European Travel, General, Germany, Northern Europe

Marburg, a lovely old town with cobblestone streets and half-timbered homes

A large part of Marburg has many half-timbered homes that have been lovingly renovated and is today again showing its historical charm. My stroll through the picturesque alleys started at the Market square, whose striking Rathaus or town hall in late Gothic style was completed in 1527. I took a pause and shot some pictures of this magnificent building while waiting for the City Trolley Train. Continue reading Marburg, a lovely old town with cobblestone streets and half-timbered homes

AngiesWeb.comMay 29, 2021July 21, 2021

Austria, European Cuisine, Germany, Main Course, Recipes, Side dish, Vegetarian

Dampfnudeln, a German steamed Yeast Dumpling

Something I reminisce, we had Dampfnudeln with Kartoffelsuppe (Potato soup) some weekdays at our house. The fluffiest (!) German steamed yeast dumplings made with my Mother’s recipe. So far I have never dared to do it, but now I claim it to be mine. I believe I succeeded. Continue reading Dampfnudeln, a German steamed Yeast Dumpling

AngiesWeb.comMay 15, 2021July 3, 2021

Desserts, European Cuisine, European Travel, Germany, Northern Europe, Recipes

A Crooked or “Schiefes Haus” in Ulm

Last September I stopped at an Italian Eiscafé at the Fishermen’s Quarter in Ulm. I was sitting there enjoying my Cherry Amaretto Ice Cream cup (scroll down for recipe) with an excellent view to the „Crooked House“ or in German “Schiefes Haus”. Besides this precarious building, I visited the Ulm Cathedral that has the highest church tower in the world! The original half-timbered house from … Continue reading A Crooked or “Schiefes Haus” in Ulm

AngiesWeb.comMay 1, 2021June 19, 2021

Breads and Pastry, Cake and Torte, Desserts, European Cuisine, Germany, Northern Europe, Recipes, Vegetarian

Anneliese’s scrumptious “Apfelstrudel” or Apple Strudel

Anneliese, a former Chef at Hotel Stadt Mainz in Würzburg has given me over time some of her family recipes, this time the Apfelstrudel, which I like to present today. Whenever in Würzburg I visit my friends, the Schwarzmann girls. The sisters Margarete and Anneliese Schwarzmann and their parents (RIP) have a 100 year history in the hospitality field. They owned the Hotel and Restaurant … Continue reading Anneliese’s scrumptious “Apfelstrudel” or Apple Strudel

AngiesWeb.comApril 17, 2021April 18, 2021

General, Germany, Northern Europe

“Haushaltsschule” or Home Economics in 1900’s Germany

In the so-called “Haushaltsschulen”, young, middle-class women were taught household skills, such as cooking, baking, sewing, handicrafts, gardening and cleaning to prepare them to be good housewives and wives. In connection with the women’s movement, around 1900, the first textbooks for home economics were also developed. Initially, however, household training was not viewed as a profession, but rather as a preparation for marriage. But … Continue reading “Haushaltsschule” or Home Economics in 1900’s Germany

AngiesWeb.comApril 10, 2021April 20, 2021

European Cuisine, General, Germany, Northern Europe

“Osterbrunnen”, the decorated Easter Fountains in Franconia

Decorating an “Osterbrunnen” is a German tradition of sprucing up public fountains with garlands and painted eggs for Easter. It began in the early 20th century in the Upper Franconia (Fränkische Schweiz) but also has spread to other regions. The decoration is usually kept from Good Friday until two weeks after Easter The tradition of decorating an Easter fountain is still relatively young. A little … Continue reading “Osterbrunnen”, the decorated Easter Fountains in Franconia

AngiesWeb.comMarch 27, 2021April 28, 2021

Austria, Germany, Northern Europe, Recipes, Soups

A Potato Soup I remember eating in Vienna

There are many versions of Potato soups, I like the one I ate in Vienna, it had “Steinpilze”, a mushroom that grows in the Forests of Europe. I wanted to recreate this soup once at home. A similar mushroom I could find were the brown Baby Bella mushrooms. Continue reading A Potato Soup I remember eating in Vienna

AngiesWeb.comMarch 13, 2021June 2, 2021

General, Germany, Northern Europe

A German Farmers Almanac or Bauernkalender

In a Bauernkalender weather rules, farmer’s rules, farmer’s wisdom, annual rules, daily rules, wisdom rules, animal rules, plant rules, harvesting rules, lost days, name days includes a farmer’s calendar! Experience and knowledge are handed down in the old peasant rules that are part of our cultural history! Generations of farmers and gardeners have gathered an immense amount of knowledge through expert observation of nature, which … Continue reading A German Farmers Almanac or Bauernkalender

AngiesWeb.comFebruary 27, 2021May 15, 2021