Just in case you were afraid I was starving here in Germany (ha, ha), I decided to compile a little list of some of the food (and drinks) I have enjoyed at the many Christmas Markets. Enjoy:
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| Kartoffelpuffen, or potato pancakes. These are deep-fried, served with applesauce, and are apparently my Oma's recipe. Strangely enough, my grandmother has never made these before. Maybe the sign makers got me confused with someone else? | | |
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| This Eierpunsch, or eggnog, is also Oma's recipe. But my grandma has never, ever served me anything this heavy with alcohol! This was extremely delicious, warm, and rich. A couple of these, though, and you'd probably be knocked out for the rest of the day. Which means no more Weihnachtsmarten, so I would advise stopping after one. | |
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| This was either a cheese ball or a Quark ball (another sort of cheese) -- I don't remember. It was just a delicious ball of fried pastry, with just the hint of a cream cheese flavoring and sprinkled with powered sugar. They typically sold for about 80 cents each. I ate a few. |
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| I really wish I could remember what these were called. More bits of fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar, I guess! The best (and probably only good) part about attending lots of Weihnachtsmarken alone? You don't need to feel obliged to share or let anyone have a taste of your food. | | |
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| Shokolade Russische, or Russian hot chocolate. This just means that it has a shot or two of rum in it. What I've learned during my time in Germany -- anything can be improved with a shot of alcohol. |
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| Dark chocolate-covered apple. It was tasty, but I'm still partial to caramel apples myself. | | |
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| Last, but not least, Glühwein, the stuff that holds Weihnachtsmarkten together. This can be served alone, or with a shot of rum or amaretto. You can also get the non-alcoholic version, which is called Kinderpunsch (kid punch), but it's typically the same price, so why bother? |
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Conclusion? There's more to Germany than beer, sausages, and pretzels. At least during the holiday season.
