Here's one of the Grand Duchess of Stollen

OK guys, here's the photo you've been asking for. It's one of Sonja a day or so ago. She was putting the finishing touches on -- you guessed it -- a delicious Stollen!!! Here, she's concentrating on powdering the still-warm stollen with vanilla sugar and powdered sugar.

So what is a "Stollen" anyway? One of the most famous versions of this German Christmas treat is a Dresdener Stollen. The stollen is in the shape of the mine shafts that were in Saxony, Germany very early in the 19th century. In German, "Stollen" can mean cake, tunnel, or as a specific military term, an underground shelter. As far as we here at the Grand Duchy of Stollen are concerned, Stollen is a spiced bread, akin to fruitcake (but better), that's baked and enjoyed at Christmas time. It's especially good with fresh coffee. In fact, I'm enjoying the two together right at this moment!

Comments

Anonymous said…

DRAT! At first I thought she was working on terrain! ;-)

6:05 PM

Bluebear Jeff said…

So . . . (inquiring minds want to know) . . . what's in a "stollen"?

Does Sonja share recipes?

-- Jeff

7:58 PM

Anonymous said…

That's a mighty fine looking Stollen there.

Seasons greetings to the Grand Duchess.

2:52 AM

Bluebear Jeff said…

Am I mistaken? Or did you change the picture with this article?

It seems to me that there was an earlier photo from a bit of a different angle.

-- Jeff

2:16 AM

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…

Yes, Sonja didn't particularly like the previous photo and "suggested" that I use another. Aren't wives strange creatures?

Best Regards,

Stokes

11:06 AM

Bluebear Jeff said…

Yes, they are strange creatures . . . but they do so much for us that we put up with their "suggestions".

-- Jeff

12:34 PM

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Keepin' an Eye on the World Going By My Window . .

'The Nap at the Palace' by Jose Triado Mayol N ot much in the way of hobby-related activity happening here in the Grand Duchy lately. Sigh. And no surprise there really since there are only so many hours in the day, only so much mental and physical energy to spare, and you sometimes simply just have to give in and know when to say, um, "When!" A glass of wine and/or evening yoga by the hearth with the Grand Duchess (who has practiced for over 20 years), and then off into la-la land. Zzzzzzzzz. More immediately, I'm recovering, mentally speaking, from a grueling Friday in which I was involved with three (online) conference sessions, one right after the other, followed by a 90-minute meeting at the end of the day. Also virtual. My brain has been mush ever since, so an easy, completely unproductive Saturday watching intermittent snow fall outside (no accumulation however) and drinking coffee while the visiting handymen completed some repair work down h...

And It's the End of September!!!

Saxony's Ploetz Cuirassiers, an illustration lifted from the Kronoskaf website, which has thus far guided my spectacularly glacial painting of 30 28mm Eureka Saxon cuirassiers purchased all the way back in October 2016. A gray, cool Saturday here in Mid-Michigan with rain in the forecast. The Grand Duchess is away at a conference, so it's just "The Boys" here at home. The Young Master (almost 15) has retreated to his room for something or other following breakfast while I have stolen back down here to Zum Stollenkeller (masquerading as my office) with a second mug of coffee and both cats comfortably ensconced nearby. Enjoying the late morning and still in my pajamas! Not much planned for today beyond designing a couple of promotional flyers for workshops my department is presenting (small parties we will throw?) in October and November. With maybe a bit of on the next podcast script. More important, I am toying with the idea of returning for an hour or...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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