TWD: Kugelhopf

In general, I try not to turn this blog into my personal sounding board. I know everyone has problems and hardships and they don’t need to take on my burdens too. Plus, I don't even like to listen to myself whine. However, I have a beef I feel like talking about. And I’m wondering, am I the only one who feels this way? Maybe I've turned into one of those old farts who’s got romantic notions of how much better things were in "the good old days"?


Here's what gets my goat... Hollywood and the entertainment industry bombarding my kids with its lack of values. For example, advertising of the movie, “Sex and the City”.

I don’t mind that the movie exists, but dag-nabit, do they have to advertise it everywhere? At every turn, I see that larger than life poster (and more to the point, my kids see it) with the word “SEX” in all caps, in hot pink rhinestones on a black background. Very glamorous, very glitzy, lots of visual appeal… and there it is at the theater, the mall, TV commercials, at the bookstore for crying out loud. It’s fine for adults, but when I take my kids to the bookstore and end up having to have “the talk” with my 7 year old? Oy vey!

You may be thinking, “but you could just tell them when they're older”. Yeah right, you try not explaining something like that to a curious elementary school kid and you will be hounded every waking minute, I guarantee you. At that age, they just can't stand being left out of a secret. And saying nothing isn't an option... you risk them using their fun, new word at school, at their friend's house, or wherever, because they don't know what it means.



And it's not a matter of "well, if you don't like it, just don't look at it." Because you just can't escape it. It's everywhere.

Here’s another example. Our family goes to the bowling alley, middle of the week day, we’re among a handful of groups bowling. Another nice wholesome outing, right? Right. Guess what song starts blaring on the juke box? “I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It” (which is sung by a girl, in case you didn't know). Niiiiice. Then some goon plays it AGAIN! And I see the sweet faces of my 7 and 10 year olds, looking at me and their dad with a “what the... ?” look.

What I dislike is when society forces me to have these discussions with my kids before I feel that they’re ready. OK, maybe the 10 year old is ready. But the 7 year old? Does he really need to know that? Will the world not let me keep him innocent for just a little while longer?

Wishful thinking, I guess.

Believe me when I tell you I am not a prude. I’m not holier than thou, not one to preach to anyone about my beliefs or be judgemental. And I don’t get all wigged out when I do explain the grown up parts of life to the kids. I tell them matter of factly, as much as I think they need to know, or can handle. But damn, let me do it when I think the time is right! Not as a result of a trip to the bookstore or the bowling alley, for pete’s sake!

Sigh.

So anyway, the kids are finding out (too young) about sex and the options for partners, and the Tuesday's with Dorie crowd and I are finding out about Kugelhopf. Sigh.

Here's a shout out to Yolanda of All-Purpose Girl for this week's recipe selection.

Kugelhopf is a European “cake” made from slightly sweetened yeast dough and typically contains raisins. It’s baked in a ring type pan and has a distinct look. Leite’s Culinaria has a real nice description and a beautifully made example, along with Dorie Greenspan's recipe.

I’m guessing I won’t be alone amongst the Tuesdays with Dorie crowd when I say that it seemed more like bread than cake. Albeit, a nice, light, soft bread.

Here is the dough in the molds, before it's had a chance to rise.


I don’t have a Kugelhopf pan, and I wanted to cut the recipe in half, so I used some cute little metal molds I have to bake it in. I added mini chocolate chips because I thought the recipe looked like it could benefit from some chocolate. (What, in life, couldn't benefit from a little chocolate?)


Some had problems with the yeasted dough rising. Mine rose to the tops of the molds before baking (I filled the molds about ¾ full to start with) but they rose even more in the oven and seemed to turn out just right.


Alone, they were OK. Warmed up, slathered with butter and jam, they were pretty good. I’m guessing the full sized loaf, sliced and toasted with butter and jam would be downright tasty.

All in all, it was a new and fairly successful baking adventure. Now, if I could get Hollywood to messing around in my business, I'd be set!