All Things German In California
We wish all our friends, supporters, and followers a Happy Holiday Season!
May these days be filled with moments of peace and joy and laughter. We are excited to see you back in the new year.
Thank you for being part of our CaliforniaGermans community!
Have a fabulous start into 2023!
Happy Holidays – Frohe Weihnachten & Happy New Year – Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
CaliforniaGermans
Image: CaliforniaGermans
The holidays are usually a great time for some cozy family movie nights. And this year with so many restrictions in place due to the pandemic even more so; movies can transport us into a different world and let us escape these strange times for a good two entertaining hours or more, of course, if you like to binge-watch.
Justine Barda, CEO of telescopefilm.com, a company that promotes international films to American audiences, teamed up with German Films this year to create a German Films microsite on Telescope. This site offers audiences a database with an abundance of German films and series with information about where to watch them online in the USA.
Check out telescopefilm.com/germanfilms and build your own holiday list today. There are many ways to go about finding the perfect movie. Either choose the search function and look for a particular movie or get some ideas on what to watch by checking out the recommendations at Telescope’s Spotlight, which presents a new themed international film selection every week.
Either way, you can’t go wrong. Be it a movie from the wide international film selection or one of more than 30,000 German films. The choice is yours.
Here are a couple playlists for certain search terms we tried:
“Weihnachten”: https://telescopefilm.com/search?findfilm=weihnachten&x=0&y=0&searchby=0
“holidays”: https://telescopefilm.com/search?findfilm=holiday&x=0&y=0&searchby=0
Just get the popcorn and you’re ready for the show! Enjoy!
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Image: Pixabay
Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft
In der Weihnacht ein Menschenskind die Welt betrat,
in ihm sich der Same für eine besondere Kraft verbarg.
Eine Idee entfaltete eine wunderbare Kraft,
die in Geschichten Jahrtausende überdauert hat.
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Lichter glitzern in den Fenstern und Straßen,
Geschäftiges Treiben herrscht in den Gassen.
Frohsinn und Besinnlichkeit erklingt,
während die Natur die Stille des Winters besingt.
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Überall glitzernde Kugeln und bunte Lichter.
Zuckergebäck erhellen die Kindergesichter. [Read more…] about Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft *Merry Christmas *
Our last book tip for Christmas 2018 makes us indulge in famous German literature. It’s a book that is not only a must for all Tucholsky fans but also for everyone, who loves Berlin and its history.
“Hereafter. We Were Sitting on a Cloud, Dangling Our Legs.” is a collection of humorous short stories by Tucholsky that for the first time appear as a collection in a book as well as being published in English.
Kurt Tucholsky is known for his political and satirical stories in the Weimar era, but the famed author also had a whimsical, spiritual side, and we experience it in this book, Hereafter. We Were Sitting on a Cloud, Dangling Our Legs.
Hereafter was originally a loose series of humorous short stories. Tucholsky wrote them between 1925 and 1928, while he was on assignment in Paris for his paper, Die Weltbühne (The World Stage). This is the first time these stories are collected in a book — adorned with pictures of little angels from Berlin’s cemeteries —, and also the first time they are translated into English. [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #5 – Kurt Tucholsky’s Whimsical Stories About the Afterlife
Life of a German Teen during WW II. From Enduring Hardship to becoming a U.S. war bride – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
What was it like for a teen to live in Germany during World War II?
Our first Christmas Book Gift Tip tells you all about it. The memoir “Otti Remember” lets you relive those turbulent times as Otti Baulig Ney remembers and allows you to be part of her life’s story.
“Otti Remembers: German WWII Teen Immigrates to America,” offers a rare, first-hand account of those turbulent times. Otti Baulig Ney, 89, from Sutter Creek, Calif., reveals how she endured bombing raids, tuberculosis (TB) and extreme deprivation as a teen during the war years. [Read more…] about X-mas Gift Book Tip #1 – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
Have you started Christmas shopping yet? 5 Ideas are on its way.
