Let's bake a cake

It was my birthday on Thursday last week so I gave myself a present and took the day off work. I also added Friday to make a nice long week-end and now its back to work on Monday. It is custom where I work to bring something to eat for coffee break. As we are many people – about 20 – I usually back about 3 large cakes, the reason being that it is cheaper than buying something. I used to bake a lot when the kids were at home and when I was allowed to eat the sweet stuff. As the years go by the kids grow up and move away and I am not supposed to eat the sweet stuff any more. This year I decided to make a Santa Claus Cake, a Spice Cake and a Chocolate cake. The last two are my own recipe, just basic. The first one I found in a recipe book some years ago, and my birthday being on St. Niklaus day I found it quite appropriate. Living in Switzerland I use the metric system for weights.

125 gramme Butter
200 gramme brown sugar
A pinch of salt (in the flour)
2 Eggs
200 grammes Dates
60 grammes Walnuts
60 grammes Almond splitters
2 Tablespoons Rum (I used Cognac – anything alcoholic does except for methylated spirits)
350 grammes Flour2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder (In Switzerland we cannot get self-raising flour as in other countries, so we always have to put baking powder into the flour)
2 deciliters of Milk

So here we go

Here we have the ingredients all ready to be used. Of course, something to weight the ingredients is also necessary - you will see this in further photos.

Any cake tin can be used, but I will be using this one. It's called a "spring form" in German and quite useful when the cake is finished as you just release the clip on the side and the cake is released from the tin. You can also serve the cake on the base. First of all grease the tin.

I then weigh the dates

and start chopping them in large pieces.

Now weigh the walnuts

I usually break the walnuts into large pieces by hand.

So now we have the dates, walnuts and almond splitters ready

Put the butter in the mixing bowl. I usually leave the butter at room temperature when I start making the cake as it makes it softer and easier to beat.

I use the electric mixer for making cakes and beat the butter until it is soft.

Then add the brown sugar

and beat it together with the butter

Now add the eggs one after the other and beat into the mixture with the machine

and the mixture should look as above

Add the dates, walnuts and almonds and a generous dose of rum or in my case cognac - what you happen to have in the bar

Start mixing this all together. Notice I have changed the whisk on the machine to something less fine. You just have to mix the stuff together now and not beat it.

Now everything is mixed nicely together.

Put the flour and the baking powder onto the mixture

and add the milk. In the recipe it says add the milk and flour alternatively, but I find that if your have an electric mixer you can just as well add everything together and mix on a slower speed.

The cake mixture is now complete.

It can now be put carefully into the cake tin (did another wonder work by holding the camera in my right hand and balancing the cake mixture in the left).

I usually make a deepening through the middle as when the cake rises (and we all hope it does) it evens out better.

Mr. Swiss found this photo would not be possible, but I again decided to prove it was. I had to do it with a flash, but it worked out ok. Here you see the cake after about 20 minutes in the oven.

And here is the final product. I wrap it in aluminium foil and keep it in the fridge until Monday when I take it to work. It then stays fresh.

A Visit to Castle Waldegg, Feldbrunnen, Switzerland

I was driving home from work last week and saw that our local castle is now illuminated in the evenings. As it was my birthday today and in honour of the day I had taken the day off (and tomorrow as well) I decided to take a few photos. Not being very expert in night photos, I took about 10 photos, threw about 7 away and this is about the best. I risked being run over by cars which were driving passed now and again, but I think it was sort of worth it.

Castle Waldegg is on my way to work in the morning, which means I drive past twice a day during the week. To be able to drive up the avenue leading and surrounding the castle you have to have special permission. Being a member of the village I have this permission, although I dread the day when a policeman asks to see it. I know roughly where it is in the car, but I also know it will probably be a very embarrassing search process until I actually find it. I have visited the castle a couple of times since the renovation work, but this time I was armed with my camera. It has become a very popular place for excursions, and weddings, after all it is not everyone that can show a wedding photo in front of a castle. I cannot show any wedding photos, but that’s another story.

