A "French Toast"
made German style with left over Stollen
Poor Knights of Windsor
Arme Ritter translates to Poor Knights,
This recipe is from the 1600's in England.
Black Forest
Armer Ritter
Chocolate style with Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) infused Morello cherries
I never really questioned the origin of French Toast or whether it was really French or it's origin.
I am fascinated always with the way the German household I grew u p with never let a scrap of food go to waste, and impressed with the creativity of turning little into a something delicious and looks like it was planned that way with the best ingredients available.
German Hausfrau engineering!
At my Food History site I was asked by a French journalist how the dish French Toast got it's name, and why we call it French. After investigation I found that in the UK it's called " Poor Knights of Windsor". and in Germany it is called "Poor Knights" or in German Arme Ritter or Armer Ritter. Armer means one and Arme means multiple toasts.
Who Were the
Arme Ritter
Or
Poor Knights?
Image from a 15th-century illuminated manuscript of Jean Froissart's Chronicles
In 1346
Edward III of England took on the French in the Battle of Cressy
and won. Along with the English army they had employed German mercinaries. Some give credit to
the Geman Saxons for teaching them about tactical warfare.
Even though the English won many of the knights were captured by the French and had to sell their estates to pay ransom to be released.
A popular theory is those knights who were now poor were allowed to live in Windsor Castle and had a range of duties to perform in exchange. They were still considered upper class (gentry) so they had to serve a traditional meal to guests including dessert. A cheap dessert was egg dipped stale bread, fried and dressed up with sugar, and jam and probably cinnamon if they had it.
So in typical British dark humor they started to call this
"Poor Knights of Windsor" and the name stuck.
1658 Recipe for Poor Knights of Windsor
Original Receipt in 'The Compleat Cook' by (WM 1658)
To make poore knights.
Cut two penny loaves in round slices, dip them in half a pint of Cream or faire water, then lay them abroad in a dish, and beat three Eggs and grated Nutmegs and sugar, beat them with the Cream then melt some butter in a frying pan, and wet the sides of the toasts and lay them in on the wet side, then pour in the rest upon them, and so fry them, serve them in with Rosewater, sugar and butter.
I adapted this recipe and took pictures, it is really worth making, I thought it was delicious.
Making Armer Ritter is not much different than making French Toast except this particular German recipe calls for breading it in bread crumbs. 2 things Old German house holds had was stale bread and bread crumbs. Nothing was wasted.
This recipe is adapted from the DDR museum website
They soak the bread in the milk first then dip it into the egg which you find this technique in a lot of German recipes to bring stale bread to life as a binder or for dumplings to mention a few. The other thing is that they use a little grated lemon peel in the batter. I have noticed the German's do thisalso in baked goods like Kaesekuchen, apfelkuchen dough, and Stollen and Hefezopf.
A recipe book and short biography of my Grandmother Emma Block. Her recipes, culture and cooking styles that were brought over from Germany. How they evolved when she came to America in the early 1900s and settled in Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States. Over 100 recipes
Bread Village is located on the East Coast.
Christopher ships out affordable bread from Germany.
Karin Elliot born and raised in Germany
is a chef and wonderful friend giving me encouragement through the years here and donated her recipes for our newsletter. She also does wonderful volunteer work like providing meals for school children in need in Tuscon, Arizona.
Many German-Americans and German immigrants are interested in Native American items from books and movies to jewelry and arts and craft supplies. Karin will take care of you personally with her online store Native Rainbows
German Music
Muss i denn -
Heimat und Volkslied
History: A folksong written in the Swabian dialect about 1827 about a man who has to leave his lover but vows to be faithful and return to marry her.
Muss i denn, muss i denn
zum Städtele hinaus, Städtele hinaus,
Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier?
Wenn i komm', wenn i komm',
wenn i wiedrum komm',
Kehr' i ein, mein Schatz, bei dir.
Kann i glei net allweil bei dir sein,
Han i doch mein Freud' an dir!
Wenn i komm', wenn i komm',
wenn i wiedrum komm',
Kehr' i ein, mein Schatz, bei dir.
Wie du weinst, wie du weinst,
Dass i wandere muss, wandere muss,
Wie wenn d' Lieb' jetzt wär' vorbei!
