Austrian/German Cake tour
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Posted:Sep 6, 2014 12:18 pm
Last Updated:Jul 16, 2015 4:14 pm 8037 Views
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By request I have compiled a small sample of Austrian cakes (torten and kuchen). Some people think I only travel to Austria to eat cakes - but they forget I like the beer too. Obviously I travel there for my health lol.
This is Sachertorte - an Austrian speciality from Salzburg. It is made from chocolate sponge, chocolate cream and covered in dark chocolate - all held together with apricot jam.
McDonalds in Germany do Kaffee und Kuchen (Coffee and cakes) - a tradition for the afternoon. These are kasesahnetorte and erdbeer sahnetorte. A German take on cheesecakes.
Waldbeerschnitte - A simple cake made from sponge with strawberry cream filling, fruit of the forest jelly topping and flaked almond covering held on with whipped cream.
Germknoedel - Fluffy dough dumplings with spicy plum jam filling topped with melted butter and a mix of icing sugar and poppy seeds (Mohn).
Cream on a cake base topped with mandarin jelly and garnished with fresh cranberries and kiwi fruit --- and, of course, more cream.
Topfenstrudel - Topfen is like sweet Yorkshire curd (or Devon junket) and is also called Quark. A large dollop of topfen is wrapped in strudelteig (a cross between short crust and flaky pastry) and given a little lift with apricot jam.
Two perennial favourites - Scwartzwalderkirschtorte (Black Forest Gateaux) and Kaffeesahnetorte (Coffee and Cream cake)
Back to McDonald's McCafe for Erdbeersahnetorte (again) and a very rich chocoladensahnetorte - rich chocolate fudge and cream mix on a solid chocolate crisp base topped with chocolate chips and black cherry jelly (Kirsch)
Another McCafe - this time with a chocolate wave cake - Whipped cream topped with a thick layer of solid dark chocolate
Apfelstrudel and Nusschnecke -- the second is a Danish pastry with this chopped nut in almond paste filling rolled into a snail shell (schnecke) shape.
As I am only allowed 10 images I will save the rest for another day - and save too many people putting on too much weight lol.
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A day out at the Flower Parade (Blumenkorso)
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Posted:Aug 24, 2014 11:21 am
Last Updated:Oct 24, 2014 6:05 am 7964 Views
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Waking up to early morning rain did not give us much confidence that we would be able to see the Blumenkorso at Ebbs (in the next valley) this year. We have been promising ourselves a trip to see it for several years but this is the first year we have been here on the right weekend for several years and it rained last time.
By the time breakfast was finished the weather was improving rapidly, however and we set of in bright sunshine to see what promised to be a spectacular sight.
A 20 minute trip round into the next valley and we were set up in plenty of time to catch the parade as it travelled from the village of Ebbs to the Festival site in a local garden centre.
A local hostelry chosen for a post parade beer and providing a good viewpoint.
The parade was a little slow in making its way out of town and a sizeable crowd had gathered by the time the first float appeared but it was well worth the wait.
With over 30 floats in the parade and some taking many thousands of flower heads to decorate (all pom pom dahlias btw) the parade really did live up to its billing - some of the tableaux must have taken thousands of man hours to
make and the largest apparently took over 300,000 flowers to complete.
At the end of the parade the floats were parked up for judging and we were able to get some close up shots - and they looked even more impressive close up.
All of the floats were pulled by old tractors and cars - most by big guest houses and businesses but some family affairs. This one even won a prize against all the big boys - with the young girl driving the tractor all the way too.
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Hartkaiser- Eiberg and other mountains.
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Posted:Aug 23, 2014 12:57 pm
Last Updated:Jun 20, 2015 9:46 am 8921 Views
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Today was my day for a long run in the mountains - so it rained; as it can only rain in the mountains. Luckily the rain stopped in the afternoon so I took the chance to get up to the top of the hills and do a run round a few peaks then back into the valley. From the top of the Hartkaiser to the Eiberg and Jochstub'nsee is a pretty varied set of tracks and with the run back into the valley to finish the whole trip is about 18km (11.2 miles). In the end it was perfect weather for running , cool and cloudy, if not for taking pictures. That is the mountains for you, you never know what you will get from hour to hour. In the starting gate and 'raring to go' or maybe not lol
The views were still pretty good even if some of the cloud was below your feet.
