Last year I was lucky… I was not only able to get to the Christmas Markets in Germany, I was also able to get to the workshops and stores in Seiffen to buy authentic Wooden German Christmas decorations. You see, I love the real deal, not the cheap knockoffs from wherever. I want to be able to keep woodcarving traditions…
Author: karenanne
The Journey System -The Best Travel Backpack to Carry On
Idea Mountain sent me their Journey Travel System Backpack to test out for you. A backpack carefully designed to carry everything you need for travel using an intelligent system that makes packing easy and FINDING things in your bag even easier. As a lifelong suitcase user, I was skeptical. I’ve tried backpacks before, and they don’t always work out. This…
Recipe for Aperol Spritz- Refreshing Drink on a Hot Day
This summer, I’ve spent far too much time reminiscing about “This time last year I was…”. You know the game. Here we are at home, the sun is shining, and I keep imagining that little restaurant in Bamberg where we spent an evening relaxing over drinks while people watching. And, of course, to help cool down (there was a…
Authentic German Apple Cake Recipe- Versunkener Apfelkuchen
One of the most baked cakes in Germany is an Apple Cake. You find them in every cafe and at any Kaffee Klatsch with more than two cakes; generally, one will be an apple cake. It’s the cake many German home-bakers learn first. In the same way that there is a Potato Salad recipe for every region (and for every…
The Passion Play of Oberammergau- History and how YOU can see it!
The Passion Play of Oberammergau holds a special place in German history. Part Pilgrimage part spectacle, every 10 years this amazing event brings over 450,000 visitors to the small mountain town of Oberammergau in Bavaria. Over four months, the locals (and yes, it’s only locals, not professional actors) stage 103 Performances that last over 5 hours!. But what is the…
What to do with Red Currants! Recipes and Growing Tips
Years ago, I was in Germany with my kids, staying with my Aunt and Uncle. At the time, my youngest was only four and was absolutely enchanted by my Tante’s kitchen garden. She was especially enamored with the Red Currants, Johannisbeeren. Every day, she went to the kitchen to ask for “her” little clear plastic bowl, and she’d go into…
East Frisian Tea and the Famous Ostfriesentee Ceremony
While my American friends grew up drinking milk or water with their dinner, we drank tea. Germans drink a lot of tea, Black Tea, Hagebutte (Rose Hip), Chamomile, and Fenchel (fennel). But NO Germans drink as much tea as the Ostfriesen or East Frisians. It’s hard to imagine, but they consume an average of 300 liters of East Frisian Tea…
Nachtisch- My Favorite Way to End the Meal
In our house, Nachtisch was almost as crucial as Abendessen, Dinner, and warmes Mittagsessen, a warm Midday Meal in Germany. At least it was for us kids. What is Nachtisch? Nachtisch means “after table”, so Nachtisch is dessert! (Not to be confused with Nachttisch, the bedside table.) Our world seems so focused on reducing calories or eliminating treats, so…
German Literature Classics made Easy- Klassiker für Kinder
Growing up, I learned conversational German, “at home” German, the basics that could get me through most everyday situations smoothly, and have nice chats with my Oma. My everyday German reading skills were similar. As a child, I devoured books in English and German, and I still feel comfortable with popular novels, mystery stories, and Cookbooks. But, I was…