Recipe offer important biographical clues because they show cultural, linguistic, and family influences. Here are some steps for how to read a recipe using three versions of one of our family's traditional desserts: "Christmas Cake" aka "Advent Cake" aka "Coffee Cake" aka "Pfefferkuchen auf dem Blech." Try reading your own recipes and see what you'll discover about yourself!

Decoy foods are an important way for parents to share important cultural traditions. Pfefferkuchen is just enough like Lebkuchen that it can be used to disguise the important culinary practice of making Saint Nicholas Day cookies.

When I think of “tradition” I think of Fiddler on the Roof and my mom. I think of decorations, people, noise, and, always, food. Pretzels, Lebkuchen, tourtière, cipaille, pies... How did I get into studying traditional foods? Why should anyone care about traditional foods? Join me as I share my origin story into the creation of Franglisch Foods.