“Do you see that figure on the unicycle?” Our guide in Erfurt asked, “Do you know who that is?” Of course, I do… the man in the jester hat is Till Eulenspiegel, a figure of German storytelling for over 700 years. But who was Till Eulenspiegel? A Jester, a prankster… someone who spoke truth to power. Over the years the…
Author: karenanne
Apricot Marzipan Cake Recipe- Aprikosen Marzipan Kuchen
The flavors of Apricot and Almond complement each other, so it’s no surprise that an Apricot Marzipan Cake (Aprikosen Marzipan Kuchen) gets gobbled up every time I serve it. Instead of chunks or a layer in the cake, the marzipan gets whipped into the cake batter to create a light, almond flavor base for 2 pounds of Apricots! The hot…
A Visit to Ellis Island- Ellis Island Immigrants from Germany
A few years ago I visited the Bremerhaven Auswandererhaus (Emigration Museum), this year I paid a visit to Ellis Island, where many of the immigrants landed on the other side of the Atlantic. The museum houses the other half of the immigration story. I went, unsure of how much German history I would see, after all, Ellis Island acted as…
The Brot Box! It’s Where to Buy German Bread
Bread, real German bread… Where to buy German Bread? Ask most people what they miss the most about Germany, and they will say…”The Bread”. Flavorful loaves made from rye for Abendbrot, Brötchen (rolls) with crisp crust at the breakfast table, and seeded loaves to accompany soups. And while the artisanal breads are gaining traction here in the United States, NOTHING…
The General Slocum Disaster of 1904- A German-American Tragedy
1021 people, mostly women and children perished in the General Slocum Disaster of 1904. And yet, the tragedy is mostly forgotten. Kleindeutschland (Little Deutschland) in New York City thrived through the 1800s into the turn of the century. German-Americans lived, worked, shopped, and worshipped in this thriving neighborhood. Then on June 15, 1904, 1358 people climbed aboard the General…
A Visit to the German American Heritage Museum
The German American Heritage Museum may be one of the smaller museums in Washington DC. Still, their efforts to preserve the history of Germans in America make up for its tiny footprint. (Plus I firmly believe that small museums are the best.) Since 2010, the museum has occupied Hockemeyer Hall on 6th Street NW, in the Penn Quarter just a…
Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC
On May 21, 2024, I was honored to represent the Berlin Airlift Remembrance Alliance at the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The event took place in the shadow of the imposing towers of the US Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC The Ambassador of the…
Tchibo Coffee Machine Review- Like a Coffee Shop on My Counter
The Tchibo company recently sent me an amazing new Tchibo Coffee machine to try here at home, and I LOVE it. The compact machine grinds and brews a perfect cup of coffee with the touch of a button. And first thing in the morning, when I’m not quite awake, a button is about all I can handle. Having a Tchibo…
Haribo Gummi Bears- Are German And American Gummi Bears Different
I was lucky. When I was a child, my Opa sent brown-wrapped parcels filled with sweets to America. And inside there were always packets of German Haribo Gummi Bears. When my kids were young, we started seeing Gummi bears in American stores. But, they weren’t quite the same… and I wondered, Are German and American Gummi Bears different? April 27th…