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…
Author: karenanne
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…
Visit Görlitz- A Historic City on the Easternmost Border of Germany
Before driving into Poland to visit our Silesian roots on a recent family trip, we stopped to catch our breath for a few days in Görlitz. Why visit Görlitz? The city has been high on my to-visit list for a while. The Altstadt is home to the Silesian Museum as well as beautiful old buildings dating back to its time…
A Tale of Two Schalmei – What is a Schalmei?
In our Saturday German School, we sang the same verse over and over, overlapping in far from perfect harmony, while our teacher jumped back and forth across the front of the classroom, pointing to groups when it was their time to join in the round. “Es tönen die Lieder…” Es tönen die Lieder Der Frühling kehrt wieder Es spielet der…
German Herb Pancakes with Asparagus and Ham -Kräuterpfannekuchen mit Spargel und Schinken
I love when my visit to Germany falls into Asparagus Season. Germans take White Asparagus very seriously, to the point where you might consider it mania! Restaurant menus offer special Spargel Karten (Asparagus Menus), and you can taste it prepared in dozens of dishes. When I tasted Kräuterpfannekuchen mit Schinken und Spargel (Herb Pancakes with Ham and Asparagus) in the…
Burg Maus- The Perfect Setting for a Mystery! Guest Post by Rachel Selle
Thanks so much to Rachel Selle, author of “Mystery at Castle Mouse” for writing this guest post to share the fascinating history of Burg Maus on the Rhine! (I do love when someone does my job for me). Enjoy the post… and then check out Rachel’s book series “The European Adventures” available in English AND German. Rachel gave a reading…
Underground in the Erzgebirge- An Abenteuer Bergwerk Mine Tour
sI’ve avoided dark underground spaces like caves and mines for most of my life. (The walls feel like they close in… brrrr) So why was I suiting up in a slicker and hard hat to tour a mine? Because THIS special mine is in the Erzgebirge. In previous posts, I’ve written about the Christmas decorations and toys, like Pyramids, Nutcrackers,…
The Nebra Sky Disc & the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle
The Nebra Sky disc captivated me the first time I saw a photo of it. While it looks like a simple blue disk with golden circles and crescents, the bronze disc reflects the heavens in a very specific way. I had the opportunity to see it in person at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Germany. Fabulous. The breathtaking…