Sunday, July 31, 2011

German Friendship Cake (Herman Cake)

What to do if I give you a Herman Cake

Hi, my name is Herman and I am a sour dough cake, I supposed to be on the worktop, without a lid on, for 10 days, during which time you should feed me.

If you put me in the fridge I will die and if I stop bubbling I am dead!

Day 1 is the day you receive the mixture.

Day 1: When you get Herman please take off the lid and put the mixture in a large mixing bowl (2 litres+), cover the bowl loosely with a tea towel or cling film.

Day 2: Stir well

Day 3: Stir well

Day 4: Now I need feeding! Add the following ingredients, stir well and cover again: 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar.

Day 5: Stir well

Day 6: Stir well

Day 7: Stir well

Day 8: Stir well

Day 9 : Hungry again! Add the same ingredients as day 4 and stir well.

Now divide the mixture into 4 equal portions.

Save 1 portion to make a cake for yourself tomorrow.

Give portion 2 and 3 away to 2 friends with a copy of these instructions

Keep the final portion for your next cake and follow these instruction to grow me again.

Day 10: Make your Herman cake as follows:

Stir well and add the following ingredients:
1. 1 cup sugar
2. 2 cups plain flour
3. 2 eggs
4. 2 tsp cinnamon
5. 2 tsp vanilla essence
6. 2 tsp baking powder
7. 2/3 cup oil
8. 2 cooking apples peeled, cored and chopped into chunks
9. 1 cup raisins
10. optional extras like cherries nuts, chocolate chips, coconut

Mix all together and pour into a large roasting tin. Bake for 35 - 45 mins at 170 - 180 degrees. When cold cut into fingers.

How to get a Herman started if I've got bored of it and not given one to you:

  • 460g flour
  • 500ml milk
  • 230g sugar
  • 90ml warm water
  • 2 tbsp active dry yeast
  1. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar over the warm water
  2. Sprinkle the yeast over this and leave in a warm place for about 10 minutes to double in size
  3. Mix the milk, sugar, flour and yeast mixture in a large bowl, stir using a wooden spoon
  4. Cover loosely
  5. Place in a warm place and stir every day.

German Friendship Cake (Herman Cake)

What to do if I give you a Herman Cake

Hi, my name is Herman and I am a sour dough cake, I supposed to be on the worktop, without a lid on, for 10 days, during which time you should feed me.

If you put me in the fridge I will die and if I stop bubbling I am dead!

Day 1 is the day you receive the mixture.

Day 1: When you get Herman please take off the lid and put the mixture in a large mixing bowl (2 litres+), cover the bowl loosely with a tea towel or cling film.

Day 2: Stir well

Day 3: Stir well

Day 4: Now I need feeding! Add the following ingredients, stir well and cover again: 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar.

Day 5: Stir well

Day 6: Stir well

Day 7: Stir well

Day 8: Stir well

Day 9 : Hungry again! Add the same ingredients as day 4 and stir well.

Now divide the mixture into 4 equal portions.

Save 1 portion to make a cake for yourself tomorrow.

Give portion 2 and 3 away to 2 friends with a copy of these instructions

Keep the final portion for your next cake and follow these instruction to grow me again.

Day 10: Make your Herman cake as follows:

Stir well and add the following ingredients:
1. 1 cup sugar
2. 2 cups plain flour
3. 2 eggs
4. 2 tsp cinnamon
5. 2 tsp vanilla essence
6. 2 tsp baking powder
7. 2/3 cup oil
8. 2 cooking apples peeled, cored and chopped into chunks
9. 1 cup raisins
10. optional extras like cherries nuts, chocolate chips, coconut

Mix all together and pour into a large roasting tin. Bake for 35 - 45 mins at 170 - 180 degrees. When cold cut into fingers.