Here is a photo showing the visitor’s entrance to the castle.

So now I will bore everyone with a bit of a history lesson.

Castle Waldegg was built from 1682-1690 as the Summer house of Johann Viktor 1 of Besenval (1638-1713) and his wife Maria Margaritha von Sury (1649-1713). From all the various country houses of the Solothurn patronage Waldegg is the most beautiful and largest. An avenue lined with trees on each side lead to the baroque castle with its gardens, situated on a hill. French and Italian style elements mix with the strong architecture of the Solothurn towers.

Johann Viktor II of Besenval (1671-1736), diplomat and high officer in French service, made extensive structural changes to the building of the theatre hall and the building of the second St. Michael’s chapel, as well as bringing many works of art to Waldegg.

Although Baron Peter Viktor von Besenval (1721-1791), his son and the third owner of Waldegg was born in the castle, he lived practically all his life in France. He was responsible for the extension of the Orangerie.

In 1789 at the outbreak of the French Revolution, the decline of the family Besenval began. The family’s power achieved through commerce, mercenary services and statesmanship is today no-longer existent and the family is extinct. Waldegg was almost deserted until it was bought in 1865 by Joseph von Sury-von Besenval. The new owner made the castle once again habitable. He built two apartments in the castle and changed the baroque garden into an English garden.

In 1963 castle Waldegg came into the possession of Kanton Solothurn through a contract made with the Marguerite, Charles and Victor von Sury. Members of this family still live today in the East Wing of the castle. Some of the family also served as guards to the pope in the Vatican.

Although the meeting centre Waldegg could be used as such in 1974, extensive renovation and restoration work was necessary from 1985 until 1991 until the opening of the museum. In 1991 castle Waldegg was opened as contribution to the 700 year jubilee of the Swiss Confederation. The renovation and re-establishment of the baroque gardens received international recognition in 1995. In 2005 the adjoining buildings in the castle grounds were renovated.

The reason why I made my visit last Sunday was because they had a special open day. The visit to the castle was combined to the exhibition of handcraft Christmas gifts and a friend of mine, who does the accounts for the castle, told me that it might be interesting as they also had some very old books on show as well.

Part of the castle was also used to show various handcrafts which were sponsored by local businesses. It made a change and I quite enjoyed the visit. Mr. Swiss was occupied in seeing my son off as he arrived on the doorstep on Saturday for the week-end to attend a class reuniion after ten years. He made a quick visit from Brussels where he is at the moment working for the next two years. Here are some of the gifts on exhibit in the castle.

