Maulwurf

the cake

As you can probably guess, we are celebrating a birthday today. The young man is now 21. The problem with turning 21 in Germany is that the birthday doesn’t really mean a whole lot. Certainly it is not a milestone the way it is in the US. In Germany you can drink beer at 16, drive a car at 18. You are considered an adult at 18, unless you are out in a training program at 16. Plenty of 16 year olds are working full time.

When I was a kid back in the US dark ages there were three ages that were important – 16 for driving, 18 for drinking and 21 for voting/signing contracts and otherwise having everyone think you are an adult. Probably built into the legal system as well. It didn’t mean that the foster care systems didn’t kick kids to the curb at 18 (somehow the State always seemed to be able to do things/get away with things that the rest of us can’t). The only real impact it has on his life is losing the military family ID card which means a major change in health care location and installation access for him.

Since he has been doing steadily better for the last few months, this may be the last time I can refer to him as The Maulwurf (Mole) and will have to come up with a new name. I can also tell that he is growing up; didn’t want pictures taken of him opening presents. So I will just tell you that he now has a nice jacket, a sweater, three more shirts, a bunch of art supplies for sketching and drawing, an electric razor and a really need shark pizza cutter.

Maulwurf Kuchen

There is actually a cake with that name. If you want to be really fancy, take a look at this one.

As the birthday boy, our very own Mole asked for one. The Eldest is the baker.

Out for Brunch - 1 & 3 in front of Rossi's

and she baked it for him.
First you bake a complete cake in a spring form pan.

After the initial cake is baked

you scoop out the center leaving about 1 cm on the sides and bottom.

the center is filled with a layer of bananas

After that — you take all those cake crumbs you removed, mix them with whipped cream and a few other goodies

then the cake is filled

Finally, there is a chocolate crumble covering that goes over the top (as pictured at the start).

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8 Responses to Maulwurf

  1. Bob says:

    First and most important: Mazeltof and a “very happy birthday” to the birthday man. Memory is serving someone who remembers “the kid” asking questions about computers and what I did at the hospital. Yep, I can remember your quarters on Leighton Barracks during the “good old days.” Add my thanks to “the eldest” for her culinary skills — it’s almost like the aroma of the cake is here in the room so many miles away. Okay, so bananas are a weakness . . . despite watching the waistline and trying to obey doctor’s constant concerns about weight. Anyway, just wanted to add our congrats — obviously a bit late but nonetheless sincere.

  2. Isobel says:

    Wish Noah a happy birthday.

  3. AlisonH says:

    Happy Birthday! If you add a little spice to the chocolate you have a mole’ dish.

  4. Cat (the Downunder one) says:

    Oooh the calories….Hippo Birdie Mole!

  5. Pat says:

    The cake made me laugh. The pic of the two kids / not kids is a triple wonderful shot.

  6. Margo says:

    Wow, happy birthday to Mole!

    Best wishes –

  7. Steven says:

    And my compliments to the pastry chef. And my birthday greetings to the maturing young man. And my understanding empathic knowing nod to his parents.

  8. Helen says:

    I would like one please…with a nice cup of tea! Happy Birthday as well!

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