The ABC's of Trip Reporting- PLEASE JOIN US ON THE NEW THREAD!

[All7OfUs]

Wow, how interesting! We don't use a roling pin, but flat forms, which are pretty antique as well. Katharina posted about it last year here. I think I have some pictures of the baked ones as well, do you want to see them? I would love to see your rolling pin and the results! I have never met anyone else who bakes them here in Germany (besides my father's sister and here daughters).

I can see from your molds that the shapes/designs on our rolling pin are much more basic!! Mine won't be as ornate- partly because I was a little shy about pressing to hard, thus squashing the dough too much. I should have been a bit more aggresive in my rolling technique so I could get more print. We have 3 clay mold that have designs on them as well, so I'll use those for a different cookie- (perhaps almond shortbread?) later.


ANyway, the other thing that we do differently is sprinkle the baking sheets with loads of anise seed, so they bake with a nice flavor and seeds in them- tasting somewhat of licorice. Mmmm!! The dough I used from Joy of Cooking also didn't call for powdered sugar- only granulated. But I'm sure the cookie tastes quite the same- a bit bland other than the anise.

 

[Flossbolna]

I can see from your molds that the shapes/designs on our rolling pin are much more basic!! Mine won't be as ornate- partly because I was a little shy about pressing to hard, thus squashing the dough too much. I should have been a bit more aggresive in my rolling technique so I could get more print. We have 3 clay mold that have designs on them as well, so I'll use those for a different cookie- (perhaps almond shortbread?) later.


ANyway, the other thing that we do differently is sprinkle the baking sheets with loads of anise seed, so they bake with a nice flavor and seeds in them- tasting somewhat of licorice. Mmmm!! The dough I used from Joy of Cooking also didn't call for powdered sugar- only granulated. But I'm sure the cookie tastes quite the same- a bit bland other than the anise.

Yes, the anise seeds are used here by some people as well, we don't really like them too much and my grandma never used them...

Yes, pressing the dough with the right measure is rather difficult. That's why with our flat ones, we press the dough into the molds. Very important not to squish it too much because them it would stick to the mold. We also dust the molds with flour first to prevent sticking.

My mother (the homeconomy teacher) says that the most important thing for the dough is that the eggs and the sugar are really well beaten into a very fluffy cream. I think this helps the dough to rise or something like that. And obviously the powdered suger will dissolve much quicker and hence make a nicer cream sooner. I have seen recipes with granulated sugar here in Germany as well.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

or lessons on how to use a combine- j/k how did he do those horrible things??

Hmmm, well, he almost cut his finger off when he was hopping out of his boat. He'd grabbed onto the side of the boat with his left hand, and as he swung around and out, his wedding ring caught on the rim of the boat and cut through his finger to the bone.

He almost cut off his arm when he was working (alone, unfortunately) remodeling the interior of an insurance office. He was using a mitre saw and pulled it down onto his left arm, again to the bone. Major surgery and PT followed this one! At least this time, he didn't insist on driving himself to the hospital, unlike with the finger incident!

Yes, VASTLY. But actually I really misssed the more spiritual side of the Thanksgivings we had in Kaz. where we were truly so very thankful for many things.

It has to be such an adjustment being back here in the states. Does everything still seem surreal, or are you used to it yet? Do you think you'll ever go back in the field?

Cool! I didn't realize Glenn and Dan were in that movie. I guess I will have to go buy it and watch it now......

Oh that's good stuff!

......(good friends of our own kids) KNEW the "Tannen-bomber". !!!!

Is that what they're calling the guy who was arrested for planning to bomb a Christmas tree lighting thing?

"Holy fart knocking cow" is something only the Greatness of Great Biscuit could come up with. I miss GB!!!

When you first said it, I thought to myself that it sounded like something he'd say! I miss GB too!:

 

[Millie12591]

Hi Camille, great to see you again!! I was jsut going to send you a PM to say that I hope you are ok! I know that I still owe you a PM which I promised ages ago, and you will certainly get it!!