Reservoir Cats 20

One Eye Fred: ‚ow ya feeling Gladys? Looks like your gradually getting back on your feet again.
Gladys: Well, they weren’t the first kittens that I had and probably won’t be the last. Little Al seems to be developing as leader of the pack. He’s the first one there at feeding time. I have to push him back now and again to make sure there is enough for the other 5 kittens.
One Eye Fred: Takes after ‘is father I suppose.
Gladys: Well he looks like him. Hope you didn’t mind that little slip Fred, but Long Tail Al was just in the right place at the right time.
One Eye Fred: He always is, otherwise he wouldn’t be the boss. Mind you Little Al certainly seems to take after ‘im. ‘es always wandering off to places ‘e shouldn’t be in. Caught ‘im sniffing around in Big Tom’s favourite mousing place yesterday.
Gladys: Well, you know what kittens are when they are small, always inquisitive
Big Tom: What did I hear, Little Al has no business to be in my part of the territory. Although he reminds me of his father when he was small.
Gladys: Did you know Long Tail Al when he was a kitten.
Big Tom: Of course, he’s my half brother. I arrived in the first litter and he arrive in the second a couple of weeks later. We have the same father, but our mothers were different. My mother and father were Maine Coon pure, but my father went for a moonlight walk one night and met one of the cats from town and the rest you can imagine. I have another reason to look in on you. Gladys. In your days with the Kitty Cat Club, did you ever hear the mention of a Mr. Wang.
Gladys: Oh dear, now that’s not a good omen. I remember the story of Mr. Wang and Madame Butterfly.
Big Tom: I’am all ears, so tell it.
Gladys: Well it was a long time ago. It seems that Mr. Wang and Madame Butterfly were oriental cats, but lived a wild life on the streets in Hong Kong. They were picked up from the streets and came to one of those terrible places where they change the life of us cats. They perform all sorts of experiments and a cat can loose all 9 lives in five minutes. Mr. Wang and Madame Butterfly survived. I think the idea was to create some sort of secret weapon. Mr. Wang’s eyes became a strange red colour and he had the power of breaking the will power of other cats if they looked into his eyes. Mr. Wang should have been able to turn his power onto humans as well, but they found that the big human in the big White House in America wasn’t worth it as he was doing everything wrong in any case.
Big Tom: So the man in the big White House didn’t have a cat.
Gladys: Oh yes, he got India, you know the cat no-one wanted because his favourite pastime was being nice to humans.
Big Tom: Oh yes, I remember, no will power in that cat at all. And what about this Madame Butterfly.
Gladys: She was captured with Mr. Wang and also had things done to her. I don’t know what, something to do with bringing out the worse characteristics in a cat. Madame Butterfly was mean before she was caught, so by the time the humans had finished their experiments she was even more mean. She was also very strong and it was her that broke out of the cage they were kept in by biting through the steel bars, and Madame Butterfly and Mr. Wang escaped together. Madame Butterfly was the only cat that Mr. Wang couldn’t hypnotise.
Big Tom: It now seems that these two cats are in town together with one called Pablo.
Gladys: Pablo, that I don’t laugh. He worships the ground Madame Butterfly walks on. He thinks he is in charge, but only because Butterfly wants it that way. Then she can stay in the background and carry out her plans with no interruption. Pablo was also treated and she dragged him along when she escaped so he is now eternally thankful to her.
Big Tom: Sounds like a real pack of criminals Long Tail Al has in his town. I think I will have to send a message to Al to let him know what’s living in his museum.

Long Tail Al: ‘allo Slimy and ‘ow were the meatballs.
Slimy: Oh, they were delicious, that Italian does the best meatballs in town. By the way Al, I met one of the black paw gang and ‘e gave me a bit of news.
Long Tail Al: Tell me Slimy. I didn’t know you ‘ad connections wiv the black paw gang.
Slimy: Well I knew Ronnie and Reggie when they were kids, selling false catnip on the street corners. Anyhow that black paw told me that the orientals were only on ‘oliday here for a few days to relax and tomorrow they are going back ‘ome. There’s a ship calling in and they are planning on going on board to go back ‘ome to their ‘ome town of ‘ong Kong.
Long Tail Al: Well that’s good news. At last we town cats can carry on living as we used to. Everytime you take a walk on the streets these days you just don’t feel safe. Well keep yer eyes and ears open Slimy and if you ‘ear anyfing else, let me know. Slimy, somefing wrong wiv yer eyes? You keep squinting all the time
Slimy: No boss, I’m all right, must be a full moon night tonight. Bye boss, till tomorrow.
Tabby: Hello dad, did I hear Slimy here just now.
Long Tail Al: Yes, ‘e just brought me some good news. The Orientals are going tomorrow.
Tabby: Really, that’s a surprise, I thought they were moving in here.
Long Tail Al: Well Slimy ‘eard it from the Black Paw gang.
Tabby: Well the last time I saw Slimy he was talking to a big white cat with red eyes. Didn’t look like one of the black paw gang to me. And then a big slim lady cat came up with sort of almond eyes and Slimy was kneeling down in front of her and she was talking to him.
Long Tail Al: Sounds a bit funny to me.
Tabby: I was on my way to the Italian restaurant to see what was so good about the meat balls and as I was coming round the corner I saw them, so thought I should stay hidden in the shades to see what was going on.
Long Tail Al: I fink it’s time for us both to pay a visit to Big Tom. There are some strange things going on ‘ere and I will ‘ave to ‘ave some ‘elp and support from ‘im.

