In an earlier post, I told the story of my beloved Kugelhopf/Gugelhupf pan. It belonged to my Bavarian grandmother who brought the pan with her when she immigrated from Switzerland to Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Her precious recipe (a printable version is at the bottom of this post), was an important reminder of her youth and family […]
Mom’s Kugelhopf/Gugelhupf
July 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
In a previous post, I told the tale of the journey taken by my Grandmother’s Gugelhupf pan. Then, in a follow-up post, I shared Grandma Landolt’s beloved recipe. A number of people have asked that I also share my mom’s richer and denser recipe. A printable version of hers can be found below. For those of you […]
The Tale Of My Gugelhupf (Kugelhopf) Pan
July 10, 2014 by 21 Comments
Every childhood visit to my Swiss German grandparents in Pennsylvania was greeted by the smell of freshly-baked Gugelhupf. The taste and smell of this round, high-domed, dense, buttery, raisin-speckled cake baked in a decorative pan with a hole in the center penetrates every memory I have of them. My grandmother was born and raised in […]
Chocolate Almond Flourless Cake
May 8, 2013 by 1 Comment
For many years, I taught a series of classes entitled Desperate Households. In each class, students worked in small groups with each group making a full meal. I always thought it was important for students to make everything on the menu, thinking it unfair for them to sign up and only make one of the […]
Mardi Gras King Cake
March 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It’s Mardi Gras time!! I love, love this festival. I have spent many happy times in Louisiana at celebrations in the city of Lafayette and in rural Cajun country. I cannot express how much I love the traditions of Courir de Mardi Gras passed down generations in the prairie regions of Cajun country. A description […]
How Traditional Alsace Pottery Is Made in Soufflenheim
October 27, 2012 by 14 Comments
When I think of the fabulous cuisine of Alsace, I conjure up images of delicious, hearty dishes prepared and/or served in beautiful, colorful, locally-produced pottery. Kugelhopf (yeast-induced, slightly sweet cake baked in turban-shaped forms), onion and apple tarts, sauerkraut left to ferment in specifically-designed pots, terrines, garlicky snails nestled in half circle crevices on round plates, Lammala (sweet […]
Zwetschgendatschi (Plum Cake)
September 18, 2012 by 3 Comments
I love this time of year. The heat is gone and there is a refreshing chill in the air. Everything is still lush green and, best of all, orchards are yielding their fruits. This season is so special to me because it is when Mom would always bake one of my Dad’s favorite cakes from […]