We miss you too Camille!! But , like you, I've not been able to be on very much either.
Meantime, Everyone!!! Have a great weekend! I'll try to get some pictures up soon of the great looking German treats I've been baking this week!!!

Awwww. So sweet to hear back from you two. Magdalene, I've been thinking of you also. All your talk of manners in Europe vs. the U.S. has had me thinking about how we don't make it a point to be more mannerly. So I actually copied some articles about it and have my daughter using it in her study's, I'm learning along with her so I won't look like such a goof when I come to visit you. A lot of these manners are no brainers, some I just didn't realize were such a big deal in other countries!
With all the cooking and what not going on around here with the holidays, it's made me think of all our Dis friends on here. I wonder how everyone's holidays are going and if everyone is having as good a holiday as we have. Magdalene, you'll have to come out here one year and have Thanksgiving with us, it would be such a treat to have you here.
You two are so great at starting cookies early. I don't usually start my cookies so early due to fear of making and then going bad, do you all make them and then freeze them? I know I'm sounding pretty ignorant to ask this....I'm just wondering how others go about doing this. I find myself a bit over-whelmed trying to do the cookies within the week or so of Christmas, so some advice would be good.

Wow, how interesting! We don't use a roling pin, but flat forms, which are pretty antique as well. Katharina posted about it last year here. I think I have some pictures of the baked ones as well, do you want to see them? I would love to see your rolling pin and the results! I have never met anyone else who bakes them here in Germany (besides my father's sister and here daughters).

The cookies y'all make are just beautiful, I don't make anything that pretty. I make the thumbprint cookies with the raspberry jelly in the middle and the almond frosting drizzled on top of them, the oreo cookie truffles, peanut butter with reese's cups in the middle, maybe the Russian tea cakes, mini-pretzels dipped in almond bark and drizzled with red and green almond bark.....I can't think of anything else, probably sugar cookies too but I'm leary about doing these because they take so long. The dough gets warm to quickly to make more than a few at a time before the dough needs to go back into the fridge. If I end up making them I think I'll make them into a log and cut them into circles rather than cut out shapes, much easier and less hassle.

 

[Flossbolna]

Awwww. So sweet to hear back from you two. Magdalene, I've been thinking of you also. All your talk of manners in Europe vs. the U.S. has had me thinking about how we don't make it a point to be more mannerly. So I actually copied some articles about it and have my daughter using it in her study's, I'm learning along with her so I won't look like such a goof when I come to visit you. A lot of these manners are no brainers, some I just didn't realize were such a big deal in other countries!
With all the cooking and what not going on around here with the holidays, it's made me think of all our Dis friends on here. I wonder how everyone's holidays are going and if everyone is having as good a holiday as we have. Magdalene, you'll have to come out here one year and have Thanksgiving with us, it would be such a treat to have you here.
You two are so great at starting cookies early. I don't usually start my cookies so early due to fear of making and then going bad, do you all make them and then freeze them? I know I'm sounding pretty ignorant to ask this....I'm just wondering how others go about doing this. I find myself a bit over-whelmed trying to do the cookies within the week or so of Christmas, so some advice would be good.

The cookies y'all make are just beautiful, I don't make anything that pretty. I make the thumbprint cookies with the raspberry jelly in the middle and the almond frosting drizzled on top of them, the oreo cookie truffles, peanut butter with reese's cups in the middle, maybe the Russian tea cakes, mini-pretzels dipped in almond bark and drizzled with red and green almond bark.....I can't think of anything else, probably sugar cookies too but I'm leary about doing these because they take so long. The dough gets warm to quickly to make more than a few at a time before the dough needs to go back into the fridge. If I end up making them I think I'll make them into a log and cut them into circles rather than cut out shapes, much easier and less hassle.

Thank you very much for the invitation to Thanksgiving!!