Diversification in the office

Christmas is coming and so is the stress at work, although sometimes I have to laugh at the situations that appear in the daily routine.

This afternoon there was a loud noise in the office, reminded me of home, until I noticed that it was a vacuum cleaner being used by the mechanic who was repairing one of the office printers and had brought his own portable vacuum cleaner with him to do the job properly. In Switzerland there is always a lot of cleaning going on, and naturally if a Swiss mechanic does the job properly he has to make sure that everything is clean and tidy when he is finished. We women found it quite amusing – the mechanic was doing the job and was naturally being watched by one of our co-workers from the responsible department. I suppose it always needs two to make sure it’s done properly. One of the girls found it was worth a photo, so I didn’t need being invited twice, and here is the result.

Yesterday an office friend arrived with her dog. Mind you not just a dog, but a big dog. My colleague actually lives in the next village down the road to me and at the moment her house is being renovated so she is staying with relations and naturally had to take the dog with her. I have known the dog, with the name of Taps, since he was a little dog. At that time she also brought him to work now and again where he had a quiet corner in the office and everyone patted his head and spoilt him. Even when Taps was young he was always walking around with a rag doll in his mouth and woe betide anyone that wanted to take it away from him. Anyhow going back to the present day, Taps was again in the office yesterday, the difference being that many years have passed and he is no longer the sweet little doggy, but now a big dog. Of course when he arrived we all wanted to say hello dog, but we didn’t have to greet him he greeted us in his canine way. Now Taps is a very big dog, lovable but big. He still carries his toy is his mouth, but the toy also seems to have grown bigger with the years.

One of the other girls decided she would take a walk with Taps through the office on the lead, which was quite funny. You suddenly saw a large dog taking my colleague for a walk. She was sort of hanging onto the lead and Taps was showing her which way he wanted to go. Taps also seems to get tired very quickly and it did seem that most of the time he was sleeping. His owner had brought his blanket with her, but Taps preferred to sleep on the office carpet.

Otherwise it was a tough long day, but the small events in the office do help to get the day behind you.

Christmas Shopping at the local castle

Well I suppose everyone has their local castle somewhere - whether it's a ruin or something worth looking at. Our local Castle is called Castle Waldegg, situated on a hill in our village. It orginally belonged to the family Besenval. Many years ago the French ambassador to Switzerland had his seat in the local town of Solothurn, and during the Summer he moved out and used this castle. Once a year towards Christmas they use part of the castle, in this case the barn, to have an exhibition of Christmas presents, made by craftsmen. Above you can see the entrance to the Exhibition. I went along (with my camera of course) to have a look around. The castle also had an open day, but my report on that follows later.

As you can see from the photos there are many different types of craftsmanship to be seen. The goods are naturally for sale, and the prices are not cheap, but taking into consideration it is all handwork, then I suppose it is justified.

I found this glass lamp particularly attractive, although somehow I don't think it would fit in my living room, especially with three cats around waiting to see if it is unbreakable or not.

This is something typically Swiss, silhouette work done by cutting the black paper with small special scissors in patterns. Sometimes the paper is folded to create a mirror effect and sometimes just portraits are cut out. You can even have classes to learn how to do it. Actually I would love to learn, but just don't have the time and patience.

You can even make greetings cards using this technique.

The exhibition/shopping opportunity is open to the public, children as well as adults, so what would it be without a corner for the children. The toys are all handmade of wood and painted. I remember when my boys were small one of their favourite toys was a wooden train or wooden jigsaw puzzles. I quite enjoyed my visit and there was also a small coffee bar organised for those that wanted to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. As the castle is only a five minute walk from where I live I decided to go home afterwards.

My favour piece was the following. I wonder how many hours the artist spent cutting that one out.

