Holiday cheer is a brown paper package tied up with string. Yesterday I was delighted to receive a parcel in the mail from my relatives in Germany. I could hardly wait to open it, and the contents did not disappoint — two books about Pfälzisch (Palatinate) living, one a cookbook, the other a guide to Palatinate life.
My relatives know me well. I sighed with happiness. At first glance, I worried about the cookbook. When Tante Inge tried to tell me how to make Käsekuchen many years ago, much suffered in the conversion from their measurements in grams to the American cups and tablespoons. Happily, however, the cookbook offers an English translation. Now I have everything in front of me, step-by-step instructions on making the traditional “Palatine stuffed pig’s stomach” and “Blood Sausage.” Phew!
The other book is a campy, cartoon-style guide to Pfälzisch variants (deviants?) on the art of German living. Dialect, sense of humor, and quirks brought to life by three characters: a pretzel roll, a wurst sausage, and a bottle of wine called Weck, Worscht & Woi. A perfect guide with which to ring in 2012. Danke vielmals, Familie!