Different cultures' view on what is appropriate and what is not is really intersting. It really shows that each culture has created its own set of rules which helps people to interact in everyday life. And while some things might seem rude to us, if used in the appropriate context, it is alright! Like burping in China - it is a compliment to the hostess that the food was good! I find this fascinating!

I think your cookies sound very sophisticated to me! I would not have the patience to make pretzels.

Actually, here in Germany most people make their cookies weeks ahead. They are supposed to be stored for some time since this will give them time to "mature", e.g. spices can work their way through the cookie etc. If you keep them in a dry and cool place, their isn't anything that can go wrong with them. Very often people here complain that they are still eating christmas cookies in February and I have never heard of anyone who got sick from them. Of course if you use any frosting which has stuff that needs to be refridgerated than that's not an option.

 

[MEK]

I love your running story. It's so perfect for how everyone (fast or slow) feels when they do a run in the heat. Its a lot of work. Running can be very deceiving and its hard to know who is genetically blessed to be a good runner. It's not just size and shape, I swear its a genetic thing. I learned that years ago when I actually tried to compete in 5K runs. No matter how thin I got, I never got fast. I just knew I didn't have enough of those fast twitch fibers. So congrats on finishing the race and getting a medal. Very cool!

 

[lovealldisney]

Actually, here in Germany most people make their cookies weeks ahead. They are supposed to be stored for some time since this will give them time to "mature", e.g. spices can work their way through the cookie etc. If you keep them in a dry and cool place, their isn't anything that can go wrong with them. Very often people here complain that they are still eating christmas cookies in February and I have never heard of anyone who got sick from them. Of course if you use any frosting which has stuff that needs to be refridgerated than that's not an option.

Hi Magdalene,
I find this very interesting. Growing up we would bake our cookies weeks ahead as well! We had an extra freezer in our basement, we had boxes of cookies stored there. When ever we had company over my mom would send a plate of cookies home with them. And we to had cookies left for months after Christmas.
I would bake like that but knowing my kids we wouldn't have any cookies left by Christmas! Plus I really don't have any place to store them properly.

 

[englishrose47]

We didn't bake cookies in England !!Soooo when I came here I wanted to be "American" Sooo I asked my MIL for the recipe to Cut out Cookies , followed it exactly and could not roll them out as they stuck to the rolling pin , no amount of flour or pounding worked !!Sooooo I called her and she said " You must not have chilled the dough long enough" She hadn't included that in her recipe and when I pointed this out her reply" Everyone knows that"Over the years I learned that MIL was not the best to ask for cooking tips as she usually didn't really have a recipe and would invent or give un followable directions !!

 

[marvali]

Oh that's good stuff!

Thanks Rebecca! I thought that one disappeared down the thread so quickly it got missed by everyone.

We didn't bake cookies in England !!Soooo when I came here I wanted to be "American" Sooo I asked my MIL for the recipe to Cut out Cookies , followed it exactly and could not roll them out as they stuck to the rolling pin , no amount of flour or pounding worked !!Sooooo I called her and she said " You must not have chilled the dough long enough" She hadn't included that in her recipe and when I pointed this out her reply" Everyone knows that"Over the years I learned that MIL was not the best to ask for cooking tips as she usually didn't really have a recipe and would invent or give un followable directions !!

Sheesh Rosie, I thought everyone knew that too!!! FYI, when I bake cookies (and yes, I can bake some pretty good stuff) I always do drop cookies. When you use spoons, things sticking is never what you have to worry about!!!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

... and every time I get on the boards I literally start falling asleep....

you must be reading marvs report then.

 

[All7OfUs]

Ooooooh, great chit-chat going on here! Keep it coming! I have to get my daughter to her class registration at a new community college today, so no time to be on until this evening. But one thing I did want to reply to quickly...