Reservoir Cats 19

Long Tail Al: ‚allo Charlie, anyfing new on the streets?
Charlie: Well funny you should say that boss, I saw one of the Crat twins around, you know the ones in charge of the black paw gang, but they were acting a bit funny to say the least.
Long Tail Al: Well I ‘eard they’re now working for the Orientals, but up to now we ain’t ‘ad any troubles wiv ‘em.
Charlie: Yea, well it was Ronnie I saw, you know the one that brought Cat McVitie round the corner.
Long Tail Al: Yea, well that Ronnie always was a bit of a funny one although that Cat McVitie was ‘aving it off with Reggie Crat’s missus, Ronnie’s sister-in-law.
Charlie: Yea, well Ronnie’s sister-in-law was ‘aving it off wiv every willing tom cat in the neighbourhood. Funny fing with Ronnie, I never saw ‘im on the tiles with the ladies. ‘e was always ‘anging around where the kittens were.
Long Tail Al: Yea I know, until Gladys told ‘im to sling ‘is ‘ook otherwise ‘e would ‘ave to see me about it.
Charlie: Well in any case ‘e’s now walking around wiv a funny look in ‘is eyes.
Long Tail Al: So tell me something new.
Charlie: No, boss you don’t get me. He ‘appened to walk right in me path, so of course I went on one side – if it’s one fing you don’t do it’s to get in the way of the black paw gang, especially Ronnie Crat. In any case ‘e just sort of looked through me as if I wasn’t there. Just walked on. I thought I would follow ‘im and then all of a sudden ‘e met up wiv one of the orientals, but a funny looking one that was.
Long Tail Al: Wotcha mean Charlie?
Charlie: Well I ain’t never seen anyfing like it. It was an oriental, but ‘e was big and as white as the snow in Winter and ‘is eyes, now they were right strange.
Long Tail Al: So, don’t try me patience Charlie. What’s wiv the eyes.
Charlie: Well they were red, and I don’t just mean red, but real red.
Long Tail Al: Well what’s the difference between red and real red. Just remind me to ‘ave a word with Big Tom. I fink I will ‘ave to send some of my cats to ‘im in school. The intelligence level of the town cats does leave a lot to desire.
Charlie: Ok, but Ronnie and this big white red-eyed cat were looking at each other. Well Ronnie was looking at ‘im right into ‘is eyes and all of a sudden he got all funny and got down on ‘is knees and started nodding ‘is ‘ead.
Long Tail Al: Nah this is getting interesting. And then?
Charlie: Well Ronnie walked off towards the museum and disappeared through the door.
Long Tail Al: and that’s where the orientals ‘ave got their ‘eadquarters. Fink I will ‘ave to ‘ave a talk with Romeo about this. ‘E seems to be the expert on this sort of fing.
Romeo: Vieni Long Tail Al. I was just getting ready to go back to Big Tom.
Long Tail Al: Yea, I ‘ave a question. `ave you every ‘eard of a cat that’s white wiv red eyes.
Romeo: Well I have never seen one, but I think Big Tom mentioned it once when Lucky Catiano got rid of the Orientals.
Long Tail Al: Well I fink I’ll come wiv ya when you go back to Big Tom. ‘E might know somefing more.

Big Tom: Hello Al, to what do I owe the honour of the visit of the town cat boss.
Long Tail Al: We got big problems Tom, big problems.
Big Tom: Tell me
Long Tail Al: Well you ‘eard that the orientals are moving in in town. Up to now they’re in the museum, but they got the black paw gang already in their ‘ands.
Big Tom: And what are you doing about it?
Long Tail Al: Well, I am still doing some planning. Up to now they ain’t done much, but it seems that Ronnie Crat, one of the twins that leads the black paws wiv ‘is bruvver Reggie, ‘as been seen wiv a big white oriental cat wiv red eyes.
Big Tom: Just a minute Al, will be right back. I have to make a long distance cat call with Lucky Catiano, this sounds very strange.

