My husband followed his nose into the kitchen. “WOW! that smells so good!”. Yesterday the house smelled of cooking fruit, a little spice, and a lot of yumminess. (Move over Pumpkin spice, the smell of Pflaumenmus cooking is amazing!) I love Pflaumenmus. Thick and flavorful, tart with a hint of spice from cloves, and the deep purple color makes it…
Author: karenanne
Seiffen Church- History and a Tour of the Bergkirche Seiffen
Seiffen is not known for its architecture. The town in a far corner of Germany began as a mining town and, over time, evolved into a sort of Christmas Village or Spielzeugdorf, filled with shops creating toys and decorations. Yet, if you go up the hill from the Buntes Haus, past the giant Christmas Pyramid, and around the bend a…
Top Oktoberfest Songs You WILL Hear at German Festivals
Music is almost as important to Oktoberfest as Beer. (I said ALMOST). So if you are headed to an Oktoberfest… or you are hosting your own Oktoberfest Party… you can be certain that music, singing and even dancing will be involved. But what sort of music will you hear? These are the TOP Oktoberfest Songs that you will most likely…
A Visit to the Black Forest Open Air Museum, Vogtsbauernhof
In the heart of the Black Forest, you’ll find a small village of houses and workshops that feels suspended in time. Thatched roofs, goats, grain mills, and people dressed in period costume from a few hundred years ago, you rub your eyes and wonder, did I discover a German Brigadoon? No, but the Black Forest Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof will…
Things to do in Erfurt- A Delightful City at the Center of Germany
You’ll find Erfurt at about the geographical center of Germany, making it the perfect stopover for our trip from west to east. We would only have one night in the city, but I started researching “Things to do in Erfurt” immediately! I found so MANY things to do that I wished we could stay a few more nights. Like Görlitz,…
Online German Language Classes for Adults- Learn German Anywhere!
Do you want to study German but can’t find a class near you? Or maybe Online German Language Classes will work better with your busy schedule. People want to study German, but maybe they can’t find classes in their area, the timing doesn’t work, or they prefer to attend class from the comfort of their home (and maybe wearing pajamas,…
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake – Zitronen Blaubeer Gugelhupf
I found this recipe years ago, cut out from a German Cooking magazine in my Oma’s drawer of recipes. Once I translated it and substituted yogurt for Quark, this Lemon Blueberry Bundt cake (or Zitronen Blaubeer Gugelhupf) became a huge hit. (After trying it, my daughter’s soccer coach insisted I bring it to every team gathering). It tastes fresh and…
Who are the Volga Germans? Holding their Tradition across 3 Countries
My introduction to the Volga Germans came through food—specifically, Kuchen. One of my readers contacted me looking for a recipe for Kuchen, like the one her Volga German grandmother made. In my experience, Kuchen is cake, and there are thousands of cake recipes. I love German food history, so it was time to do some digging, starting with who ARE…
German Applesauce Cake Recipe with Streusel
This German Applesauce Cake recipe falls under the heading “Pantry cake,” meaning you probably have everything you need to bake this cake already on hand (if you are a regular baker). Flour, Sugar, Butter, applesauce. You don’t even need an EGG! Better yet… the cake is prepared, baked, and on the table in an hour. Perfect for Sunday Kaffeeklatsch, or…
Where to Buy a Dirndl for German Festivals and Oktoberfests
All Summer and Fall you’ll find German Festivals and Oktoberfests popping up across the United States… and for you lucky travelers… there are plenty of Festivals and Events happening IN Germany! Sure, you can show up in shorts and a t-shirt, but why not get into the spirit of the festival, and wear a Dirndl?! This iconic Bavarian dress…