Sind au drauss, sind au drauss
Der Mädele viel, Mädele viel,
Lieber Schatz, i bleib dir treu.
Denk du net, wenn i 'ne Andre seh',
No sei mein' Lieb' vorbei;
Sind au drauss, sind au drauss
Der Mädele viel, Mädele viel,
Lieber Schatz, i bleib dir treu.
Über's Jahr, über's Jahr,
Wenn me Träubele schneid't, Träubele schneid't,
Stell' i hier mi wiedrum ein;
Bin i dann, bin i dann
Dein Schätzele noch, Schätzele noch,
So soll die Hochzeit sein.
Über's Jahr, do ist mein' Zeit vorbei,
Da g'hör' i mein und dein;
Bin i dann, bin i dann
Dein Schätzele noch, Schätzele noch,
So soll die Hochzeit sein.
Do I have to, have to
Leave the city, leave the city
And you, my dear, stay here
When I come, when I come
When I come again, come again
I come, my dear, to your house
Can't I be with you for a while right away
I really enjoy you
When I come, When I come
When I come again, come again
I come, my dear, to your house
When you cry, when you cry
That I have to go
Like the love was over now
Even if there are, there are many girls out there
My beloved, I am faithful to you
Don't think that when I see others
My love for you would be over
Even if there are, there are many girls out there
My beloved, I am faithful to you
Over the year, over the year
When we harvest the grapes
I myself start to think
If I am still, I am still your beloved
We should marry
Over the year, my time is over
There I belong to me and you
If I am still, I am still your beloved
We should marry.
Die Gedanken Sind Frei
(Our Thoughts are Free)
by Shadow Cat
History: This is a war protest type song composed most likely in the 12th century, states that even though we are not physically free our thoughts are free.
1. Die Gedanken sind frei, wer kann sie erraten,
sie fliegen vorbei wie nächtliche Schatten.
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen, kein Jäger erschießen
mit Pulver und Blei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
2. Ich denke was ich will und was mich beglücket,
doch alles in der Still', und wie es sich schicket.
Mein Wunsch und Begehren kann niemand verwehren,
es bleibet dabei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
3. Und sperrt man mich ein im finsteren Kerker,
das alles sind rein vergebliche Werke.
Denn meine Gedanken zerreißen die Schranken
und Mauern entzwei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
4. Drum will ich auf immer den Sorgen entsagen
und will mich auch nimmer mit Grillen mehr plagen.
Man kann ja im Herzen stets lachen und scherzen
und denken dabei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
5. Ich liebe den Wein, mein Mädchen vor allen,
sie tut mir allein am besten gefallen.
Ich sitz nicht alleine bei meinem Glas Weine,
mein Mädchen dabei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
1. Thoughts are free, who can guess them?
They fly by like nocturnal shadows.
No person can know them, no hunter can shoot them
with powder and lead: Thoughts are free!
2. I think what I want, and what delights me,
still always reticent, and as it is suitable.
My wish and desire, no one can deny me
and so it will always be: Thoughts are free!
3. And if I am thrown into the darkest dungeon,
all these are futile works,
because my thoughts tear all gates
and walls apart: Thoughts are free!
4. So I will renounce my sorrows forever,
and never again will torture myself with whimsies.
In one's heart, one can always laugh and joke
and think at the same time: Thoughts are free!
5. I love wine, and my girl even more,
Only her I like best of all.
I'm not alone with my glass of wine,
my girl is with me: Thoughts are free!
Du Du Ligst mir im Herzen
History: This is an old German folk song that is believed to be written in about 1820 in northern Germany.
Du, du liegst mir im Herzen
du, du liegst mir im Sinn.
Du, du machst mir viel Schmerzen,
weißt nicht wie gut ich dir bin.
Ja, ja, ja, ja, weißt nicht wie gut ich dir bin.
So, so wie ich dich liebe
so, so liebe auch mich.
Die, die zärtlichsten Triebe
fühl' ich allein nur für dich.
Ja, ja, ja, ja, fühl' ich allein nur für dich.
Doch, doch darf ich dir trauen
dir, dir mit leichtem Sinn?
Du, du kannst auf mich bauen
weißt ja wie gut ich dir bin!
Ja, ja, ja, ja, weißt ja wie gut ich dir bin!
