Smells from the past..A brief memory from my childhood, where me and my family spend four years just in the middle of Bavaria and Black Forest Region of Germany. The fresh smell of the undergrowth after a rain, wild strawberries along the way and the smell of christmas cookies. It took years when the smell of ginger, spices and treacle combined woke those memories that were sleeping comfortably somewhere out of reach.There is a strong connection between smell and memories and a smell can take you back to a memory you never have remembered before. This cake summarizes all..
The hero of this cake , ginger root was first cultivated in ancient China, where it was commonly used as a medical treatment. From there it spread to Europe via the Silk Road. During the Middle Ages it was flavoured as a spice for its ability to disguise the taste of preserved meats and it was used as a preservative in cookies and bread as well.In Germany gingerbread is made in two forms: a soft form called Lebkuchen and a harder form, particularly associated with carnivals and street markets such as the Christmas markets that occur in many German towns. The hard gingerbread is made in decorative shapes, which are then further decorated with sweets and icing. The tradition of cutting gingerbread into shapes takes many other forms, and exists in many countries. —Gamze Mutfakta (Piper Nigrum)
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