Staufen - City of Faust in Breisgau

Reasons why I wanted to go to Staufen:
1. Short trip from Freiburg
2. Some of the buildings and houses have cracks. 
3. Supposedly pretty sceneries

We finally went to Staufen. So, why are there cracks in some of the buildings and houses? Before this trip, didn't exactly inform myself. I merely thought it was because of architectural/structural flaws of the buidings/houses themselves. The real reason has something to do with the geothermal drillings done in 2007. Read more info under the official website of Staufen.

Zähringer Castle Ruin

From Staufen Main Station, it was about 1.5 km walk to Zähringer Castle Ruin. One can't miss the castle ruin when in Staufen. It is almost like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, everywhere you go, you see it. Going up takes about 15 minutes, with short photo stops. The view going up is scenic. You walk your way through vineyards. Every now and then, you can read signs informing you of the type of grape grown there, its characteristics, etc. 

Info about Gutedel

Main Entrance of the Castle Ruin

Inside the Tower --- How many people have walked this path?

View from the Top 

From Another Point of View

Short break. Then, it was time to go down. We took another road going down. When I saw a herd of sheeps, I couldn't help myself but sing "Baa, baa black Sheep, have you any wool, Yes sir yes sir, three bags full...." 

No Black Sheep Anywhere

What a Sight!

Next stop was the city center. Here are photos so you can imagine how it looks like. 

For Auntie F & R, who both love horses (made out of shoehorses!)

Have you been to Freiburg? If so, Staufen is kind of a little Freiburg in my opinion. Both have quaint shops and alleys. Both have "Bächle" or small canals running along the main center though Staufen has a more homey feel to it than Freiburg. 

Bächle or small canals

Sign of Hotel Krone..there is even a crown on top!!!

Sign of What Else...Hotel Sonne!

Weather Vane....Outstanding!!!

This weather vane is an eyecatcher for me. Instead of the usual rooster that we all know,  here is lady trying to hold on to her blown-away hat. 

Sign of a Tailor :)

Facade of the Town Hall/City Hall (Unfortunately with the famous cracks)

This is part of the homey feel I am talking about ..

Quite Unique on its Own

Isn't it so inviting?

I am quite surprised about Staufen. I didn't know that it is famous for Faust. It is supposedly here where he made a pact with the devil. One thing more I learned, the reason behind the cracks. 

Faust and the Devil ---Hotel Löwen

Staufen is definitely a place where I can imagine to go in Autumn or when the vineyards are full with grapes :) I am sure it would be even prettier then. It is a great half-day excursion for young and old alike. Okay, if one is into museums (e.g. Ceramic Museum), one may need a day. 
All in all, lots of stuffs to see in such a short time. 

Back at the train station...

Quick and Easy: Yeast Bread, Chiffon Cupcake, Brownies

I have baked spelt yeast bread for the 4th time. I am still finding the best way to do it. When the search is over on how to optimize the recipe, will share it. The best thing about it: no rising time. Yipeeeeeee!!!!!! Mix everything and shove it in a cold oven. See, you don't even have to preheat the oven. Cool, huh? 

Baked this the first time. It reminded of "mamon" in PH. As seen from the photos, the others simply sunk while the others didn't. They were fluffy and light as air! Don't you hate it when you want to bake something but you don't have the proper pan or the proper pan size? Of course, you sit in front of the computer figuring out or surfing for the options.

I like bitter chocolate. I mean, bitter. I have made brownies thrice using the same recipe. Hmm....it suits my taste but sometimes, when I eat it, I wonder why I simply don't open up a bar of our favorite 85% dark chocolate and start munching on it. I mean.....it tastes almost the same.

For all three, quick and easy recipes but still need improvement, mostly from my part.

Please tell me what you see

 It was supposed to be a circle, but I played with it and thought, wow, heart-shaped. Then, put the ribbon on top.

I see a heart with a ribbon. And you? M said he saw a big smiling mouth! When he said it, it came into my mind, partly true, like a clown's big mouth.

