Christmas Baking: Traditional Recipes Made Easy (English and German Edition) Christian Teubner has written a number of German Cookbooks, but “Christmas Baking” is one that I reach for all the time. Originally titled “Weinachtsbaekerei”, it covers all of the traditional German Christmas Cookie Recipes, and even a few cakes and breads. It’s a little book, but it is LOADED with…
Author: karenanne
Feuerzangenbowle Recipe and Where to Buy A Feuerzangenbowle Set
Nothing says Gemütlichkeit like a flaming drink! The German Feuerzangenbowle Set (literally, Fire Tongs Punch brings friends together. This traditional German mulled wine (Glühwein) has a flaming cone of sugar over it, slowly dripping the caramelized sugar into the warm wine for extra flavor. I fell hard for this drink while visiting the Christmas Markets in Germany last year. Whenever…
Marzipan Pigs Good Luck -Marzipan Glückschwein
The Marzipan Pig Tradition is quite simple. If you give Marzipan Pigs, good luck and delicious flavors will be spread to friends and family this Christmas! Many Germans like to include a Marzipan Glückschwein with their Christmas gifts! Or as a special gift for the New Year. These sweet treats will make anyone feel lucky…. If only because they have…
The German St Nicholas Tradition- What is St Nicholas Day?
On the evening of December 5th, children in Germany, especially in the Catholic regions, will clean their shoes and place them by the door or on the stairs, hoping that St Nicholas will come by and fill them with sweet treats and small gifts overnight. Years ago, before Christmas became a gift-giving holiday, December 6th was when children got their…
Losing a Language- How I Tried to Teach my Kids German and Failed
German was my first language. ( In fact, I sometimes joke that I could be an ESL, English as a Second Language Student, and apply for benefits.) You see, even though I was born in California, my parents are German… and had just recently arrived in the country. It’s only logical that they spoke German in the home, and I…
German Christmas Smokers -Räuchermännchen History & Where to Buy One!
German Christmas Smokers, or Räuchermännchen, may look like toys or simple decorations that go on the mantle, but they do more: they are incense burners. Many people collect Räuchermännchen, and this Christmas decoration is pretty common in most German households (like Nutcrackers). What’s fun and collectible about these figures is the variety of Smokers. There are Santas, Brewers, Beekeepers, and…
Easy Blitz Torte Recipe-Lightening Fast Cake with Cream and Fruit
The Blitz Torte recipe came to me from my Tante Anne. It looks impressive, but despite looking “fancy,” it’s actually not that difficult to make. Sweet, tart fruit and a whipped cream filling are sandwiched between two layers of cake topped with meringue and almonds. It’s perfect for a Kaffeeklatsch. And it certainly lives up to its name—it’s LIGHTENING FAST…