WEDNESDAY'S HODGEPODGE

Once again it is time to link up with Joyce for this week's Wednesday's Hodgepodge.  Click the badge above and join us!

1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year...do you participate and if so, in what way?

If having a krapfen (doughnut) during Fastenzeit (Lent) counts, then I'm guilty.  But I wouldn't go so far as inject my own filling with a syringe firmly planted on top.  You never know.  It could be a used one!

2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So....butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What's your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?

Here in Munich a favorite pancake is served for desert.  It is called Kaiserschmarrn.  It really comes from Austria but has been adopted by Germans and is very popular.   The word "Kaiser" meaning Emperor and "Schmarrn" meaning mishmash = Emperor`s mishmash. It is such a quick and easy dessert recipe, enjoyable to make.  Basically it is cut up pieces of pancake sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with a fruit compote of apples, strawberries, blueberries, etc.  I've included the recipe here:

Kaiserschmarrn
200g flour
50g sugar
6 eggs
250ml milk
pinch of salt
2 tbsps raisins

butter
icing or powdered sugar
apple compote or puree of any fruit you wish




Separate the egg yolks from the whites.
Mix the egg yolks, sugar, flour and milk in a bowl.
Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites and beat with an electric whisk or hand whisk until stiff.
Fold the stiff egg whites carefully into the flour and egg mixture.
Melt some butter in a large frying pan. Pour in the dough and then sprinkle with raisins. Cook on one side for a couple of minutes, turn over, cook and then chop into rough pieces with a fork.
Do not overcook otherwise the pancakes will dry out.Sprinkle with icing or powdered sugar and serve with your favourite compote.


Or, if you shop in International food stores you might find this:

3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What's your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they're lightweights.

Hands down-- the lovely, fragrant hyacinth.  Pink or purple preferably.

4. "Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves." Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?

This is a quote I've forgotten about, but I find it to be very true.  I think we all choose to be close to people who bring out the best in us.  However, you can also look at this quote and come to the realization that if you met a brutally honest person, you probably wouldn't befriend him or her.  But I honestly believe that the qualities that we find distasteful in ourselves and others become outwardly apparent to us when we are faced with them in others; thereby reminding us of our own character flaws.  


This quote could be the basis of a great novel, don't you think?

5. Since it's "March" and also the season of Mardi Gras....have you ever been in a parade? What's the best parade you've seen?

Yes.  I was a member of my University Dance Team and did appear in parades "back in the day" as they say.















One of the best parades I have ever attended was a Kite Festival parade in Bali.  The participants were from Denpasar, Bali and were having the parade to honor the Hindu gods to bless their crops.  It was outlandish, exotic, and the kites were phenomenal.  It is one of many memorable moments we had in Bali. 

UPDATE!  I went out this afternoon and lo and behold, there was a PARADE in town.  A Faschingzeit Parade with drummers, music, and cars and trucks loaded with costumed people throwing candy to the little ones.  Here are some photos.

 Every one loves a parade!

6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you___________?

I had three wishes!

7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?

Good thing you asked this question this week, because up until Saturday, we didn't own a car here in Germany (we have one back in the U.S. being stored in our garage.) Since it is only been in our possession for 4 days, it is spanking brand new and clean as a pin--for now.

8. Insert your own random thought here.


We are moving house in a month!  In mid-April we plan to move farther south to a town called Forstenried, Germany.  It is a suburb of Munich and our new digs are located one street away from the Forstenried forest.   The forest is a recreational area consisting of 43 kilometers of hiking and biking trails, paved in part, and extensive riding trails. There are opportunities for sports like running, cycling , horseback riding, inline skating and winter skiing. There is also a playground, a nature trail and a fitness trail. The Rad-Ring Munich, a bike path around the city, crosses the east-west direction. We are looking forward to an active spring and summer this year--that is if we can avoid the numerous biergartens scattered throughout the forest!



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