'Tis the Season

           Two years ago, a few days before Thanksgiving, I met a friend of mine, from Baltimore, at Play it Again Sam Cafe here in Chestertown.  It was lunch time, we both wanted coffee but not lunch.  She noticed a sign at the check out announcing "Stollen" baked by "Doug." "Let's buy a Stollen and have that with coffee, she said."   Over the years, like everyone else, I've eaten my share of dried, lifeless holiday baked goods.  I was skeptical but we purchased the holiday fare, asked for a knife and two plates and sat ourselves down.
            We cut two slices, I took a bite and...WOW!!!...this is not what I expected.  Fast forward an hour or so and when we get up to leave, half the stolen had been eaten.  Hay listen, it's the holidays - okay?   Before leaving, we each went back and purchased another to take home with us.

          The easy part is to tell you WHAT Stollen is.  Its a traditional German Christmas sweet bread, with rum soaked dried cranberries, raisins, apricots, candied lemon and orange peel filled with whole almonds, almond paste and a blend of holiday spices.  Lastly, it's dipped in butter and dusted in powdered sugar.                                         Describing Doug's Stollen like that is sort of like describing the Mona Lisa as an oil painting of a woman. ...yes, it's that -  but it's so much more.
           The rum soaked cranberries, raisins, apricots etc. spend at least two and a half months in their bath of 50% rum and 50% sweet syrup.  This is Doug's own recipe.  It makes for a subtler and smoother flavor rather than one that is 100% soaked in rum.  His hope it to eventually be able to soak the fruit for at least 9 months.   The stolen, pictured above wrapped and ready to go weighs a bit when you pick it up.   Yet when I serve myself a piece and begin to eat it, one of the first things I realize is how light the textures and flavors are...with a good cup of coffee or tea, meaningful conversation and good friends...this is truly..."priceless."
            Also I noticed on an announcement at the bakery...available for Thanksgiving..."French Rolls!!!"  Not always on the "menu" but there they are...a nice addition to any holiday meal.

Bon Apetite!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'll be at home with family, turkey, good bread and Stollen