Big Tom: Well Al, I think you are in for big trouble.
Long Tail Al: Tell me Tom
Big Tom: The big white cat with the red eyes is an albino and goes under the name of Mr. Wang. He can mesmerise any cat around by just looking into its eyes. Lucky Catiano had a lot of trouble with him. He was the oriental’s secret weapon.
Long Tail Al: So how did Lucky Catiano manage to get rid of him.
Big Tom: Thanks to an ambush organised by the combined strength of the Chicago cats under the leadership of Al Catone, they managed to put Mr. Wang in a black bag and tie it up and throw him into the Lake of Michigan so they thought he had drowned.
Long Tail Al: Well it don’t seem like ‘e did, does it.
Big Tom: It seems to me that the only way you are going to win this one is with our help.
Long Tail Al: Fanks Tom, but we ain’t got the Chicago cats around ‘ere ‘ave we.
Big Tom: The problem is that when the Orientals are finished in town our settlement is not far away and we will probably be the next. Al you go on home, and I will see what I can do for you.

Pablo: I have just had a visit from Ronnie Crat
Madame Butterfly: And what did he have to say?
Pablo: He told me that Slimy, will be on his own tonight raiding some trash cans outside the Italian restaurant. Mr. Wang told Ronnie to spread a trail of meat balls up to the cans so he is bound to be there.
Madame Butterfly: Very good. When he is there Mr. Wang will be waiting and can hypnotise Slimy to do our will.
Pablo: You are so clever Butterfly.
Madame Butterfly: I know, after all if it wasn’t for me Mr. Wang would now be at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Luckily I saw what was happening and pushed some of my guards into the Lake with the orders to save Mr. Wang. Luckily he was pulled out by one of the guards, unfortunately 10 other perished in the rescue effort, but guards can always be replaced.

Slimy: Boss, I’m just going out for a bref of fresh air.
Long Tail Al: A good idea Slimy, then we might get some fresh air in ‘ere when you’re gone. Where ya going?
Slimy: Well it’s Friday ain’t it and they always do spaghetti wiv meat balls at the local Italian restaurant. It ain’t the spaghetti, but the meat balls that I like. They always throw somefing away worth eating on Friday.
Long Tail Al: Be careful, you know the dangers that are lurking at the moment.
Slimy: You mean the oriental mob. No problem boss, that’s one of the advantages when you smell a bit, they don’t come near you.

Slimy: Blimy it’s cold this evening. Now that’s nice, someone must ‘ave dropped ‘is meat balls wiv a take away meal. Now they smell good. Just around the corner is the Italian restaurant, let’s ‘ope there’s more there. Who’s that geezer standing there. Don’t look like one of us, we ain’t got no big white cats wiv red eyes.
Mr. Wang: Good evening, you must be Mr. Slimy
Slimy: Well I ain’t never been a Mr. What d’ya want.
Mr. Wang: I would like to have a talk under four eyes. I have heard you are one of the most important cats in town and I am sure you would like to help your chief, Mr. Long Tail Al in his fight against the Oriental cats. Just look into my eyes and I will give you all the information you need.
Slimy: Well you ‘ave got colourful eyes if I might mention it. Now I do feel a bit funny, d’ya mind if I lay down and relax a bit, Oh you ‘ave got such big eyes.
Mr. Wang: Mr. Slimy, do you know Madame Butterfly.
Slimy: No, never ‘eard of ‘er, but sounds good. I like to eat the odd butterfly now and again.
Mr. Wang: Repeat after me. Madame Butterfly is now my boss. I will now do everything she tells me.
Slimy: Madame Butterfly is now my boss. I will now do everything she tells me.
Madame Butterfly: Now that is something I like to hear from my cats. Pleased to meet you Slimy, I am Madame Butterfly.
Slimy: Good evening boss, what can I do for you. Your wish is my command.
Mr. Wang: Can I go now Madame Butterfly, I think my work is done for this evening.
Madame Butterfly: Yes Mr. Wang, go with my blessing. There is a small reward in the museum kitchen. One of my faithful servants has prepared some steamed duck for you. And now to you Mr. Slimy. You will go home this evening and report to Long Tail Al that the Oriental cats have decided to leave tomorrow morning and return to China town in Chicago.
Slimy: Yes Madame Butterfly. I will obey.