happy belated b-day curi!

[Santaman]

Can't believe I've missed it! Hope you had a good one despite the snow.

[ghost07]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[huggle]

Happy birthday! Have a great year, full of fun and laughter. May you meet only nice people all year round, be healthy and always have a $ more than you need

[RJDiogenes]

Happy Birthday, curi!

I hope you had a great day, curi, and have a great year coming.

[curiousa2z]

Thank you RJ, huggle, Ghostie and Santabro!

It was great! My bf made a German cake his family calls Blitzen Torte - it has two layers of custard and meringue to it and I am scandalized to report there was none left over for my morning coffee! Also, some guests were seen taking little slices from it every time they went by to the kitchen! Not their finest hour, sorry to say.

[RJDiogenes]

Guess they got blitzed.

[Santaman]

Damn shame I don't live near you...

[huggle]

Here's a recipe that sounds pretty close to Curi's: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/walnut-blitz-torte

My personal Blitz is even simpler:
line a spring form with shortbread dough and pull the dough up along the edges so that it forms at least a thumb-high rim. Bake it golden brown and let it cool off a bit. When lukewarm, pour a jar of apple butter onto it.
Eat immediately, else the juice will soak the shortbread. If you want it to last a few hours, let the shortbread cool off completely and brush it with butter before putting the mashed apples on top. The fat in the butter will seal the dough a little and slow the soaking process.

It's a quick cake you can make within half an hour if you get unexpected guests.

[curiousa2z]

oooh, huggle, thanks! i have a Latvian Apple Cake recipe I've used for years if unexpected guests drop by, but it's nice to have a change for the cook, too.

[huggle]

Latvian Apple cake sounds interesting, too! Would you share the recipe or is it a secret family recipe?
My parents have 3 gigantic apple trees and one sort unfortunately doesn't keep long, so that we're always hunting for new apple recipes. A typical fall menu in our family looks like this:
Breakfast: bread with apple jam (on sundays apple cake)
Lunch: apple stroodle
Tea: baked apple
Supper: apple pancakes
Nightcap: mulled apple juice

[RJDiogenes]

That must keep away doctors by the dozen.

[curiousa2z]

huggle, it's from an old book I found at a book sale...one day when I have a bit more time I'll write it out for you.

[huggle]

That must keep away doctors by the dozen.

Never thought of that! My brother cut down 2 old apple tress the last years and ever since our GP has brought higher bills. (He lives in the next street and delivers his bills when he does his jogging rounds).
Maybe we should tear the fir hedge out and plant an apple hedge, just in case

[RJDiogenes]

Plant an orchard. Keep them all away.

[curiousa2z]

I am very fortunate; my doctor and I barely recognize each other when I come in for the annual check up. Good to come from hardy Viking/pioneer stock!

[RJDiogenes]

You're a Valkyrie.

[curiousa2z]

heh. You saw that profile pic I like to use on fb from time to time....

[huggle]

you'd fit with Santy! He used to have an avatar with medieval armour. But who am I to throw stones, having 2 swords hanging at my staircase wall and keeping another at my office (not to mention the macheta I use when sampling out in the country. Die, brambles and nettles!! )

[RJDiogenes]

I have an old AM radio from the 70s in the shape of a Medieval suit of armor. His sword is a letter opener. That's the closest thing to weaponry that I've got.

heh. You saw that profile pic I like to use on fb from time to time....

No, just a good guess. I'll have to go take a look.

[huggle]

well, in the US with its lax weapon laws things may be different, but over here the kitchen knife is the most popular weapon, closely followed by the ax.
I prefer my hands, knees, feet, elbows and head (almost impossible to take away these weapons from their wielder ) and in case of a stronger oponent a simple bunch of keys. You'd be surprised what damage you can do to a face with these saw-toothed modern keys if you stick them between your fingers, making a fist.
Coming to think of it, this might well have been the inspiration for Wolverine's claws.

[RJDiogenes]

^^ I'm glad you have the right to bear arms and legs.

When I was a skinny little kid in school, I discovered that bony arms make good weapons.

[Jim Gamma]

you'd fit with Santy! He used to have an avatar with medieval armour. But who am I to throw stones, having 2 swords hanging at my staircase wall and keeping another at my office (not to mention the macheta I use when sampling out in the country. Die, brambles and nettles!! )

Remind me not to get on your bad side if I ever come visit your region of Germany!

[huggle]

There's no danger: I have only good sides

[curiousa2z]

before I headed off on my own to university, my parents taught me the trick of walking with keys between my knuckles if I was alone at night, heading to my car, or returning from the library. Sad, when you think of it.

[Santaman]

Sad, yes, a good precaution it is though.