German Culture

All about Germany

Heinrich Theodor Böll

Heinrich Theodor Böll was born on December 21, 1917 in Cologne.  His father was a sculptor and cabinet-maker. Böll’s Catholic, pacifist family opposed the rise of Nazism.  Between 1924 and 1928, the future writer attended elementary school in Köln Raderthal, and from 1928 to 1937, the state-run Kaiser-Wilhelm classical secondary school in Cologne. … [Read more...]

German Chocolate Cake – 3

Ingredients: *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* 2 cups flour 1 cup margarine or butter, softened 1 package of German Chocolate 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup water 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup buttermilk 1/4 tsp salt 4 egg whites 4 egg yolks Cooking: *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Preheat oven to 200 … [Read more...]

Marzipan Potatoes – Marzipankartoffeln

Marzipankartoffeln are baby potatoes made from marzipan and are traditionally given to friends in little bags or placed on the goodie plate at Christmastime. These traditional German Christmas treats are quick and easy to make and irresistible! Ingredients: 2 cups ground almonds 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon rose water * 1 large … [Read more...]

Carl Zeiss

Carl Zeiss (September 11, 1816—December 3, 1888) was a German industrialist who gained a worldwide reputation as a manufacturer of fine optical instruments. The firm of Carl Zeiss grew to one of the largest and most respected optical firms in the world. Carl showed an interest in technical studies very early, to the extent that he attended … [Read more...]

How to Cook Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are traditionally made in Germany for Christmas. Cook them anytime, and let some Christmas into the house right now! Difficulty Level: Average      Time Required: 30 min  Here's How: Heat 3/4 cup honey, 3/8 cup sugar and 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan until smooth. Stir in ginger, … [Read more...]

German Chocolate Cake – 2

German chocolate cake, originally German's chocolate cake, is a layered chocolate cake from the United States, filled and topped with a coconut-pecan frosting. It owes its name to an English-American chocolate maker named Samuel German, who developed a formulation of dark baking chocolate that came to be used in the cake … [Read more...]

Strawberry Santas

Ingredients: *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* 1 lb large strawberries 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 3-4 Tablespoons powdered sugar (or sugar substitute - to taste) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract sesame seeds Cooking: *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the … [Read more...]

Party Like a German

It's party season, and to help you seamlessly blend into German life and culture we've put together our top ten ways you can avoid embarrassment while you're keeping out the winter chill. 1. Arrive on time. Germans love nothing more than punctuality. While 'fashionably late“ might be a desirable quality in more laid-back countries, it won't win … [Read more...]

German Chocolate Cake – 1

Ingredients: *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* 1/4 cup chopped unsweetened chocolate 1/4 cup chopped semisweet chocolate 1/2 cup water 1 cup unsalted soft butter 1 1/2 cup sugar 4 large egg yolks 4 large egg whites 2 cup flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla … [Read more...]

Krampus – the Dark Side of St. Nicholas

Krampus, whose name is derived from the German word Krampen, meaning pickaxe, is said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology. Originally, Krampus was a purely pagan creation, said to be the son of Hel from Norse mythology. But he got grafted onto Christian tradition as a sidekick of St. Nicholas. The legendary beast also shares characteristics … [Read more...]