How to get a Herman started if I've got bored of it and not given one to you:

  • 460g flour
  • 500ml milk
  • 230g sugar
  • 90ml warm water
  • 2 tbsp active dry yeast
  1. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar over the warm water
  2. Sprinkle the yeast over this and leave in a warm place for about 10 minutes to double in size
  3. Mix the milk, sugar, flour and yeast mixture in a large bowl, stir using a wooden spoon
  4. Cover loosely
  5. Place in a warm place and stir every day.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

When I am young I shall travel

I flick through the memories of years today. Coming up 7 years old. 7 is a good number. I used to write a veritable pillow book, a book of hours of my time and activities. Now I post pictures, self censor and read others. So here is some truth.

The weeks are passing, pages turning in books as scenery rushes by at high speed. Trains and pathways are new friends, half overheard conversations of other passengers make for light hearted entertainment. The young chap with blond dreadlocks, German or Austrian, talking to a girl just off to uni, going from Salisbury to Bristol, both of them discussing dubstep and the best free parties. The lady training a cocker spaniel puppy, him soaking up the strokes and soft words of the jogging bottom wearing, perfectly coiffed,with a diamond stud in one ear, lads in the vestibule.

The places I see. Old crumbling things, half dead, and alive with people there from the goodness of hearts. The conflict between the brand and the people on the floor. Rows of trees waving in the wind, windows creaking, and the bag on the floor, next to comfortable sensible shoes belonging to someone enjoying a cup of tea.

I have walked on slippery gravel past roses, and into gardens of delight. When I return, I see visitors dancing like sugar plums in my dreams. I won't take off my name badge.

Nothing much else is happening. Evening are cut short by travels home eating in to sleeping hours. But I don't mind. Nothing matters. So far the thrill of pastures new is worth it.

Now for the mundane.

I have been dancing again for the first time in months, which I suppose helps more than many things. A lovely dress, the suede soled sandals, and the lack of fear count for much on the floor. I barely ran out of partners.

Today we slept in, and I washed out my new hair cut to see how it curled. It looked grand. I made terribly fried eggs for breakfast, and ate huge chunks of watermelon. We went to see Ruth and James for Ruth's birthday, met James' siblings, and played games. There was far too much junk food, but it was good to be out. Then we drove home in the rain, then the sun, then the rain. I saw a rainbow. And since then I have knitted on my sock and swallowed the rest of the Pratchett novel I was reading whole.

When I am young I shall travel

I flick through the memories of years today. Coming up 7 years old. 7 is a good number. I used to write a veritable pillow book, a book of hours of my time and activities. Now I post pictures, self censor and read others. So here is some truth.

The weeks are passing, pages turning in books as scenery rushes by at high speed. Trains and pathways are new friends, half overheard conversations of other passengers make for light hearted entertainment. The young chap with blond dreadlocks, German or Austrian, talking to a girl just off to uni, going from Salisbury to Bristol, both of them discussing dubstep and the best free parties. The lady training a cocker spaniel puppy, him soaking up the strokes and soft words of the jogging bottom wearing, perfectly coiffed,with a diamond stud in one ear, lads in the vestibule.

The places I see. Old crumbling things, half dead, and alive with people there from the goodness of hearts. The conflict between the brand and the people on the floor. Rows of trees waving in the wind, windows creaking, and the bag on the floor, next to comfortable sensible shoes belonging to someone enjoying a cup of tea.

I have walked on slippery gravel past roses, and into gardens of delight. When I return, I see visitors dancing like sugar plums in my dreams. I won't take off my name badge.

Nothing much else is happening. Evening are cut short by travels home eating in to sleeping hours. But I don't mind. Nothing matters. So far the thrill of pastures new is worth it.

Now for the mundane.

I have been dancing again for the first time in months, which I suppose helps more than many things. A lovely dress, the suede soled sandals, and the lack of fear count for much on the floor. I barely ran out of partners.

Today we slept in, and I washed out my new hair cut to see how it curled. It looked grand. I made terribly fried eggs for breakfast, and ate huge chunks of watermelon. We went to see Ruth and James for Ruth's birthday, met James' siblings, and played games. There was far too much junk food, but it was good to be out. Then we drove home in the rain, then the sun, then the rain. I saw a rainbow. And since then I have knitted on my sock and swallowed the rest of the Pratchett novel I was reading whole.