Vancouver: Christa's Apple Cake

{mmmm}

Our department secretary Christa made me a delicious cake to celebrate my graduation last week. It was soooo good  

(Seriously, we were all drooling... I think I even had seconds!) 

that I emailed her and asked for the recipe. This is what she sent back: 

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Dear Alysha,

I'm glad you liked it...I can't give you specifics as far as measurements go, as I never measure...ich backe sozusagen 'ueber den Daumen'...but here are the ingredients...etc.

1.  first grease and flour the pan...then that is out of the way.
2.  peel the apples  (4-5 approx) and cut in slices (any apple will do)
3.  in a mixing bowl, add (butter, margarine, shortening...approx. 1 cup
4.  add sugar...(1 cup)
5.  beat till creamy
6.  add eggs 2, perhaps 3  (room temperature is better)
7.  beat again till very creamy
8.  add flour (3 cups?), 3 tsp. baking powder...and some milk
9.  mix it all up...it should be somewhat a bit stiffer than a cake mix consistency...add more flour as needed
10. put it in the cake pan...put the apple slices on top...arrange at a slight angle, wedge side down (cake will rise as it bakes).
11.  sprinkle with cinnamon (you could put a tsp. of sugar...in the cinnamon..
12.  add raising...but sometimes they can overbrown...
13.  at the end, sometimes I mix icing sugar and lemon juice...to drizzle over, but I had none on hand when I made your cake.

anyways...the measurements of the ingredients also reflect which pan I use...sometimes I just do it in a cookie sheet with higher sides.
*note:  it takes a little bit longer to bake, perhaps because of the apples and the moisture.  insert a toothpick in the middle.

I wish I had accurate measurements to give you.  it is just an ordinary 'Ruehrteig...with apple slices on top...sometimes you can also mix smaller apple pieces right into the better...

Good luck with the baking and of course with all your new endeavours!  Don't lose touch, and send an email once in a while.

Cheers,
Christa

Vancouver: Moving to Vienna!

{Vienna}

...so this morning I got the good news that I've (finally) been given a school in Austria to teach English at next year.  Two schools actually. In Perchtoldsdorf (or P'dorf) and in Maria Enzersdorf*... which to my unfamiliar ears sounded like two little sticks-in-the-mud. But low and behold, both are actually just suburbs of VIENNA!!! (both are about 10 miles from Vienna, 10 minutes by car, about 18 minutes by train, according to the ÖBB... which, technically, is close enough to constitute me living in Vienna!).

This is what I've found out so far about my new homes-to-be:

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Perchtoldsdorf:

{Palace Gardens}

{Vineyards and Church}

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Maria Enzersdorf:

{Lichtenstein Castle}

{Hunyadi Palace}

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Vienna:

{Castle Schönbrunn}

{Art History Museum}

{City Hall}

{Street Scene One}

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{Perchtoldsdorf: X marks the spot :: map of Austria}

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More to come as I find out... 

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* Sorry, some links are to German webpages! 

Vancouver: Graduation!

Master's Degree? Check! 

After a grueling two hour oral exam with three of my (ahem) hard-ass professors, I've finally done it! A master's degree in German Literature. No more all-nighters, no more missing out on fun things to finish books... free time is mine...

The exam was pretty intense- 50 books (10 each from the Medieval era, Romanticism, Naturalism, Contemporary and Theory), but actually went really well. I also had to turn in a Master's Essay. I wrote about a German film entitled "Free Rainer: dein Fernseher lügt." All in all, I would have done a few things differently, but it went pretty well in the end. :o)

That afternoon we all went to the on-campus bar and drank some beer (mixed with Sprite!). We sat on the patio because it was a beautiful day out. Susanne and I had to leave early to go to our beloved karate class. It kicked my butt this time- so sore!!! Hi-ya! 

{ Larrabee State Park }

Friday I went shopping all day in Bellingham with my friends Lydia and Susanne. After a picnic at Larrabee State Park, we ate delicious gelato in Fairhaven and checked out stores downtown. Lydia and I introduced Susanne to Ross, which she loved. (and I believe, bought two pairs of shoes!). I found a pair of roman sandals, which, since Colin and I love the show Rome, was pretty exciting.

Last night we celebrated and went out dancing at the Honey Lounge (downtown in Gastown). Good Stuff!!

 { I'M GRADUATED!!! }

{ UBC - my school no longer! }

Now, just to find a job for the summer in Vancouver and to hear back from Austria about teaching there next year.  :o)

Vancouver: Easter at the Olsens

It's been pretty nice here in Vancouver the last few weeks. Here are some pictures from my, Andi and Susanne's treck to Wreck Beach, UBC's only nude beach. 

{wreck beach}

{me and Susanne}

{clothing optional, heehee}

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And here are some shots from a walk Colin and I took from Kits Beach over to Granville Island, one sunny day.

{my Colin}

{stairs to nowhere}

{the dog park}

{burrard st. bridge}

{the ocean reaper}

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Last weekend I went home with Colin to spend Easter with his family at their house in Aldergrove, BC. His parents, Dan and Sabine, run a little farm with horses, ducks and chickens. :o)

{the little Olsen farm}

{our easter tree}

{delicious easter brunch}

{dying easter eggs}

{Tarte Ta-tin and Osterbrot}

{german scrabble}

{spike: puss n' boots}

{reflections of a lonely duck}

{little chickies}

{going for a walk}

{colin's horses}

{this sign points north!}

{neighbor horses... get it?}

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This is where I spent many hours spent slaving over essays in preparation for graduation.

{my desk}

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Taking a break from work, I met up with Colin, Stella & Andi, and Susanne & Philipp at Brown's Social House. Stella flew back to Germany on Saturday :o( But I'm sure we'll see each other next year!

{colin & stella}

{me and susanne}

{dine and dash... get it?}

Vancouver: Graduation looms.

Vancouver: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Here's a tasty recipe I tried out today....

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

350º

Makes 12

ingredients 

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line twelve 1/3-cup muffin cups with foil muffin liners. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Mix mashed bananas, egg, melted butter and milk in medium bowl. Stir banana mixture into dry ingredients just until blended (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake muffins until tops are pale golden and tester inserted into center comes out with some melted chocolate attached but no crumbs, about 32 minutes. Transfer muffins to rack; cool.