Yes, Camille- we freeze our cookies in ziplocks, and I usually start in early December. This year, I'm doing the gingerbread (from Magdalene's recipe), the springerle, thumbprints with mint Kisses on them, and some "spumoni" layered cookies. If I get more motivated than that, I'll add a batch of almond flavored sugar cookies for the kids to work with. But the BIG project this year is gingerbread houses. I went to Winco and let each kid pick out 5 candies from the bulk bins, and bought a boatload of graham crackers (yes, the lazy way out this year). I'll mix up the royal icing, and let them have at it- I hope to use the 3 or 4 houses as a centerpiece on the holiday table surrounded by hand cut fir and cedar.

Anyway, I'll be back with an update hopefully later today- meantime enjoy the party place.

 

[englishrose47]

Thanks Rebecca! I thought that one disappeared down the thread so quickly it got missed by everyone.
Sheesh Rosie, I thought everyone knew that too!!! FYI, when I bake cookies (and yes, I can bake some pretty good stuff) I always do drop cookies. When you use spoons, things sticking is never what you have to worry about!!!

But then you don't get shapes Unless your WOODEN is magic !!!

you must be reading marvs report then.

What report??????

 

[Flossbolna]

Yes, Camille- we freeze our cookies in ziplocks, and I usually start in early December. This year, I'm doing the gingerbread (from Magdalene's recipe),

Don't freeze the gingerbread!! It won't do it any good but will make it dry. Put it in a box with a piece of apple and store them at a cool place (garage or so would be fine). That's what we do with all our cookies (well, not the apple this goes only into the Springerle and the Lebkuchen).

 

[mrp4352]

Hi Magdalene!! I have been (literally) thinking about you all day!! I just got out all the stuff I need for making lebkuchen! and am ready to start! I am beyond excited- I also just finished the Springerle. Does your family eat those??

Hello! Where do you got the bottom wafers for the lebkuchen? I don't remember ever seeing them in a store before...

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I am in awe of you! How wonderful for you to train, run and finish a race. I have tried my hand at running and if you aren't a natural runner, it is tough work. Like really tough. So I applaud you and congratulate you on your medal. Is that pretty thing hanging up somewhere that every visitor can see it? I hope so!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

What report??????

 

[All7OfUs]

After our resounding victories at our 5K, we vegetated. Somewhere in that vegetative state, my parents told us they had a surprise for us. Backstory:

My parents go through vehicles and other passing fancies faster than Charmin quilted in my house. I swear they trade out cars every other year, and have been known to pack one off because it needed an oil change. No lie. I’m glad they have money to burn; that’s often to our advantage. We never ask, but sometimes they like to “dump” stuff on us. We almost never refuse. I did have to say no thank you recently to some ancient Christmas decorations my grandmother had in her collection since like 1945, and although they may have been retro and cool and EBayable, I just didn’t want any knitted Santas for covering my teapot.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, most of the stuff coming down the pipeline is great stuff, and I guess since we haven’t been around for a long, long time, they were feeling like it was “our turn” to enjoy some “stuff”. It also helped in this case that we are the only ones still hillbilly enough to use it. Both of my sisters have moved on to vacations in Cape Cod or Palm Springs. Sleeping under the pines just isn’t their stem of champagne anymore. (Don’t get me wrong sipping champagne enhanced by the scent of earth and evergreen is pretty much the bomb.)

In fact, sipping champagne in one of these babies sounds phenomenal (remind me to try that next time):

That’s what it looked like sitting in my parents’ driveway. It is not just any old crank up style jobbie, but has a single button you push to raise it up. It can "comfortably" sleep 4, but needs supplementary foam before next spring. My neck practically self-destructed on our maiden voyage. Let's see... what else- the piece' de resistance?? A potty!!! Dudes, this thing has a real potty and shower!!! A stove top, and loads of cabinets. Cold?? No problem- it has propane AND electric heaters too!

Now that you've seen it in a driveway, let’s take a look at what it looks like in its element, and discover what ELSE can be done in our new pop-up trailer!!

It can go to places like this, where we went a couple of weekends after getting back to the Great Northwest.

And some fabulous memories can be made that look something like this:

Pooh Sticks, Anyone??

