Over the years, I’ve gotten into the habit of seeking out the German history of places I visit. While browsing the history section of my local used bookstore, I stumbled across the book “Hawaii and the German-Speaking People” by Niklaus R. Schweizer. Since we were planning a trip to the Islands, I grabbed it (a little light reading for…
Author: karenanne
German Lentil Soup with Würstchen
Going over the dinner/grocery list the other day, I suddenly craved German Lentil Soup (Linsensuppe), the kind my mom made…with Würstchen (Frankfurters). When I was a child, we’d each get our own sausage with the soup, and the ends would hang over the bowl. To my 8 year old brain, THAT was the height of luxury! (Honestly, I was a…
German Marble Cake Recipe with Eierlikör- Eierlikör Marmorkuchen
A Marmorkuchen (German Marble cake) usually satisfies everyone at the table: those who like chocolate AND those who like vanilla. Vanilla cake batter swirled with chocolate cake batter, resulting in a pretty “marbled” appearance. This German marble cake recipe with Eierlikör ramps up the flavor by adding your Oma’s favorite (and quite tasty) Eierlikör, which is mixed into both batters…
What is the Difference Between a Burg and a Schloss?
It sounds like a fun game, doesn’t it? Burg or Schloss? (Almost like a version of Stadt, Land, Fluß). Those grand and not-so-grand castles in Germany get very specific names. But is it a Castle? Is it a Palace? What is the difference between a Burg and a Schloss? (To make things even more confusing, there is an actual place…
Bierkeller Boys Oompah Band Release their Debut Album -Dive In!!
Lukas Schroeder reached out to me with some great news! Just in time for the Festival Season, the Bierkeller Boys are releasing their first CD… Dive In! This Polka playing Tuba Quartet has been entertaining people with their fun renditions of German Folk Music, Waltzes, Marches, and of course Oompah music at German venues and Fests across the Midwest. You…
The Origins of the “German” Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe
The “Three P’s” of German topics guaranteed to cause online arguments between normally levelheaded people are the German Potato Salad, the German Christmas Pickle, and the German Pancake. (Potato, Pickle, Pancake). It’s exhausting. All German Potato Salads are authentic. Regional recipes get passed down through generations. I will concede that your Oma’s warm German Potato Salad is tasty, but so…
Bryan Berenson- The Man behind the Masks
A few years ago, at German Fest in Milwaukee, I spent some time watching a man carve masks in the Culture Tent. He was swarmed by people watching his artistry. The way he carefully chipped away wood to reveal a face, as if by magic. You won’t find wooden masks or Larvae like the ones worn by the Muller Fasching…
German Cherry Streusel Cake Recipe
My husband did not want me to share this German Cherry Streusel Cake Recipe. Why? Because he loves it so much, he wants to keep it all for himself. But I explained to him that although it IS cake if I share it, plenty will still be left over for him. And besides, after baking it four times this week,…
Streuseltaler Recipe- Tasty Pastries with Fruit and Streusel
When I arrived at the Frankfurt airport, my daughter and I needed to fill an hour before our train. Fortunately, we found a bakery at the airport… so we filled the hour and our stomachs. I grabbed a fruit topped Streuseltaler because…YUM! A fruit compote, jam, or pudding sit on a yeast dough pastry, topped by crunchy sweet streusel, and…
The History of the Brandenburg Gate- A Berlin Icon
I remember the first time I stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate. On that drizzly day in 1988, the Gate stood behind a graffiti-covered section of the Berlin Wall. The backside of the Quadriga was only just visible from my low vantage point, the Iron Cross in Victory’s staff removed. The Gate, no longer in use, felt diminished- a…