#4 Grandma's Classics: Osterzopf (Braided Easter Bread)

I always remember my mother and my grandmother, who were living very close, making this braided bread at Easter when I was a child. My mother continues baking it until today for her Easter brunch. It's one of the traditions that pass on through generations.

How Grandma makes a braided Easter bread

500g flour
1 sachet dry yeast
50g sugar
1 pinch of salt
2 eggs
1/8 l milk
50g butter

1 egg yolk to brush over the finished braid.

Before you start, make sure that all ingredients have room temperature, the milk can even be luke warm.

Mix flour, dry yeast, sugar and the pinch of salt in a bowl. Add eggs, butter and milk and stir well. Knead the dough until it becomes elastic. Add flour if the dough becomes too sticky. Once finished dust the dough with flour, cover the bowl with a dish cloth and set in a warm place for about one hour. The dough should have doubled in size.

Divide the dough into three equal strands and braid them gently. Braid from the middle out to an end, repeat with the other side. Tucks the ends under to seal. Place the braid on a baking sheet, cover with a dish cloth and let it rise for another 1/2 hour.

Beat one egg yolk and brush it over the braid. Bake in a 180° preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until light brown.

1. 
   

If you like you can sink soft-boiled, dyed eggs into the dough before baking. Grandma never did. She always served the eggs separately.

Happy Easter!

Can you believe we still have snow?

Sunday, 5pm

weekend links

Last weekend I had the pleasure to participate in a workshop on Photography and Foodstyling in Weimar.
Antonia posted the most charming recap on her blog.

In the category" woolen hats" we have to seriously consider this one.

I like this cooking experiment: five days, five recipes, one ingredient. Some day I'll have to try it!

A Dirty Dozen ingredients to avoid in your cosmetics.

"Intuitively, we know that the best stuff in life isn't stuff at all, and that relationships, experiences and  meaningful work are the staples of a happy life!" On living with less.

And finally, 40 ways to entertain bored holiday guests and hyperactive children (actually: 40 ways to paint Easter eggs).

Have a happy weekend!

rosa, oh rosa

antique silver salt bins

Bohemian crystal carafes

Erzgebirgian "Reifentiere"

I had the pleasure of shooting these pictures at Rosa's pink castle. Pass by and dive into Rosa's signature colour!

let water be thy cure

The best way to flush out toxins is simple: lots and lots of water. I start my day off drinking water from a bottle right in the bathroom and continue throughout the day finishing at least one big jug more.


    1.    Recommended amount: at least 2 litres daily.

    2.     Have a glass of water with your cup of coffee/ expresso or black tea because caffeine  
            dehydrates the body.
         
    3.    Add natural flavours like lemon, mint, cucumber or lemon balm. Simply drop your
            chosen ingredients into a jug of water and chill for at least one hour.
       
    4.    Water is a carrier of information and has a memory.
            Information can be stored for a long period of time in the water showing certain clusters of
            the molecules. The results of Masaru Emoto's scientific research on this topic are amazing.

    5.    Add an organic mineral salt to your bath. My personal favourites are Himalayan salt and the
            Jentschura Alka Bath. A high concentration of salt in your water will pull toxins out of your
            pores and leave you with a deeply cleansed and healthy skin. After a 30 minutes' bath you will      
            feel exhausted but really good. I would compare the feeling to a rewarding workout or a stay
            in the sauna.

    6.    Cleanse your eyes with a 3% salt solution. I do it nearly every day and love the refreshing and
            relaxing effect.
       
     

fruit and juices

   1.   The more colourful the more energizing!

    2.    Since in winter there is little choice of seasonal vegetable and greens, salads often turn out
           boring and without enough variation due to the lack of fresh ingredients. Adding some cooked
           vegetable to your salad is a great way to make it a bit richer, but I want to suggest you another  
           delicious alternative: add fruit to your salad!

          Our favourite pairings added to our usual salads:
          pear + rucola
          date + tomato
          pomegranate + lettuce
          orange + fennel
          apple + cabbage

    3.   During the night soak dry goji berries in water. In the morning drink the goji water and spread
          the berries over your muesli.
   

       
    4.   Combine fruit and leafy greens in your smoothies.  Here is my sunshine smoothie for you!

    5.   A three day raw juice and water fast is a great way to detox. It gives your body a fresh start
          without depriving yourself of essential nutrients.