July 2009: German Bread

Trivia question: Who eats more bread in a year, the French or the Germans?

(photo from the website of the German Embassy in the U.S.)

My immediate response would be "the French" as I tend to associate bread more with the French than the Germans. However, according to a very interesting article in the July 3rd issue of the German Embassy’s newsletter, The Week in Germany, the average German eats 87 kilos (192 pounds) in bread and rolls every year while the average Frenchman eats 55 only kilos (121 pounds) of bread annually.

This article states that the Germans are eating more and more bread every year and that many kinds of delicious bread are available. Read the article.
You might be interested in subscribing to this weekly e-newsletter, which is full of valuable information about German culture. To subscribe, Click here.
If you would like to try making a loaf or two of delicious German bread, go to this website for recipes.
Guten Appetit!

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Black Forest Cherry Cake from German-Speaking Europe

For many travelers to German-speaking Europe , memories of happy hours spent in cafes linger long after they return home. Austria , Germany , and Switzerland are famous for their variety of desserts and coffee drinks.

David Witkosky invites us to join him at a small outdoor café in Bavaria (see below). He is studying a pastry menu and he is getting ready to order a piece of Black Forest Cherry Cake.
As we chat, he will give us a glimpse into the confectioners' world of regional tradition, culinary culture, and calories with a description of the Black Forest Cherry Cake, a successful marriage of two German specialties-high quality chocolate and sour cherries. David Witkosky, Ph.D., is the Coordinator of the Master of Liberal Arts Program and Associate Professor, German and International Studies, at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama.

The exact origin of this cake is unknown, but historians believe it originated in the Black Forest region, the Schwarzwald, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The Black Forest consists of hills covered with birch and pine and runs along 100 miles of southwest Germany's border with France . The forest is famous for its quaint villages, spas, hiking trails, and ski slopes. Famous towns and cities in the Schwarzwald include Freudenstadt, Baden-Baden , and Freiburg . Since the time of the German Romantics in the nineteenth century, this area has been associated with magic and folklore, and its craftsmen exhibit great skill in woodcarving, glassblowing, and the making of jewelry and clocks. Many people believe that Josef Keller, a confectioner from Radolfszell, created the Black Forest Cherry Cake. According to some accounts, he began serving it to café guests in Bad Godesberg, near Bonn , in 1915.

See recipe in ENGLISH or GERMAN.

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

Kuchen
125 g Butter
250 g feiner Zucker
2 Eier, leicht geschlagen
2 Tropfen Vanillearoma
165 g Mehl + 1/2 TL Backpulver, gesiebt
1 TL Natron
60 g Kakao
185 ml Buttermilch

Füllung
60 ml Kirschwasser
750 ml Sahne, geschlagen
425 g Schattenmorellen aus dem Glas oder schwarze Kirschen, abgetropft

Überzug
100 g gute Bitterschokolade
100 g Milchschokolade
Kirschen mit Stiel, zum Dekorieren

1. Backofen auf 180 Grad Celsius vorheizen. Eine Springform (20 cm) mit Öl oder zerlassener Butter einfetten. Boden und Seiten mit Backpapier auslegen.

2. Mit dem elektrischen Handrührgerät Butter und Zucker leicht und cremig schlagen. Nach und nach einzeln die Eier zugeben und jeweils gut unterrühren. Vanillearoma zufügen und gut vermischen. In eine große Schüssel füllen. Mit einem Metallöffel Mehl, Backpulver, Natron und Kakao abwechselnd mit der Buttermilch unterheben. Gut zu einem glatten Teig vermischen.

3. In der Backform verteilen, Oberfläche glattstreichen. 30-40 Minuten backen, bis ein Stäbchen, das man in die Mitte steckt, beim Herausziehen sauber bleibt. 30 Minuten in der Form ruhen lassen, dann den Kuchen herausnehmen und auf einem Kuchengitter abkühlen lassen. Wenn er kalt ist, mit einem langen Brotmesser horizontal in 3 Böden schneiden.

4. Für die Schokoraspel Schokolade 10-15 Minuten an einen warmen Ort stellen, bis sie weich, aber immer noch fest ist. Mit einem Gemüseschäler von den schmalen Seiten âLöckchenä abschaben.

5. Zum Zusammensetzen einen Boden auf einen Kuchenteller stellen und großzügig mit Kirschwasser einpinseln. Gleichmäßig mit 1/5 der geschlagenen Sahne bestreichen. Die Hälfte der Kirschen darauf verteilen. Den zweiten Boden auflegen, wiederum mit Sahne und Kirschen belegen. Den dritten Boden aufsetzen und mit Sahne bestreichen. Auch den Kuchenrand gleichmäßig mit 1/5 Sahne abdecken und mit Schokoladenlocken verzieren. Auf der Oberfläche des Kuchens rundum Sahnehäubchen aufspritzen und mit frischen oder Maraschinokirschen mit Stiel und weiteren Schokoladenlocken dekorieren.

Black Forest Cherry Cake

Ingredients
8 oz. plain chocolate, at room temperature
15 oz. morello cherries (sour cherries) or pitted cherries
3-4 tablespoons Kirsch (Kirschwasser)
3/4 pint double cream and 2 tablespoons top of the milk
(or 2 cups heavy whipping cream and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla)
3 chocolate sponge cakes, 9 inches in diameter
fresh cherries or maraschino cherries with stems, to decorate

Preparation

1. Using a potato peeler shave the block of chocolate into thin curls. Chill.
2. Drain the syrup from the cherries and mix with the Kirsch.
3. Whisk the double cream with the top of the milk until stiff. (Or whip the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks, adding 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.)
4. Place one of the cakes on a serving plate and prick several times with a skewer. Sprinkle with half of the cherry juice, then spread with a quarter of the cream and arrange half the sour cherries on top, leaving a 1-inch margin around the sides.
5. Place the second cake on top, sprinkle with the remaining cherry juice, spread with a quarter of the cream, and arrange the remaining sour cherries on top.
6. Position the third cake on top and press down lightly.
7. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining cream. Press chocolate curls onto the sides of the cake and spoon some into a mound in the center. Arrange fresh cherries around the center mound of chocolate and chill for 1-2 hours before serving.

Throughout German-speaking Europe, cafes like the one shown in pic. 1 in Zurich , Switzerland , provide access to local charm, hospitality, and gastronomy.They are often centrally located and attract tourists and residents alike. The attractive café shown on pic.2 can be found in Austria .
Glance into the inviting window of a confectioner's shop and cafe in Freiburg , Germany (pic.3 ). Not only can guests order a slice of Black Forest Cherry Cake and a cup of coffee, but they can sample other German desserts, e.g., Poppyseed and Potato Cake, Rum Gugelhupf, and Hazelnut Torte.

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