The next five Wednesdays leading up to Christmas we’ll support your Christmas shopping with some unique book ideas that make for a special gift.
We are going to introduce some German or German-related books that are refreshingly uncommon and off the beaten path. Let’s say not all are mainstream literature just yet, but so worth discovering.
Among the 5 books we’ll present, you will find one that’s perfect for children. Two of them make the perfect gift for all the history buffs among you as they deal with German history in quite different ways: One is a memoir of a German expat while the other is a historical fiction novel, packed with the suspense of diplomatic and political drama.
Lastly, we have one book in our gift repertoire for just pure enjoyment and entertainment and another, that lets you dive into the depth of famed German literature.
Curious yet? Stay tuned and check in with us this and every Wednesday until Xmas, and find out what we have in store for you.
You might just find the perfect gift for someone special!
Image: Pixabay.com
It’s not Christmas without Gingerbread Cookies!
As a child, I loved using my little cookie cutter forms and produce a variety of differently shaped butter cookies, which I later decorated wildly. But as much as I enjoyed making butter cookies, I really, really loved to eat Lebkuchen! In fact, I couldn’t get enough of them. My favorite was the Elisenlebkuchen, made by my aunt from a family recipe, which was quite elaborate and required not only ample time but also lots of attention.
On a mission to find a recipe that would combine the easiness of a butter cookie recipe but encapsulate a flavor reminiscent of my cherished Lebkuchen in the final product, I came across this delectable and easy-to-make recipe for gingerbread cookies. And, the fun thing is…I can use all my cookie cutter forms with this kind of dough as well. Bingo!
Dive into our last Christmas cookie recipe for this holiday season!
Bon Appétit!
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INGREDIENTS:
70g Sugar
180g Honey
1 Egg Yolk
1 Pinch of Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Candied Orange Peel (orangeat)
5 tbsp Water
375g Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
PROCEDURE:
Step #1 – First put the sugar and the honey in a pot and heat it up until it turns into a creamy mixture (don’t cook!). Put aside and let cool down. Preheat the oven to 356 Fahrenheit.
Step #2 – Add egg yolk, cinnamon, salt, and water to the mixture and mix well. Put flour and baking powder into a separate mixing bowl and add the honey mixture to it. Blend well. Cover the mixing bowl and let the batter rest for 24 hours.
Step #3 – Roll out the dough and cut out cookies in a gingerbread man shape for example. But any shape works fine. Bake at 350 Fahrenheit (top and bottom heat) for 11 minutes. Sugarcoat or decorate with icing or sprinkles.
Step #4 – Enjoy as a savory Christmas treat with friends and family, or use as a special decoration on your Christmas tree!
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!
Image: Pixabay.com
JELLY RINGS FROM BAD ISCHL – The No-Eggs Xmas Cookie
In our Christmas Cookie Baking Series, we share today one of Dieter Kermas’ favorite ‘Weihnachtsplätzchen’ that he has baked for years! It’s a straightforward recipe that doesn’t need any eggs.
The cookies make for a beautiful looking and deliciously tasting Christmas treat. In fact, this cookie and some with slight variations (different jams & jellies) belong to the traditional staple of Christmas cookies in Germany and shouldn’t miss on any Christmas cookie platter. A variation of this cookie is called ‘Spitzbuben’, a cookie that looks similar but sometimes incorporates an egg in its cookie batter.
Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
300g Flour
100g almond flour
185g powdered sugar
2 packets of vanilla sugar
1 pinch of salt
225g Butter
some flour to roll out the dough
75g raspberry jelly
PROCEDURE:
Step #1 – For the dough, mix the flour with the almond flour and the 125g powdered sugar.
Step #2 – Make a well in the middle. Add the Vanilla sugar and the pinch of salt to it.
Step #3 – Spread the butter in little flakes around it. Quickly prepare to a smooth batter. Cover and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
Step #4 – On a lightly floured work surface roll out the dough about 3mm thick. Cut out round cookies with a diameter of 6cm. Turn half of the cookie batch into circles by cutting out a hole of about 2cm in the middle.