Of course, not only can you have a great time making memories for years to come, but you can also find all kinds of freaks of nature like these:

And no foray into the forest is complete without a photo collection of mushrooms! Magdelene's was fun to see, so here's some more:

And, if you mushrooms aren’t your thing, let’s see what other beautiful scenery someone with a pop-up can find:

So the next time I say we’re going camping, you’ll know just what kind of rig we’ll be taking to have our salmon dinners cooked over an open fire. And the kids will tell you that they are pretty excited to get out again soon so they can gorge on S’mores and play Pooh Sticks. I for one an also hoping that someday, just maybe, this little camper trailer can see the sights of Fort Wilderness!! I hope my parents get really tired of their iPhones pretty soon, so I can leave it behind when I go back to Forest Creek Camp!

 

[All7OfUs]

Yes, the anise seeds are used here by some people as well, we don't really like them too much and my grandma never used them...

Yes, pressing the dough with the right measure is rather difficult. That's why with our flat ones, we press the dough into the molds. Very important not to squish it too much because them it would stick to the mold. We also dust the molds with flour first to prevent sticking.

My mother (the homeconomy teacher) says that the most important thing for the dough is that the eggs and the sugar are really well beaten into a very fluffy cream. I think this helps the dough to rise or something like that. And obviously the powdered suger will dissolve much quicker and hence make a nicer cream sooner. I have seen recipes with granulated sugar here in Germany as well.

The fact that the eggs and sugar needs to be super fluffy is why I waited to be at my FIL's house to make them. He has a Kitchen Aide mixer that does a nice job whipping stuff up! I didn't get to the lebkuchen yesterday, but will be back down there next week sometime. Just too much to do there!! Yes, the beaten eggs certainly would help the cookies to raise as they'd have trapped air in them that would expand as they bake.

Hmmm, well, he almost cut his finger off when he was hopping out of his boat. He'd grabbed onto the side of the boat with his left hand, and as he swung around and out, his wedding ring caught on the rim of the boat and cut through his finger to the bone.

He almost cut off his arm when he was working (alone, unfortunately) remodeling the interior of an insurance office. He was using a mitre saw and pulled it down onto his left arm, again to the bone. Major surgery and PT followed this one! At least this time, he didn't insist on driving himself to the hospital, unlike with the finger incident!

OUCH!!! We had a friend do that once on a basketball rim. Nearly took his finger clean off. These kinds of accidents seem to happen in a flash- my own dad did the same thing while hanging a flourescent light fixture- blood was squirting all over the walls, and it also needed surgery. Maybe you remember that from about a year ago? He needed 3 tendons re-attached. Amazing how you can be 100% independent one minute, and completely dependent others for driving, showering and umm.... other personal things the next.

It has to be such an adjustment being back here in the states. Does everything still seem surreal, or are you used to it yet? Do you think you'll ever go back in the field?

In some ways. I still feel VERY unsettled and I imagine until Mike gets a job, I won't. It's difficult living out of boxes and being back and forth between houses, not really knowing if we'll end up in Salem or not.

Is that what they're calling the guy who was arrested for planning to bomb a Christmas tree lighting thing?

Yes, they've nicknamed him the "Tannen-bomber". Of course, there are a lot of folks crying "Framed! Framed!" with a zillion conspiracy theories floating around. I'm not sure we'll ever know the real truth, or WHAT goes on in the mind of terrorist??

When you first said it, I thought to myself that it sounded like something he'd say! I miss GB too!:

I got a PM from him a few weeks ago, and he is just VERY, VERY busy with the Christmas season at church and in life. I hope he will come back and join in again soon!!

 

[All7OfUs]

I love your running story. It's so perfect for how everyone (fast or slow) feels when they do a run in the heat. Its a lot of work. Running can be very deceiving and its hard to know who is genetically blessed to be a good runner. It's not just size and shape, I swear its a genetic thing. I learned that years ago when I actually tried to compete in 5K runs. No matter how thin I got, I never got fast. I just knew I didn't have enough of those fast twitch fibers. So congrats on finishing the race and getting a medal. Very cool!