The local tourist board (Turismusverband) has made an effort to amuse the - these are giant earphones to 'listen to the mountains'
The tracks are usually well marked and the terrain is interesting enough to keep you going when it gets a bit tough
Some of the chalets have been the same for many years - and they really are the prettiest places to get a drink of milk or beer on the trail.
Nearing the end - and a long way down in both height and energy reserves lol
Now wouldn't you like that view out of the back window?
After all the exertion I reckon I earned a piece of cake. The pic shows the difference between Kuchen (Cakes) and Torten (Gayeaux or similar). The tall,creamy slice is a Torte , the shorter darker slice is a Kuche. The torte has lashings of creamy filling in a light cake sandwich but the kuchen has a drier cake base with fruit and a topfen (sort of curd filling) on top.
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A walk in the park- or not
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Posted:Aug 22, 2014 1:13 pm
Last Updated:Oct 26, 2019 3:59 pm 8477 Views
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Today we decided it was about time we set ourselves a bit more of a challenge and so, as usual, we took the 'easy' way out and decided to walk the highest mountain in the valley that does not require climbing gear.
At 1829m (just over 6000ft) the Hohe Salve does give spectacular views but the paths are rather steep and a real test of the knees. Having damaged the ligaments in both knees and still being under the physio Mrs J decided that she would take it on nevertheless.
A lunchtime start gave us about 4 hours for the 6.4 km (4 mile) trek - an easy stroll until you put 720m (2500ft) of descent and 300m (1000ft) of ascent into the equation.
The pics start with the view from the top, then trace the route past the Rigihaus (complete with alpine cows), the Krafttalm (which served a welcome glass of Austrian beer - not shown as it did not last long enough), the view back up whence we came, a wayside chapel, cool,mountain stream. The Stocklalm - almost there and finally a delightful little church just above the car park.
Mrs J struggled towards the end but her knees just about held out and she soldiered on bravely. Tomorrow I think she is taking a rest day.
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Pictures from Austria
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Posted:Aug 21, 2014 5:50 pm
Last Updated:May 4, 2015 10:31 am 8883 Views
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Just a few pics from our day wandering round the mountains. Will post more if this works
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The gym might just be 'working out'
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Posted:Dec 7, 2013 4:54 am
Last Updated:Mar 14, 2020 7:41 am 8807 Views
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After well over a year and a half I think I begin to see signs that exercise can help to get the weight down. Sometimes it seems like a never ending process and the results are pretty disappointing for a very long time. Maybe it has taught me something that I should have known already but lost sight of in the hurly burly of everyday living. If you want something you have to work at it and that may take a long time. Patience is a virtue that is learned the hard way - and I think I may just be getting the hang of it.
I am a little bit sad that I do not have an inspirational 'before ' picture to compare as that might have been more of a motivation, but I did manage to get a decent shot of the now and can try too see if there is any more improvement in the coming months.
The BMI calculator stubbornly continues to tell me I am either overweight or underheight ( I prefer to believe the latter) and that I need to lose another 40 lbs. I reckon I might disappear or blow away in a stiff breeze if I do but we shall see.
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Gruess aus Oesterreich
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Posted:Aug 6, 2013 4:41 am
Last Updated:Oct 26, 2019 3:58 pm 8340 Views
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For all those on chat who wanted to see the holiday snaps - here they are.
Wonderful weather and gorgeous scenery - not to mention great beer and terrific food. If I could choose anywhere to live this might just be the place - but I doubt I could ever afford it, so a couple of weeks is all. Can only post one image - so here is one view from our window.
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Forgive us our trespasses
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Posted:Dec 9, 2012 11:16 am
Last Updated:Nov 26, 2013 5:50 pm 9058 Views
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Once again this morning I caught myself thinking--'Damn that woman is infuriating' as my wife and I had a difference of opinion over something totally inconsequential and instantly forgettable. In the many years we have been together this not the first time and I am absolutely certain it will not be the last.
Throwing myself into the washing up I started thinking - Why do we have these contretemps when we have known each other so long and we know each other so well? I started musing about the nature of a relationship and on what it is based and I suddenly understood ' forgive us our trespasses- as we forgive those that trespass against us' in a completely new way.