So, what do you see?

Coffee Cake

I have a love and hate relationship with yeast bread. After all, I like eating it. Making it? Hmmmmm.......did I say I like eating it? To make these two coffe cakes, it took me from 9 in the morning until around 4 in the afternoon. They had to rise twice. What a bummer! What was even worse was that I didn't get a taste of it! Nah....it isn't that bad. Giving is in itself very rewarding so no need to taste (just that I had the guts to give it away the first time I made it. I hoped they were baked well and so on. The recipients were very happy about them so it means I can keep the recipe.

Not enough space on the kitchen counter

Christmas in the middle of February

Shame on me! Up until lunch time today, our place was still adorned with Christmas decorations. I packed the Christmas cards along with the decorations. But before I put away some stuffs, I want to share them with you.

Pretty things do not need to be extravagant and expensive. We got stuffs during Christmas that I totally adore. I took photos of them to share the beauty/idea with you. Or perhaps, I simply want to upload them so I will remember how pretty they are. Good that they aren't edible, if not, they would have probably been eaten up by now. 

Part of Oma's Presents/Deco

 

Part of Fam. S's Presents/Deco

Lovely, aren't they? When I saw them, I was like, why didn't I think of that!?!......:) Btw, they are no longer as fresh as when we got them (which was about two months ago)!

9.MUNDOlogia , 3 Februar 2012

Eintrittskarte

A hat uns eingeladen für eine Reise nach den Philippinen. Wissen Sie, was MUNDOlogia ist? Das Wort bedeutet Weltkenntnis. Man kann mehr über diese Veranstaltung durch die Website erfahren. In dem Tagen reisen die Leute nach Ländern durch Bildern und Geschichten. Ich höre sehr gerne Geschichte und schaue gerne Bildern über Ländern. Früher habe ich sogar oft über Reisen geträumt, im Schlaf. Ich war schon im Traum z.B. in Japan, in Russland gereist. Es war auch sehr echt obwohl ich nie dort gewesen war. Einfach durch Bücher und Reiseberichte. Es war auch klar, nach dem Bericht über PH, war ich wieder in dasselber Nacht dort im Traum.

Die Veranstalter sind Tobias Hauser und David Hettich. Die haben auch das Bericht über den PH erzählt.  Es war einfach wunderschön. Bildern von Norden (Batanes Islands, Batad in Ifugao, Vigan u.a.) bis Süden (Underground River in Palawan, Chocolate Hills und die Tarsiers/Kobolt Maki in Bohol). In der Mitte waren Bildern von Smokey Mountain in Manila, Holy Week pictures und Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga). Musik haben auch teilweise die Bildern begleitet. 

Auch interessant von Tobias war das Bericht über das Bataan Nuclear Power Plant/ Bataan Atomkraftwerk. Es ist nie benutzt und war längst gebaut, etwa in der 80ger Jahr. Haben Sie schon gesehen, wie es drin aussieht? Ziemlich interessant. Es ist einfach veraltet, das Telefon noch dieses große und sperrige(siehe unten). Die Treppe aus Metal draußen sind auch schon gerostet. 

Man lacht mit, lächelt mit..... Oh...ein paar Leute haben auch auf der Bühne Tinikling, ein traditioneller philippinish Tanz, ausgeführt. Es war auch sehr spannend. Die haben auch die passende Kleidungen dazu. 

Zweiter Teil des Berichtes sind Underwater. Die sind WOOOOOOOW. Haben Sie schon einen hochschwangeren Seepferdchen oder einfach über übergewichtigte Seepferdchen gesehen? David hat einen sehr süßen fotografiert. Oder haben Sie ein fast klarsichtige Garnele gesehen? Ich war begeistert, was für verschiedene Tiere dort alle schwimmen/leben.   

Man lernt Man kann viel über ein Land erzählen. Man lernt nie aus. Als ich diese Berichte gehört habe, teilweise sind auch die andere Sachen neu z.B. die Südsee Perlen dauert Jahren bevor sie fertig gezüchtet werden. 