I am definitely NOT genetically inclined to be a good runner, or even a so-so runner. I do it because it makes my hubby happy, and I know I should be exercising. Simple as that. And it MIGHT get me back to DisneyWorld someday to do a 1/2 marathon. Maybe.

I've gained almost 10 pounds already since moving back, mostly because the food here is so danged tasty!! But also because I'm not regularly running anymore. I injured my foot somehow about 2 months ago, and it really is just NOT healing.

HOWEVER, I am going to run another 5K this Sunday called the Ho-Ho Run. I'll proably end up walking about 1/3 of it again, as I just don't have the training like I did last summer. THe prize for this run? A tree seedling. I'm like, WHAT? A tree? PUH-LEEZE!! I want the bling, baby!!

Hi Magdalene,
I find this very interesting. Growing up we would bake our cookies weeks ahead as well! We had an extra freezer in our basement, we had boxes of cookies stored there. When ever we had company over my mom would send a plate of cookies home with them. And we to had cookies left for months after Christmas.
I would bake like that but knowing my kids we wouldn't have any cookies left by Christmas! Plus I really don't have any place to store them properly.

My mom was the same- SKADS of cookies all through December. But we were naughty and ate many of them. So I understand your fears. Maybe a neighbor would be willing to "hide" them for you?

We didn't bake cookies in England !!Soooo when I came here I wanted to be "American" Sooo I asked my MIL for the recipe to Cut out Cookies , followed it exactly and could not roll them out as they stuck to the rolling pin , no amount of flour or pounding worked !!Sooooo I called her and she said " You must not have chilled the dough long enough" She hadn't included that in her recipe and when I pointed this out her reply" Everyone knows that"Over the years I learned that MIL was not the best to ask for cooking tips as she usually didn't really have a recipe and would invent or give un followable directions !!

You poor thing!! How could you have known that?? It's something that you learn from living in a place- like using a blow torch to get the fur off a sheep before boiling it.

Thanks Rebecca! I thought that one disappeared down the thread so quickly it got missed by everyone.
Sheesh Rosie, I thought everyone knew that too!!! FYI, when I bake cookies (and yes, I can bake some pretty good stuff) I always do drop cookies. When you use spoons, things sticking is never what you have to worry about!!!

Please!! NEVER give Marv ANY spoons!

you must be reading marvs report then.

 

[All7OfUs]

Don't freeze the gingerbread!! It won't do it any good but will make it dry. Put it in a box with a piece of apple and store them at a cool place (garage or so would be fine). That's what we do with all our cookies (well, not the apple this goes only into the Springerle and the Lebkuchen).

OK, when I FINALLY get a chance to actually make it, I won't!! I will put it in a cookie jar with a slice of apple to keep them moist and soft! MMmmm! I can't wait!!

By the way, I just clicked the "register" button for my 2nd 5K! It's called the Ho-Ho run and sounds like it's a WONERFUL course!! I can't wait!!! It's on Sunday!

Hello! Where do you got the bottom wafers for the lebkuchen? I don't remember ever seeing them in a store before...

You know what?? I have no idea where I'd get any either!! I will go with the method of using parchment paper and calling it good enough. Magdalene?? Any ideas?? Thanks, mrp, for asking a great question!!!!

I am in awe of you! How wonderful for you to train, run and finish a race. I have tried my hand at running and if you aren't a natural runner, it is tough work. Like really tough. So I applaud you and congratulate you on your medal. Is that pretty thing hanging up somewhere that every visitor can see it? I hope so!

It IS tough work!!! VERY, in fact, and honestly, I do not love, or even really like running. But, if it someday gets me into a Disney race, I'll suffer through it.

Believe it or not, yes, it is hanging up! If not for all my guests to see, it's there for me! I"m such a big baby!