Tuesday 8 November 2011

Herman (or The Blessing of Cake)

I received this from my friend Debbie...
For ten days, Herman 1 lived on our kitchen work-top, covered by a tea-towel. 
He received daily attention, as in the instructions.  On Day 4, I fed him, on flour, sugar and milk.  The rest of the days, I stirred him, so he continued to bubble and grow.

On Day 9, as per instructions, I fed Herman again, then divided him into four Hermans. 
However, I didn't give away 3, like the instructions say.  I gave away two and kept two.

On Day 10, I baked one of the remaining Hermans.  But I still had one left. 

I took care of the New Herman for 9 more days, before separating him into four once again, giving a double portion to my niece (so she can bake one straight away and keep one for next week).

Today was Day 10 again...
I added sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cooking oil, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon...
and fruit - this is a mix of apple, pears and banana (we fancied a bit of variety).
Herman was put in a large baking tin and sprinkled with brown sugar. 
He remained in the oven for 40 minutes...
until he became the Miracle called Cake!

DS ate Herman-Cake with custard, for dessert.  I ate a slice plain, with a fresh cup of coffee.  

Friendship Cake is a wonderful thing and we now have a home filled with the scents of baking, cinnamon and brown sugar!

* * *
Erm, forgot to say that this is a late entry for Sian's Storytelling Sunday this month!

14 comments:

  1. I've forgotten about this old "friend"! This used to get passed around a lot where we lived when we were first married!

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  2. It makes a lovely cake. The only problem with it, is that once you give someone a "Herman", they don't usually want another (or not straight away). Either they do what I did - keep a portion for the next cake - or they have had enough of stirring and feeding for 10 days and want a rest!
    At least it will freeze well...

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  3. What a great idea! But, going into summer here ... would he be okay left out on the bench in the warmer weather?

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  4. I have never heard of this! It reminds me of making sourdough bread, where you have to keep the 'mother' to make the next loaf. It looks delicious! xox

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  5. Yes, it's just the same principle as sourdough bread - except it's sourdough cake!
    Amy, I don't know for sure - perhaps if it was very warm, the yeast would ferment too much. But the point is that it stays fairly warm and "grows". I don't even know how to make my own sourdough "starter" from scratch - only from using one I already have. Perhaps Google would turn up something about it all.

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  6. I've never heard of this either! the closest thing I can think of is a ginger beer plant (mind you I haven't ever tried one of those either). a story with something to learn. Thank you!

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  7. I had forgotten about these cakes but the smell came instantly I read your story. An Aunt in Liverpool always had one 'on the go' when I stayed with her in the summer holidays. Thanks for a trip down memory lane!

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  8. I've never heard of this either, but like Sian, remember the ginger beer plants being passed around!

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  9. The last time I had one of these was about a quarter of a century ago! Lovely to know they are still on the go ...

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  10. Funnily enough I had never heard of Herman cake until about a month ago when a friend of mine had one and told us all about him but I wasn't lucky enough to get a portion! Nice to see what 'he' looked like! Thanks for sharing the story.

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  11. Herman The German. Never made the connection in my head. Glad to say that he tastes better than you 'originally' made him sound. Not generally a big fan of centuries old cake x

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  12. Oh, and maybe you need to tell Alexa that it's STILL the SAME cake!

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  13. Oh Clair you make me laugh so much! X

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