Und, und wenn in der Ferne,
mir, mir dein Bild erscheint,
dann, dann wünscht ich so gerne
daß uns die Liebe vereint.
Ja, ja, ja, ja, daß uns die Liebe vereint
You, you are in my heart,
you, you are in my mind.
You, you cause me much pain,
you don't know how good I am for you.
Yes, yes, yes, yes you don't know how good I am for you.
So, as I love you
so, so love me too.
The most tender desires
I alone feel only for you.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, I alone feel only for you.
But, but may I trust you
you, you with a light heart?
You, you know you can rely on me,
you do know how good for you I am!
Yes, yes, yes, yes you do know how good for you I am!
And, and if in the distance,
it seems to me like your picture,
then, then I wish so much
that we were united in love.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, that we were united in love.
Ein Jäger aus Kurpfalz
a hunter from Kurpfalz
Die Westfälischen Nachtigallen -
History : a song about a hunter from Kurpfalz and his joys
Ein Jäger aus Kurpfalz,
Der reitet durch den grünen Wald,
Er schießt das Wild daher,
Gleich wie es ihm gefällt.
Refrain:
|: Juja, Juja, gar lustig ist die Jägerei
Allhier auf grüner Heid’,
Allhier auf grüner Heid’, :|
2. Auf! Sattelt mir mein Pferd
Und legt darauf den Mantelsack,
So reit’ ich hin und her
Als Jäger aus Kurpfalz.
Refrain:
3. Hubertus auf der Jagd,
Der schoss ein’n Hirsch und einen Has’.
Er traf ein Mägdlein an,
Und das war achtzehn Jahr.
Refrain:
4. Des Jägers seine Lust
Den großen Herren ist bewusst,
Jawohl, jawohl bewusst,
Wie man das Wildpret schuss.
Refrain:
5. Wohl zwischen seine Bein,
Da muss der Hirsch geschossen sein,
Geschossen muss er sein,
Auf eins, zwei, drei.
Refrain:
6. Jetzt reit’ ich nimmer heim,
Bis das der Kuckuck, kuckuck schreit,
Er schreit die ganze Nacht
Allhier auf grüner Heid’!
Refrain:
1. A hunter from Kurpfalz,
He rides through the green forest,
He shoots the game therefore,
As he pleases.
Refrain:
|: Juja, Juja, the hunt is really funny
All on green heath,
All on green heath ',: |
2. On! Saddle my horse
And put on the coat bag,
So I ride back and forth
As a hunter from Kurpfalz.
Refrain:
3. Hubertus on the hunt,
He shot a stag and a hat.
He met a girl,
And that was eighteen years.
Refrain:
4. The hunter's lust
The great lords are aware
Yes, yes, yes,
How to shoot the game.
Refrain:
5. Well between his leg,
The deer must have been shot
He has to be shot
At one, two, three.
Refrain:
6. Now I'm never going home,
Until the cuckoo, cuckoo screams,
He screams all night
All on green heath!
Refrain:
Die Lorelei the Lorelei
History:Die Lorelei," is based on a German legend of an enchanting, seducing mermaid who lures seamen to their death. Die Lorelei is a rock cliff on the Rhine, in which many ships have sunk nearby.
1. Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,
Daß ich so traurig bin,
Ein Märchen aus uralten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt,
Im Abendsonnenschein.
2. Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar,
Ihr gold'nes Geschmeide blitzet,
Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.
Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme,
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame,
Gewalt'ge Melodei.
3. Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe,
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn,
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen,
Die Loreley getan.
I don’t know what it could mean,
Or why I’m so sad: I find,
A fairy-tale, from times unseen,
Won’t vanish from my mind.
The air is cool and it darkens,
And quiet flows the Rhine:
The tops of the mountains sparkle,
In evening’s after-shine.
The loveliest of maidens,
She’s wonderful, sits there,
Her golden jewels glisten,
She combs her golden hair.
She combs it with a comb of gold,
And sings a song as well:
Its strangeness too is old
And casts a powerful spell.
It grips the boatman in his boat
With a wild pang of woe:
He only looks up to the heights,
Can’t see the rocks below.
The waves end by swallowing
The boat and its boatman,
That’s what, by her singing,
The Lorelei has done
