Wow. Nice.
Open Air Library In An Abandoned Industrial Landscape
Magdeburg, Germany, is the place where you can visit and admire the Open Air Library. With a budget of $325,000 Euros, the library was built on a surface of 488 square meters. The project started in2005, when residents of an abandoned district centre in East Germany used crates to build a district library and donated books filled the shelves of the former district library’s site. KARO Architekten were commissioned to build the modern Open Air Library we can see today. The abandoned industrial landscape was adorned with a fantastic urban experiment in the shape of a modern library, constructed from pieces of the modernist facade of the old HORTEN warehouse of the City of Hamm, built back in 1966. With no need for registration, the public library gathers readers in a contemporary outdoor setting. Readers can take books and bring them back or bring other ones in exchange, so that everyone can enjoy this open place and the knowledge it brings. Open 24 hours a day, the Open Air Library is also used for public readings, local band concerts and other cultural events. The elementary school uses the library for theater plays and every community member can take part in this cultural experiment.
(Click photo for more pictures)
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One of my readers recently asked me on formspring, whether I knew a recipe for pretzels with a custard in the loop which he tried on a recent trip to Germany. So I thought, I should share it with all of you!
The yummy pastries are called “Puddingbrezeln” (fem.) and you can probably get them at every German bakery. Here’s how you make them:
You need:
DOUGH: 250g wheat flour; yeast; 40g sugar; 1 egg; 200g (low fat) curd
CUSTARD: 1 pkg. vanilla pudding powder; 250ml milk; 300g (low fat) curd
Prepare the dough by mixing all the ingredients. Let it sit in a warm place until it has gotten much bigger. Preheat the stove to approx. 200° C. In the meantime shape the pretzels (starting from 0.37sec) and place them on a baking tray.
Also prepare the custard now: prepare the pudding with the milk; then mix in the curd. Now put about 1-2tbsp into each loop.
Bake for about 15-20mins. And then: DIG IN!
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The following poem is really famous (written at the end of the 19th century). Children often have to learn it by heart in school/kindergarten. WATCH.
Denkt euch - ich habe das Christkind gesehn!
Es kam aus dem Wald, das Mützchen voll Schnee,
mit rotgefrorenem Näschen.
Die kleinen Hände taten ihm weh;
denn es trug einen Sack, der war gar schwer,
schleppte und polterte hinter ihm her.
Was drin war, möchtet ihr wissen?
Ihr Naseweise, ihr Schelmenpack -
meint ihr, er wäre offen, der Sack?
Zugebunden bis oben hin!
Doch war gewiss was Schönes drin:
denn es roch so nach Äpfeln und Nüssen!
Translation:
Guess what? I saw the Christkind.
It came out of the forest, its little cap full of snow.
Its hands were sore
Because it was carrying a sack that was very heavy
And was dragging it behind.
You want to know what was in it?
Do you think it was open?
You nosey ones.
It was tied securely,
But there was an aroma of apples and nuts.
(pic via halle.de)
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German children write their wishes down and send them to the Christkind - the German Christmas angel (lit: Christchild). It’s Santa’s helper and brings the gifts on the late afternoon/evening of the 24th.
die Weihnachtspost = Christmas mail
der Brief = letter
einen Brief schreiben an = to write a letter to
der Wunsch (Wünsche) = wish(es)
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This is a picture of one Germany’s oldest Christmas markets: Dresden! It’s called “Striezelmarkt” and was first mentioned in 1434 (!!). Nowadays, the Striezel is more commenly known as “Stollen”, which is a famous German fruity christmas cake.
On the picture you can also see the famous wooden Christmas pyramid. Small versions can be found in many people’s homes during this time of the year. The city of Dresden is close to an area called “Erzgebirge” where these type of Christmas pyramids are made.
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SPITZBUBEN! They are Plätzchen!! Tough one ;) Nomnom. Another cookie recipe for you guys! These are particularly cute - their name translates to “rascals”. I think they’re originally from Switzerland. My mom bakes them every year and they’re simply delicious!
You need:
- 1 1/8 cups butter
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 egg white
- 3 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor
- 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar for decoration
Beat butter or margarine until soft and fluffy. Mix in the sugar. Beat the egg white into the creamed mixture and add to the flour mix. Cover the dough, and rest the dough in the refrigerator for one hour. Roll it out until it is about 3/4 inch thick. Cut out circles with pastry cutters and smaller shapes into the middle the circles. Bake in a preheated 400 ° F (200° C) oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Warm up jam (whatever flavour you like, usually its something like raspberry) and put some on the cookies without the hole. Then add a cookie with a hole on top - they’ll stick together. For decoration, sprinkle with powdered sugar. GUTEN APPETIT!
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Wort des Jahres 2011
Every year, the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (society of German language) announces the “word of the year”.
Today, 2011’s word was presented: STRESSTEST (masc.) I guess there’s no translation needed ;)
Usually, it’s a term that can be found in medical science. However, since this year Germany’s politicians have been under some serious stress (for various reasons), “Stresstest” has been used many times.
What’s your personal word of the year (English or German)?
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Today one of Germany’s most important post-war authors died at the age of 82 in Berlin: Christa Wolf.
Christa Wolf was awarded with a bunch of big literature awards e.g. the Georg Büchner award and the Thomas Mann award. She even received the Georg Büchner lifetime achievement award in 2002. Her writing was profound and critical and she animated many people to reflect on topics like the DDR and Chernobyl.
R.I.P. Ruhe in Frieden! :(
(pic via
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A couple of hours ago, the world famous Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt has opened its doors and this year’s Christkind, the Christmas messenger, held her famous speech -> CLICK TO WATCH. Until December 24th you can enjoy great Christmas food / candy / mulled wine and buy beautiful Christmas decoration.
It’s one of the oldest and biggest German christmas markets and has been around since the middle of the 16th century. About 2 million visitors come every year. Have you already been or are you planning a visit?
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Happy Turkeyday, my dear American followers :)
In Deutschland feiern wir kein Thanksgiving. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Germany. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have some pie, right? ;) GUTEN APPETIT!
der Kürbiskuchen = pumpkin pie
der Apfelkuchen = apple pie
der Truthahn = turkey
der Süßkartoffelauflauf = sweet potato casserole
die Moosbeerensauce = cranberry sauce
der Kartoffelbrei = mashed potatoes
der Mais = corn
die Erbsen = peas
(pic via lizpezzuto.blogspot.com)
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