HOW TO MAKE TOPFENSTRUDEL

How To Make Topfenstrudel –this is a traditional sort of sweet and layered pastry in Austria. Strudel became popular in Habsburg.  Countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary and Switzerland have their own version of this pastry. This is considered as one of the oldest kinds of pastry in Europe because there are records proving that in 17^th century, Strudels were already served that resemble some of the pastries of Turkish and Baklava cuisines. In this recipe I am going to share with you, we are going to use maple syrup instead of the traditional and commonly used vanilla sauce in making Strudel. Here is how to make Topfenstrudel:

Ingredients

1 frozen puff pastry sheet

2 Akane apples or any kind you want to use (sliced)

4 tbsp sugar

8 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp cinnamon (ground)

120 grams whipped cream cheese

120 grams creamy cottage cheese

½ tsp vanilla extract

50 grams unsalted butter (melted)

Maple syrup

Confectioners’ sugar

Procedure

1. In a large bowl, mix together apple, sugar, half of granulated sugar and cinnamon.
2. Set aside and let rest for half an hour.
3. Drain the mixture using a colander.
4. Put back the apple to the same bowl. Add flour and mix. Set aside.
5. In another bowl, mix together whipped cream cheese,cottage cheese, 4 tablespoon of granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Mix perfectly and set aside.
6. On a board, lightly scatter some sugar on it, roll out the puff pastry until the size has expanded. Spread with some melted butter.
7. Smear cheese filling over the pastry with half an inch margin on every edge.
8. Arrange apple slices on the pastry and spread with butter.
9. Carefully roll the pastry and fold to tuck in the edges and roll a little to seal the edges.
10.  Spread the top with butter. Grease the baking tray with butter.
11.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
12. Bake the pastry for about an hour. Remove from oven.
13.  Scatter Confectioners’ sugar over the pastry and serve with maple syrup.

Tag: How To Make Topfenstrudel

HOW TO MAKE BAYRISCH CREAM (BAYERISCHE BAVARIAN CRÈME)

How To Make Bayrisch Cream (Bayerische Bavarian Crème) –this Bavarian cream is very delicious that is why it became popular not just in the Germany but also around the world. This kind of dessert is perfect to me because it is not very sweet but light and very fluffy and I love the feeling in my mouth whenver I eat this Bayerische Crème. This Bavarian Crème is actually made of gelatin to thicken instead of flour. I want to remind you that this is different from crème anglaise which is made of custard sauce and egg used as thickening ingredient. In making Bayrisch cream, the usual ingredients used are egg yolk, heavy cream, milk, gelatin and some sugar. But since this dish is milky, you can reduce the amount of sugar you want to use, well, because we know that too much sugar is not healthy. Here is how make Bayrisch Cream (Bayerische Bavarian Crème):

Ingredients

6 tsp gelatine powder

3 egg yolks

1 tbsp sugar

1 cup fresh milk

1 vanilla bean (bean and seeds are separated)

1 ¼ cups heavy cream (whipping)

Procedure

1. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and egg yolk together. Mix and stir perfectly until creamy.
2. In a pot, pour milk, add vanilla bean and seeds. Bring to a boil.
3. In a mixing bowl, pour half of milk in egg mixture while stirring simultaneously.
4. Put back the milk on the heat. Pour the egg and milk mixture to the pot. Bring to a boil and stir continuously.
5. Add gelatine powder and stir perfectly.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Let it cool down.
8. Whip the cream until peaks started to form.
9. Fold in the cream and set in a fridge fro 3 hours.
10. Transfer in a serving plate and serve with fresh strawberry or banana.