Step #5 – Put all on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 8 minutes at 392 Fahrenheit.
Step #6 – Once baked, remove the circles with the holes from the baking sheet and dip them still warm in a mixture of powdered sugar and the rest of the vanilla sugar.
Step #7 – Cover the full round cookies with the raspberry jelly and place the powder sugared circles on top of it.
Tastes delicious with a hot cup of coffee, hot chocolate or spiced tea!
Merry Christmas!
Image: Pixabay.com
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Dieter Kermas, CaliforniaGermans Author and a true Berliner, turned to writing after he retired from his profession as an engineer. Family and friends urged him to document his many experiences during his childhood in wartime Germany. This made for a collection of various essays which have been published here at CaliforniaGermans. (You can find the stories here on CaliforniaGermans.com by putting “Dieter Kermas” into the Search Box.) Apart from his childhood memories, he is also sharing some of his short stories and poems on CaliforniaGermans. Dieter Kermas, who loves to write, has published his first novel “Kolja. Liebe im Feindesland” in 2016, available at Amazon. Some of his work has been included in anthologies.
To get in touch with Dieter Kermas, please send an email with subject line “Dieter Kermas” to californiagermans@gmail.com
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Christmas Rum Cake
This is the recipe for a delicious rum cake that our CaliforniaGermans contributor Merrill grew up with. It’s a treasured recipe from his mother, who used to make many smaller cakes from this recipe instead of one big one. It stayed a tradition for him and his family and every holiday season they are the delight of everyone in his family.
Enjoy!
LIST OF INGREDIENTS:
| 1. | 1/2 Pound | Cake Flour |
| 2. | 1/2 Pound | Sugar |
| 3. | 1/2 Pound | Butter |
| 4. | 5 Eggs | Separate the yolks from the egg white |
| 5. | 1/2 Cup | Evaporated milk |
| 6. | 2 Tea Spoon | Baking Powder |
| 7. | 1 Tea Spoon | Vanilla |
| 8. | 1/8 Tea Spoon | Salt |
| 9. | 3 Table Spoon | Burned Sugar (see procedure) |
| 10. | 3 Table Spoon | Raisins and cut Prunes soaked in Rum for several weeks |
| 11. | 1/3 Cup | Chopped Walnuts |
| 12. | 1/4 Cup | Red Cherries cut into Halves |
| 13. | 1/4 Cup | Green Cherries cut into Halves |
| 14. | 1/3 Cup | Dark Beer |
| 15. | 1/8 Tea Spoon | Grinded Nutmeg |
| 16. | 2 Table Spoon | Orange Juice |
| 17. | 1 Orange Skin | Grated orange peel |
PROCEDURE:
STEP #1: Burn the 3 tablespoons sugar to a dark syrup then add 1 tablespoon of water, keep to a thick consistency. Let it cool down.
STEP #2: Mix butter with sugar, add dark syrup from STEP #1, grated orange peel, vanilla, nutmeg, orange juice. Add egg yolks one at a time. Add evaporated milk little by little.
STEP #3: Strain flour, baking powder, and salt together in separate bowl and add to the batter.
STEP #4: Add the cherries, prunes, chopped walnuts.
STEP #5: Whip the egg white apart and add to the batter at low speed. Add the dark beer.
STEP #6: Pour into a buttered 9-inch mold.
STEP #7: Bake at 350 ° F for around one hour
Bon Appétit!
As a recent retiree, Merrill Lyew Emanuel now has time for his old and new hobbies. Within his hobbies are writing fan fiction in German, solving chess puzzles, repairing things at home that are not broken, doing a little bit of social media, reading every and anything that looks like a book, traveling a little, and taking snapshots with his mirrorless camera.
Having lived in Germany, Costa Rica and the USA, he is fluent in the languages of these countries. As a professional geographer he traveled profusely throughout Latin America. He is living in Southern California for over thirty years. Find more of his work at http://www.merrillius.net
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