Herzlichen Dank A für die Einladung. Mir hat es sehr gefallen.

Übrigens gab es einen PH Messestand. Dort waren Postkarten, Broschüren über Sehenswürdigkeiten, DVD über Tauchen in den PH zu vergeben. Ich habe wie auch fast alle andere Besucher eine Tasche bekommen mit Infomaterial. Ich war sehr gespannt wie diese DVD aussieht. Als ich zu Hause in Ruhe die Packung gelesen habe, habe ich mich sehr gefreut, dass die Bildern von David und Tobias sind!!! Der Film dauert nur etwa 4 Minuten aber man ist im Traumwelt. Teil der Bildern/Videos sind im Vortrag abgespielt worden. Habe ich versucht, diese DVD auf der Website , www.divephilippines.de, zu suchen. Leider vergebens. Es wäre gut, wenn Sie das anschauen können. 

Dive Philippines DVD

Dive Philippines DVD

Interessanter Link mit Fotos in Bataan Atomkraftwerk

Telefon mit direkter Verbindung mit dem Präsident

Wie sieht es in deinem Kopf aus?

When I get asked this question, my mind starts to wander. It starts to think, feel, smell....
I am currently asking the question to myself. At times, it is as clear as the blue sky. Other times, it is plain chaos. Right now, it is the latter part. 


So many things to tell. Life is a struggle. Wow, it is like a film, battle between the good and the evil. Seriously, it is a struggle. All things will pass, the good times and the bad times. 

Food for the Gods Recipe

Recipe adapted from Baking 101 by Junjun De Guzman & Adoree Uy

Baking pan used: 42 cm X 29 cm  (approx. 16.5inches X 11.4 inches)

Yields about 60 bars

Ingredients

   1 cup (140 g) all-purpose flour

   ¼ tsp. salt

   1 tsp. baking powder

   1 cup (145 g)pitted dates, chopped

   3/4 cup (170 g ) margarine, room temperature OR 100 g margarine, room temp. and 60 g oil

   1 cup minus about 5 tbsp (150 g ) brown sugar

   2/3 cup minus about 6 tbsp (70g) white sugar

   2 eggs

   1 tbsp. honey

   ½ tsp. vanilla extract

   1 cup (115 g ) walnuts, coarsely chopped

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 180 C. Line pan (sides and bottom) with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. Sift the all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder together. Divide this mixture into two. Use one-half to dredge the chopped dates. Use fingers to separate the chopped dates.

3. In a larger bowl, beat butter and oil, if using, together(abt 1.5 minutes, medium speed). Add sugar. Cream butter and sugar( (about 2 minutes, medium speed). Add one egg. Mix. Add another egg and mix until well-blended. Add in the honey and vanilla extract.

4. Fold flour into the batter preferably in 2 batches. Lastly, fold dredged dates and walnuts.

5. Pour batter to the prepared pan (preferably into four parts) and spread evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes when using 42cm X 29cm pan . Done when toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The center is still soft when slightly touched.

6. Take out from the oven and leave in the pan for about 10 minutes. Take out from the pan. Let cool. Slice (and share).

Cooling

 

Notes:
1. Store-bought dates have honey added into them. I lessened the amount of sugar and butter/margarine stated in the original recipe.
2. Use flour to help you chop dates:  1) dates won't clump too much and 2) dates won't stick to the knife like crazy. 

3. Original recipe uses 9" X 13" rectangular pans OR  2 - 8" square pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

4.Used plastic dough scraper to cut. 

5. Don't scrimp on parchment paper. Use more for easy transfer/less mess.

6. According to the authors of the original recipe, creaming butter/sugar = light and fluffy food for the gods,  melted butter = dense, moist and chewy food for the gods. I was too lazy to melt the margarine. For my first two batches, I didn't have enough margarine so I substitue some with oil. They worked so well that on my third batch, did the same thing.

Link to show I presented them:

http://tsinoyingermany.blogspot.com/2011/12/food-for-gods-date-and-walnut-bars.html