When Aldi German Week rolls around, my mom stocks up on Stollen Bites. But this year, someone got there before her, and there just weren’t any on the shelves when I found a recipe I had torn out of a magazine years ago I decided it was time to bake them for her (does anyone else have a file folder…
Category: German Christmas Traditions
Wooden German Christmas Decorations from the German Christmas Shop USA
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…
A German Christmas Market Tour – Magic, Food and lots of Glühwein
I spend more time regretting the things I didn’t do, than the mistakes I may have made. That’s why when I got an email about taking German Christmas Market Tour only days it started, I only hesitated long enough to clear it with my family. After all, a week away in December (well, 10 days with travel), during the busiest family…
Gebrannte Mandeln- German Roasted Almonds Recipe
Visit any German Christmas Market , German FeFair, and you will smell the sugary, cinnamon, nutty scent of Gebrannte Mandeln. I think they waft the smell around to lure you in (and it works). Grab a bag to munch as you shop. Crunchy, sweet, nutty… so delicious. But there is no reason to wait until your next visit to a…
Leckerlee Lebkuchen – Authentic German Lebkuchen Made in America
It starts with the smell of spices… ginger… is that cardamom? And then you take that first bite. “oh my gosh”. You get the nuts and citrus. The texture is amazing. I’ve been eating Lebkuchen my whole life, but outside of a German Christmas Market, I’ve never had it as fresh or flavorful as Leckerlee Lebkuchen. This is Lebkuchen baked…
Where did the Christmas Tree Originate? In Germany of Course!
In modern times we see the Christmas Tree as an obvious symbol of the Christmas Season. Whether you decorate it with fabulous blown glass ornaments or hand-made ornaments that the kids made at school… there it is… a tree in your home. Maybe there are lights and tinsel, or maybe you like ribbons, but it’s always decorated. Then on Christmas…
The German Christmas Shop- For those Special Christmas Memories
You remember it…that Christmas Eve special magic that comes from the movement and light of a spinning Christmas Pyramid. The special “Christmassy” incense smell coming from Santa’s pipe. Finding my favorite special German Ornaments on the tree… and knowing that under the tree in a special box would be one for my tree when I’m grown. The people at The…
What is a Froebel Star – German Paper Folded Christmas Stars
Finally sorting out a little confusion. While doing research on Moravian Stars (aka Herrnhuttersterne), I came across sweet little folded German paper stars. While they didn’t look like the pointed Moravian stars, that’s what a lot of resources called them. But they were also called German Star, Advent Star, Danish Star, Nordic Star, Polish Star, Pennsylvanian Star, Christmas Star, and…
A Visit to Seiffen Germany- Germany’s Spielzeugdorf
I’m completely convinced that despite the North Pole story we were told as children, the real Santa’s workshop can be found in Seiffen Germany. This tucked away town in the Erzgebirge known as the Spielzeugdorf (Toy Village) is all about making wooden toys and traditional German Christmas decorations. The main road is lined with stores full of Nutcrackers, Smokers, Schwiboggen…
German Rum Balls Recipe- a Christmas Indulgence
Rumkugeln, German Rum Balls, have always been my favorites. Just the smell makes me all weak in the knees! When I was a child, my mother would only make them at Christmas. Just one batch. And I would watch and wait for the chance to lick the bowl and the spoon. (I think part of the appeal was the Rum……