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Editor's Welcome
Greetings from Harmony Sweets, Inc. We hope you are
enjoying the beautiful autumn in your part of the
country. We have been busy at Harmony Sweets
gearing up for the holiday season. Please make sure
you keep us in mind as you are choosing those special
holiday gifts for those on your list!
In this month's edition the Harmony Sweets Herald
takes a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest. Taste
Germany's best chocolates with the Feodora
Composition, take our chocolate quiz and don't forget
to try out our recipe for Chocolate Pecan Pie- it's
perfect as you plan for the upcoming holiday season.
Relax and enjoy this edition of the Harmony Sweets
Herald from your friends at Harmony Sweets, Inc.
Happy Tasting,
Laurie J. Curtis
Editor
P.S. Please forward this newsletter to a friend.
Forward email
Confection of the Month
Get into the spirit of Oktoberfest with a wonderful gift
of selected chocolates from Feodora. This wonderful
assortment from Germany includes a variety of white,
milk, and dark chocolates, filled chocolates and tablets
in a beautiful box ready to send to someone special.
Our Feodora Composition is made with recipes dating
back to 1910 and has an intriguing story behind it.
Princess Feodora, the sister of Germany's last Empress,
appreciated the finer things in life and would only let
this brand of chocolate bear her name when assured of
its high quality and excellence. Feodora chocolates
have been manufactured under this esteemed name
since 1910.
The superb quality of Feodora chocolates is the result
of using only the finest, richest tasting cocoa beans
that are processed by Feodora in their own plant. Up to
72 hours of conching guarantees the smoothness and
wonderful taste of Feodora chocolate. The use of
natural ingredients such as real Bourbon vanilla, and the
use of no artificial colors or preservatives ensure that
you receive the rich and smooth flavor of a premium
chocolate.
Feodora Composition
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On a Musical Note |
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Let's Polka!
With the arrival of October and Oktoberfest
Celebrations, it's timely to study the music and dance
we know as the "Polka". Polka is both known as a
dance form and a music form. It is thought to have
originated in the 1830's among peasants of eastern
Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). The music spread
throughout Europe and became part of traditional
celebrations. There are several differing views as to
how this dance received its name. In Polish the word
polka means "polish woman". However, there is also a
theory that the word polka came from the word "pulka"
in Czech which means half step. The music of the
polka is in 2/4 time with a very defining, strong upbeat.
It is most often danced with a basic pattern of hop-
step-close-step with a lively tempo.
This dance soon found its way into ballrooms across
Europe and was documented in Prague in 1835 and in
Paris by 1840. It became so very popular that dance
academies were founded to teach the Polka. England
was introduced to Polka by the middle of the
nineteenth century which was also around the time it
found its popularity growing in the United States.
Other dances were modeled after the polka originating
in the nineteenth century, but the polka has been the
only one to survive and be danced today. As jazz,
ragtime, and newer dances emerged at the turn of the
century the Polka's popularity declined, but was
renewed after the second world war and became once
again extremely popular by the post-war bands, such
as Lawrence Welk. The most common instruments used
in polka music include the accordion, bass guitar,
clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and drum. Quite often
the music accompanies a vocalist.
Today the Polka is still a popular dance/music form,
especially in country western dances. It is played and
danced at celebrations and is part of our musical
heritage. You can enjoy this music form as well as
other traditional German music on our "Songs for
Oktoberfest" CD.
Songs for Oktoberfest »
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The Recipe Box - Black Forest Cake |
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Black Forest Cake
1 c. sugar
6 eggs, at room temperature
1 t. vanilla extract
½ c. all-purpose flour
½ c. baking cocoa
½ c. melted butter
¼ c. sugar
2 T. Kirsch or cherry Brandy
1/3 c. water
2 c. whipping cream, whipped
1/3 c. confectioners' sugar
¼ c. Kirsch or cherry Brandy
1 21 oz. can cherry pie filling
Maraschino cherries or fresh cherries
Chocolate curls
Preheat oven to 350 ˚.
Cream 1 c. sugar,
eggs
and vanilla in mixer bowl for 10 minutes or until light and
fluffy. Sift flour and cocoa into creamed mixture and
mix gently. Stir in butter. Pour into 3 lightly greased 8"
round cake pans.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until
layers test done. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove
to wire racks to cool completely.
Place layers
on 3 plates. Combine remaining ¼ c. sugar, 2 t. Kirsch
and water in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 5
minutes, stirring constantly. Spoon over tops of
layers. Combine whipped cream, confectioners' sugar
and remaining ¼ c. Kirsch in bowl, mix well. Place one
layer on serving plate. Spread with ½ inch layer of
whipped cream mixture and half the pie filling to within
½ inch of edge. Repeat with second layer. Spread
remaining whipped cream mixture over third layer.
Garnish with cherries and chocolate curls. Chill until
serving time.
Yield: 10 servings.
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Awesome Travel Tips - Make your plans for next year! |
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Let's head to Munich! Munich, capital of the free state
of Bavaria has just been the location of Oktoberfest.
This is an annual celebration which began in 1810 at
the engagement party of Princess Therese von
Sachsen-Hildburghausen to the Bavarian crown prince
Ludwig. The party was such a success, with nearly all
of the town turning out, that it became and annual
affair. It is a 16 day celebration which begins in
September and finishes in October- usually around the
first week of October- so make your travel plans to be
there next year!
The Oktoberfest in Munich attracts nearly 6 million
people each year. The festival ground is enormous;
overlooking the ground is an gigantic hollow statue of
the maiden Bavaria, which is more than 100 feet high.
You can take 130 steps up towards the top (to the
braided head) to have "a view of Munich through
Bavaria's eyes". However, check your local event
calendars as there are Oktoberfest celebrations still
going on all month in celebration of fall, harvest, and
community spirit.
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Are you a chocolate expert? |
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See if you know the answers to these questions!
1. What country consumes more chocolate than any
other nation in the world?
2. Chocolate was enjoyed by the Olmec culture of
which country?
3. In 1675 "chocolate cafes" in this country were
banned because they were thought to be encouraging
radical political thinking.
4. In what Italian town was the chocolate macaroon
invented?
5. Where can you find chocolates from all over the
world in one "sweet" location?
Answers:
1. Switzerland, it consumes an estimated 22 pounds per
person annually. In the USA we consume an estimated
11 pounds per person annually.
2. Mexico
3. England
4. Venice, Italy
5. www.harmonysweets.com
Swiss Chocolates at Harmony Sweets »
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