Postcards from Wisconsin
2013 is showing a Wintry Wonderland!
This is the home where I grew up.
The sun came out for a moment.
Snow accumulations on bright decorations.
Snow!
Trees with Nature’s decoration and our decorations.
Traditional German Christmas Stollen – Dresdner Stollen (Old German)
- ½ cup seedless dark raisins
- ½ cup dried currants
- 1 cup diced candied citron
- ¼ cup diced green pineapple
- ½ cup red candied cherries, quartered
- ½ cup light rum
- 2 packages dry yeast
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp grated lemon rind
- ½ tsp almond extract
- About 3 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 cup blanched slivered almonds
- Confectioner sugar
Combine fruit and rum; well; let stand several hours.
Soften active dry yeast in warm water; add 1 teaspoon sugar; let rise until bubbly. Scald milk; stir in butter, ½ cup sugar, and salt. Cool to lukewarm. Mix in 2 cups flour, yeast, eggs, lemon rind, and almond extract. Drain fruit. Reserve rum. Add enough remaining flour and reserved rum to make a stiff dough. Turn out on floured surface; knead in the drained fruit and almonds. Place in greased bowl. Grease dough; cover. Let rise until doubled. Punch down dough. Divide in half. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.
Roll half of dough into a 14 x 8 inch rectangle on floured surface. Cut with scissors on lengthwise sides, 14 one inch strips that are only 2 ½ inches long. There will be uncut dough in the center. Crisscross these strips over uncut part of dough by lifting one strip from each side and crossing in center to form a “V” design. Place on greased cookie sheet; pinch ends to seal. Repeat with remaining dough. Let rise until almost doubled.
Bake at 350 degrees about 35 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving. Yields 2 stollen.
Next year’s challenge is to make a gluten-free version of this so I can eat it! Perhaps I will substitute dried fruit also.
Farmland in Wisconsin
Out enjoying the winter weather:
Snowshoeing
Skiing
Walking the dog
Enjoying the snow!
If you have lived in Wisconsin, or visited, please make a comment below:
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