I have heard it said many times that some couples achieve a state of permanent married bliss ; that they are perfect soul mates and that they 'never have a cross word' as though that is the Nirvana to which we should all strive. Well, if they do then I am happy for them and I hope they maintain the same feeling for as long as it makes them happy, but I do not envy them. In fact I find myself feeling a little sorry for them in one way. If your relationship is so perfect then where is the sense of achievement? Where is the striving to overcome the ups and downs of life and the effort to understand the other person when they do things that annoy you? If no one ever 'trespasses' how can we forgive them?
I realised that there is something special about being able to really forgive - to love someone despite what you consider to be their imperfections? I also came to another conclusion about myself as I realised that, for some unbelievable reason, one person was able to forgive me unconditionally for my numerous (many times daily) trespasses. Nothing is more humbling than to know that another person can be so gracious towards you when you are questioning your ability to do the same for them.
We spent last night in the company of a group of real seniors at a Christmas feast event as we were thrown together to make up numbers on a mixed table. An enjoyable couple of hours with a few stories , a three course Christmas meal, crackers , party poppers, carols and a quiz. At the end of the evening the youngest of the ladies (a lively 87) revealed that they had been a little worried at the start of the evening when they saw 'such a young couple' sitting opposite.Then she said 'But we have had a lovely evening. You are such a jolly couple.' I reckon that is the best compliment we have had in many a long time. Perhaps the secret of our 'success' is that we can be 'jolly' so much of the time and the reason for that is that we really do forgive each other our trespasses.I will certainly be redoubling my efforts in that respect in the future.
With Christmas coming up fast and thinking about all the family and friends we are about to see again -some for the first time since last Christmas, there will be a lot of opportunities to practice over the coming month.
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The pursuit of happiness
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Posted:Nov 21, 2012 6:32 am
Last Updated:Nov 26, 2013 5:50 pm 9372 Views
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I have often thought about the balance between individual happiness and the sum of human happiness. Is there some kind of cosmic adding machine that tots up the sum after giving each and every one of us a happiness quotient? The Care Bears have their caring meter, does the Earth have a happiness meter?
Looking round the world it is easy to see that there are huge numbers of people who would appear to have much less than their fair share of happiness and it is tempting to think that this is linked to health, wealth and material possessions - so the happiness meter is heavily weighed down by all those people suffering deprivation , hunger and hardship -only marginally offset by the few who are wealthy , healthy and living an easy life.As a 'happy' person myself does my individual happiness have any significant effect on the sum? Am I happy because my wife and I are reasonably able to support myself and my family and I suffer few hardships or health worries?
The fallacy of this was brought home to me forcefully when a young woman from my 's school gave a report of the school trip to Lesotho and showed some photographs of their visit to one of the poorest villages in one of the poorest countries in the world.They were greeted by all of the local who clamoured to hold their hands and fought for positions as close to the group of strangers as they could get. The faces on these could not have been happier - although they have no running water (the school team were to deliver a piping system and to dig trenches to install a tap - one tap only -for the village to bring water from a well half a mile away). The whole village was mobilised to entertain and welcome their visitors ; no one seemed to notice how different these people were - or even to care one jot if they did notice. This is something which has struck me whenever I have seen videos and photographs of Europeans/Americans going to Africa.The people were genuinely happy because they could make others happy and enjoy each others company for the sheer joy of being together and meeting new friends.
I contrasted this with the way strangers are treated in our culture and the suspicion which characterises meetings between different people and I concluded that maybe I am not as happy as I should be and that I should learn to accept people no matter how different they are because the sum of human happiness is not measured by what you have or how you view yourself but in what you think of other people and how you bring them into your life.
We are not happy as individuals , we are happy as human beings; social animals who must be in groups to be truly happy and the bigger the group the bigger the sum of human happiness. Despite thousands of years of religious teaching and philosophical thought perhaps we still need to learn that we are all one group, one family and we are so much happier if we share in everyone else's happiness as if it was our own.Perhaps the greatest lesson I take from this is that making someone else miserable does not increase your own happiness but actually diminishes it.The sum of human happiness is what is within each and every one of us and we all share in it with each and every other member of the human race.
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