How To Make Bayrisch Cream (Bayerische Bavarian Crème)

HOW TO COOK PICHELSTEINER

How To Cook Pichelsteiner  –this dish is very popular in Germany but many countries with decent numbers of German minorities are aware of this. Pichelsteiner is an Aryan version of beef stew or sometimes not just beef but also combined with pork. Like many other stews, this dish is also cooked and served along with vegetables. Papaya, potatoes and carrots are commonly used in this dish but you can use your favorite vegetables as long as you don’t ruin the taste. In this recipe I am going to share with you, greenpeas, parsley, celery root, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and greenpeas are used. Here is how to cook Pichelsteiner:

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil

½ kilo beef (cut into cubes)

1 large size onion (chopped)

1 tomato (diced)

1 cup beef stock

1 tbsp celery root (chopped)

2 tbsp parsley (chopped)

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper (freshly ground)

2 cups potatoes (cut into cubes)

1 cup green peas (cooked)

3 medium size carrots (cut into cubes)

2 tbsp chives (snipped)

Cooking Procedure

1. In a pot, boil water. Drop the beef and simmer until cooked.
2. Remove the beef from the pot, drain and set aside.
3. In a pan, heat oil. Fry the meat until browned. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same pan, saute onion, parsley and celery for 5 minutes.
5. In the same pot stock, add all the ingredients except chives.
6. Bring to a boil and simmer until the meat is tender.
7. Transfer in serving bowls and garnish with chives.

Tag: How To Cook Pichelsteiner

HOW TO MAKE WIBELE

How To Make Wibele –this is another sort of German cookie. Wibele is a small biscuits that are shaped like number 8. In the United States, many bakeries and pastry shops offer this thing. It is good for kids as present when they got high grades in school or did a good job. If there is no German-inspired bakery around your place, don’t worry because you can still make your own Wibele. Making this biscuit is not tricky at all, it’s like baking your favorite cookies, only this time, you’re going to make it look like number 8. Wibele is just a plain cookie but you can add a twist by using your favorite pastry dip. In our home, we use maple syrup and sometimes, chocolate. One of my friends combine it with marshmallows but I haven’t tried it. Here is how to make Wibele:

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup brown sugar

1 ½ cup butter

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon mixed spice

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 tablespoon lemon extract

1 egg

Baking Procedure

1. In a bowl, combine together all the ingredients except egg and lemon extract.
2. Mix perfectly, add the remaining ingredients and knead until dough is formed.
3. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface.
4. Cut the dough into pieces and make shapes like number 8.
5. Put on a baking tray.
6. Preheat oven to 350ºF for 12 minutes.
7. Remove and let cool.

Tag: How To Make Wibele

HOW TO MAKE SPRINGERLE (RECIPE)

How To Make Springerle (Recipe) –This is another traditional cookie famous in Central Europe especially in countries with German minorities. There is one thing you may find a problem when doing this cookie and that is the mold because we are going to use molds with design. But if you can’t find the molds then that’s alright. Simple mold would be alright, the design is just a bonus but the main thing we must consider here is the taste. On this recipe, we are going to use anise seeds but I tried sesame seeds and the taste was different but gives good taste. Also we are going to use vanilla but I tried maple syrup, it gives different taste as well but as good as using vanilla. You can experiment using the recipe. You can replace the seeds and vanilla with your favorite cookie ingredients. Here is how to make Springerle (recipe):

Ingredients

3 ½ cup all-purpose flour

1/8 cup anise seeds (crushed)

4 eggs (whisked)

1 tsp baking powder

2 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

2 ¼ cup brown sugar

½ tsp vanilla

Baking Procedure

1. Grease 4 pieces cookie sheets, scatter with anise seeds, set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix together flour and baking powder. Mix perfectly.
3. In another bowl, combine eggs, vanilla and brown sugar altogether. Whisk perfectly until frothy.
4. Slowly pour flour in the eggs mixture while stirring to form a thick dough.
5. Scoop dough with your one hand and roll out on floured surface and make it into ¼ inch thick.
6. Gently sift confectioners’ sugar onto the dough.
7. Put the mold and press against the dough to create design.
8. Remove the mold and cut off the excessive dough all around the molded dough. Just repeat the process for all the remaining dough.
9. Place in the sheets and cover with clean cloth and set aside for 8 hours.
10. Preheat the oven to 120 degrees C.
11. Put the dough in the oven and bake until the surface turns light brown, that is approximately half an hour.
12. Remove from the oven and let cool down.
13. Store in a sealed container.

Tag: How To Make Springerle (Recipe)