The South Dakota Kuchen recipe sent me on a deep dive through two of my favorite topics: German Immigration History and Food. I can already hear all the Germans saying, “Kuchen means Cake”! And yes, generally, when speaking German, saying “Kuchen” means a non-specific “cake.” But THIS Kuchen refers to a very specific kind of cake. South Dakota’s Kuchen arrived…
Author: karenanne
Bavarian Kaiserschmarrn mit Apfel Compote ala Xaver’s Munich
This week, I traveled to Bavaria by Zoom for a semi-private cooking lesson with the chef and owner of Xaver’s in Munich… step-by-step they led me through the process, and in the end, I had a delicious plate loaded with powder sugar-dusted Bavarian Kaiserschmarrn and an extraordinarily tasty Apfel Compote. Granted, it wasn’t nearly the same as being there, but…
Write to the Osterhase, Hanni Hase, at the German Osterpostamt
Do you know someone who is excited about the Osterhase (Easter Bunny)? Why not get out some paper, pencil, and maybe some colorful markers, and let your little one write a letter to the Osterhase, Hanni Hase in Ostereistedt! The idea for an Easter Bunny Post Office originated with an advertising agency in Hamburg in 1982 as part of the…
St Hildegard of Bingen- The German Visionary Saint
St Hildegard of Bingen officially holds the title of Patron Saint of Writers and Composers (and some suggest she’s unofficially the patron saint of both Beer and of Women, especially those of a certain age). Beyond the trappings of Sainthood, Hildegard was most certainly an extraordinary woman. The Benedictine Abbess was a Polymath who received visions from God, wrote books…
Die Sendung mit der Maus! 50 Years of Explaining our World
Today, I learned how a search engine works. I also found out what shape raindrops take when they fall. No, I didn’t read a book or do a Google search; I watched “Die Sendung mit der Maus”! What is Die Sendung mit der Maus? For 50 years, this award-winning German TV program on WDR entertained and educated German kids ! And…
Cute House Shoes & Slippers from German Slippers
We wear slippers and house shoes all the time in our house. I hate dragging dirt from the garden or the street into our home. But I need a slipper that keeps my feet warm, holds up well, AND looks cute. Fortunately, GermanSlippers has a fun selection of SUPER CUTE House Slippers for women and men, perfect for lounging, household…
What is a Volksmarsch? Walking for Fun, Friendship and Fitness
Germans love to walk. A short walk to aid digestion, or walking instead of driving to the local market to pick something up, and of course, a Sonntagsspaziergang (Sunday Walk) was a weekly thing, generally through a botanical garden or local scenic area. Germans also love to be organized. That’s why it comes as no surprise to me that Germans…
Pfirsichschnitten- Peach Streusel Cake Squares
The other day, I was flipping through a German cookbook, and a recipe fell out. Pfirsichschnitten. It was my handwriting, and I can remember clearly copying it from a recipe I found in my Oma’s recipe drawer onto the grid paper from her tablet. This deceptively simple cake has always been a favorite. It’s the kind of cake to enjoy…
Karneval Berliner – How to Make Berliner
Why are Berliner / Pfannekuchen / Krapfen made during Karneval Season? Karneval is a time of exuberance before Lent’s austerity. Believers are supposed to give up tasty things like fried foods for those 40 days before Easter. So, be sure to eat all the Berliner you can BEFORE midnight on Karneval Dienstag! (Shrove Tuesday). Berliners are filled with tasty fillings…
A Visit to the Nuremberg Toy Museum- Spielzeugmuseum Nuremberg
Nuremberg has been a hub of toy making since the Middle Ages, so it makes sense that the Nuremberg Spielzeugmuseum is considered one of the best Toy Museums in the world. HUNDREDS of toy makers had their workshops along the cobblestoned streets and ways. Not only that, Nuremberg is the home of the first mass-produced toys and the first Tin…