Originally from Germany, I travel and explore the culture and cuisine of places in Europe. Once back home in my kitchen, I recreate the recipes from my travels. My motto: “I travel not to escape Life, but for Life not to escape me”
Besides globetrotting, my hobbies are baking (cooking), painting and glass mosaic art.
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Pfifferlinge or Chanterelle Mushrooms
Chanterelles, or in German Pfifferlinge, are golden yellow mushrooms that are widespread in Europe and found on the menu late July to end of September
Marillenknödel, a sweet and delicious Austrian Apricot dumpling
I ate this dessert or dish at the Mariandl Restaurant in Spitz, Austria. The “Marille” is a protected designation of small Apricot that grows in the W
Wirsinggemüse, a creamed Savoy Cabbage dish from the Franconia region
I was in the vegetable section of the grocery store the other day and found a Savoy Cabbage. I remembered that my mother used to make a creamed Cabbag
Zwiebelrostbraten or Onion Roast Beef, a popular German feast
Zwiebelrostbraten is sliced medium rare Roast Beef, served with fried onions on top, to which the name refers. It is a traditional dish of Swabian and
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 dumplin
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 (scrol
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
“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 20
A Hofbräuhaus opened in 1908, but not in Munich
August L. Janssen, the future “Wirt” and proprietor of the Hofbräuhaus in New York City was born in Emden, Germany. At age 20 and after attending the
Salzburger Nockerl, a sweet, light and fluffy Dumpling
At one of my visits to Salzburg a couple years ago I was longing for an Austrian sweet dish. We stopped at Cafe Mozart in the Getreidegasse to experie
Schaschlik Kebab with a Curry Tomato sauce
This Shisch Kebab or Schaschlik (Shashlik) recipe brings back memories of Family get-togethers in my childhood. It is also remembered as 80’s party fo
The Munich Christmas miracle
The people of Munich have their very own Christkindl or Christ child. Every year it is displayed for worship from the first day of Christmas until the
An amazing archeological find turned out to be a Roman Villa
It was a rainy day in Germany, so a visit to a Museum came to mind. Only 45 minutes from where I was staying is Ahrweiler in the North of the Rhinelan
A Chicken Stuffing from my Childhood
This is my mother’s recipe given down through generations. This recipe can be used for any poultry, including Turkey. The chicken liver is optional, a
Colorful and healthy Spätzle, a variety that also tastes good
Spinach Spätzle is a healthy and wholesome variety on your dinner table that will also delight your guests. Fresh Spinach can be substituted with the
A famous sight in Munich, the Glockenspiel
Several times a day, always at the full hour, groups of people gather on the Marienplatz in Munich to witness one of the city’s most famous sights: th
Dallmayr is known for Coffee, but also for their famous delicacies in Munich
One morning while staying at the Hotel du Train, I strolled down to the Marienplatz. There, right behind the Townhall at the Dienerstrasse, I found th
The Blautopf, “The Beautiful Lau”
On my route to Tübingen, I stopped in Ulm. There I met a man passing me on the sidewalk while I was strolling down to the Fischer Quarters. I asked hi
The Orient Express is in Munich – as a hotel
After arriving in Munich, I wanted to experience a hotel stay of a special kind. I took the public transportation to the Sendlinger Tor or Gate. From
Chamonix-MontBlanc, the highest Mountain in Western Europe
This July my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and because I am an avid animal lover–especially koalas and kangaroos, we had plan
Käsespätzle, or Cheese Spaetzle
While on vacation in Sankt Gilgen, Austria I had this typical Austrian dish called “Käsespatzen”. It consists of Spaetzle noodles and grated hard chee
Leipzig claims to fame of J. S. Bach, but also a darker time
I have been in Leipzig several times, the first time 1997, only 8 years after the wall fell in the former DDR. It was just being rebuilt, and still lo
The Spargel, a white Asparagus is a popular dish in Spring
Mid April is white Asparagus picking time, and right after you can find “Spargel” dishes in almost every Restaurant in Germany. In other parts of the
Trier, the most impressive ancient city in Germany
The Rhineland has some amazing sights. Just 1.5 hrs drive from my river cottage is the city of Trier. First settled by the celts, then the Romans 2000
Colmar, the most picturesque, historic town in the Alsace
The Alsace region with all its beauty is a real place for connoisseurs, but above all, it causes tourists to be amazed. The town of Colmar, is arguabl
Versailles on Wheels, two glorious Wagons of King Ludwig ll
While in Nürnberg we spent time exploring the DB Museum (Train Museum) on Lessingstrasse. There we saw two magnificent, original train wagons of the K
Aachen has a place of Pilgrimage and Royal Coronations
Staying near Bonn, we decided to take an hour’s drive to the Aachen Cathedral or Dom, which was founded 800 a.D. by Charlemagne “Charles the Great” an
The largest Wine Barrel in the World is in Heidelberg
After taking a two hour boat ride on the Neckar, we disembarked and walked towards the Heidelberg University. On a steep incline to the Schlossberg we
The Bronze age comes to life at the Bodensee
The last time we visited the Bodensee, we stopped near Unteruhldingen to see the “Pfahlbauten”. These are wooden huts built on stilts or poles that we
Small Bretzenheim has a historic treasure
Driving through the wine region of the Rhineland we stopped in Bretzenheim. There is a carved-out rock with lots of history. The Felseneremitage is th
Nuremberg Albrecht Dürer Haus
A couple years back, while in Nürnberg, we were eating at the Augustiner Restaurant. As we were enjoying our lunch, we struck a conversation with the
Reichsburg Cochem is one of the most admired castles
Only an hour from my home base is the town of Cochem on the Mosel river. We have gone there several times by tour boat or car. This morning I got up e
Germany’s highest Waterfall is in the Black Forest
Last Fall I had the pleasure to view a natural spectacle of a special kind, the waterfall in Triberg in the Black Forest. Foaming and roaring, the wat
Mein Bauernbrot, a no-knead German crusty Bread
I became a baking enthusiast a while back after watching a video of a NY Bakery that bakes European breads. I had to try, and I am hooked ever since.
Christmas Goose, a feast for your loved ones
A juicy, crispy goose as I had growing up in Germany – who can resist that? Here is a wonderful recipe with a classic fruity-spicy filling. The Christ
Nuremberg has a new Christkind
The Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt is one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world – with a “real” Christkind, the original Gingerbread and th
Passau, the city where three Rivers meet
After settling in at my Airbnb in Passau, a city in Lower Bavaria, I took a walk at the beautiful waterfront promenade to the point where the three ri
Mittenwald in the Karwendel mountains
When traveling south from Landshut, I tried to avoid the Autobahn, so I took on a quaint country road. After a couple of hours driving through South B
Tangy Sauerbraten makes your taste buds happy
A Sunday meal I remember growing up. That sweet and sour, tangy taste and smell you won’t forget. Some have to develop taste buds for it. Sauerbraten
Landshut, a Bavarian Jewel just north of Munich
Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria. This considerable small town of about 70,000 inhabitants was a pleasant surprise when visiting friends recen
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