Thursday, November 15, 2007

Giving Thanks

Kelli at There's No Place Like Home is hosting Giving Thanks.
Please visit her blog to see more Thanksgiving traditions.

Here's another one of our family traditions started by my grandmother.

Kuchen

2 pkg yeast 3 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs
6 cup flour + what's needed 1/2 c melted crisco +2 Tbs butter
2 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast and 3 Tbsp sugar in 1/4 c. lukewarm water.
Place flour in a big bowl and add remainder of sugar and salt.
Heat milk to lukewarm and add eggs to milk and beat well with beater.
Add melted shortening and beat again.
Add milk mixture to flour mixture and mix well.
Knead until dough is smooth and elastic , sprinkling flour as needed.
Brush dough with melted shortening and cover.
Put into warm place till doubled.
Top with our choice of the following toppings, or be creartive and make up your own.

Apricot:
1 Pkg. dried apricots covered well with water. Add 3/4 c. sugar after apricots are soft and 2 tbsp. tapioca. Cook until tapioca done.
Makes 3 kuchens. Use custard topping. Bake 35 min at 325

Prune:
1 1/2 pounds prunes
3/4 c. sugar
3Tbsp. Tapioca

See apricot instructions for directions.
Seed prunes when softened by pulling apart slightly. Top with struesel.

Apple or Rhubarb
Slice fruit and put on dough, then dribble butter over the top.
Put 1/3 -1/2 c. sugar over top and sprinkle with cinnamon,
then put 1 tsp. of cream here and there.
Struesel can be added to the apple.
Bake 30-40 minutes at 325.

Custard toppings for fruit Kuchens:
Beat well : 2 eggs
Add and beat:
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. flour
Add:
1 c. cream or half n half
Beat and add sprinkle of cinnamon.
Cook over medium high until it starts to boil.
Cool slightly and then add 1 tsp. vanilla.
Covers approx 3 kuchens.

Struesel:
1 c. sugar
1 1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. margarine
1/3 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
Mix with pastyr blender to make crumbs

German Cheese Kuchen
1 - 24 oz cottage cheese (dry)
6 eggs
3/4 tsp. salt.
2 Tbsp. Vanilla
Beat for 2 minutes
Add:
2 1/4 c. sugar mixed with 3 Tbsp. Flour. Beat.
Add:
1 c. cream - then beat again

Put dough into pans (very thin).
Bring up sides (as for pie crusts) and let rest only 15 min while you prepare the topping.
Pour topping on only as many as you can bake at a time.
Makes 4-5 8" kuchens.
Bake at 325 for 30-40 minutes.
Sprinkle top with cinnamon mixed with a little sugar.




9 comments:

ellen b. said...

Lori those recipes sound great. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/caramel-pecan-cookies/

Kelli said...

This looks like another delicious and very special recipe, Lori! My mouth is watering!
Hugs,
Kelli

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Oh, Lori, I bet those are delicious!

Katherine

Mommy said...

I know Kuchen is German, but exactly what is it? Are all these recipes to make the Kuchen, or are they different. Sorry for being so dumb! :)

Lori said...

Yes all these recipes are to make the kuchen. The first one is the dough...then you just add the fruit toppings. Then some of them you can either add the custard or strusel to the top also. It's kind of like eating a piece of pie.

Myra said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Val said...

Sounds great! I will be trying some of your recipes. Thanks for sharing!

Brenda said...

Hi Lori, I just wanted to stop by and 'meet' you by way of Hearts in 1 accord.
God is so good!
Brenda :)

Sarah Pead said...

Lori -

You've won my give-away! Be sure to email me your address so I can send you the adorable little tote! :)