespoons of cocoa, some sour…
German Tomato Salad Recipe with Variations
Don’t you love a fresh tomato in summertime? It tastes of sunshine. Even when I can’t get any other veggies in my garden to cooperate, I always seem to have success with tomatoes. This year, we got a bonus when a few “volunteer” plants came up in the garden before we started planting! Naturally, they all seem to want to…
Easy Pineapple Punch Recipe -Ananas Bowle for Parties!
This easy Pineapple Punch recipe comes together with minimal effort, but tastes like you went through a lot of trouble. Canned (or fresh) pineapple, wine, champagne and some juice come together to create a tasty mix… with a little bit of a punch. (And it’s a nice way to stretch out the wine budget a bit since generally, you use…
Traditional German Lederhosen -Their History and Where to Buy
One of the most enduring stereotypes about Germany is the “Traditional German Lederhosen” is that ALL Germans wear leather shorts or leather knee length pants. (I blame Clark Griswald for this). While men and women have worn Lederhosen (leather pants) in Germany throughout history, it’s mainly considered a part of the Tracht (traditional dress) in Bavaria. The history of how…
West Germany’s Economic Miracle -Wirtschaftswunder
Cover image- Wirtschaftswunder Deutschland nach dem Krieg -Josef Heinrich Darchinger After spending a few semesters in mandatory Economics classes at University, I am certain of three things: 1. It’s virtually impossible to get more than two economists to agree on anything. 2. Guns and Butter are almost impossible to balance. 3. Taking a 7:00 a.m. Economics class might be the…
Raspberry Streusel Cheesecake Recipe- Himbeer Käse Streuselkuchen
After tasting an amazing Himbeer Käse Streuselkuchen in Berlin, I spent three years working on the exact recipe for this German Raspberry Cheesecake with Streusel Recipe. For a while, I felt like Captain Ahab, certain that the White Whale could be found in fresh berries and streusel. Why did it take so long? Well, I certainly wasn’t baking this cake…