Yun, let me offer you a Zimtschnecke!
Terroir – an offering.
I love cooking and eating. So this action was an action I enjoyed so much. I was paired with Yun Xiao from China, and as an offering for her, I picked a sweet treat that actually originates from Sweden. It’s one of my greatest comfort foods.
Why don‘t you tune in to some rain sound on YouTube and imagine that it is a cold, rainy autumn day, you had just cycled home from school and got soaking wet. But the moment you smell the cinnamon and butter in the air, you forget all your worries.
Enjoying Zimtschnecken is not just about eating them, it’s moreover about enjoying them with a coffee in some cozy place and overall: making them.
Zimtschnecke, Franzbrötchen, Kanelbulle, Kanelsnegle. There are a million words for this one simple treat I have so many personal memories with. Zimtschnecken (Zimt = cinnamon, Schnecken= snails) as we commonly call them, are little treasures full of goodness. The soft texture of its dough, the sweet and warming cinnamon filling on the inside, and the insanely good smell make this dish a pleasure for the days when the temperature starts to fall.
Unfortunately, I cannot remember the first Zimtschnecke. Probably I have simply eaten too many of them already. But I remember the mood that comes with the delight of a cinnamon roll. I cannot only remember a cinnamon bun imaginary. I can smell it while thinking about it.
You can get really creative with Zimtschnecken. There are tons of ways how to form a cinnamon bun but why not try to find new ways and finding the unique kind!
Yun, let me cook some Jaijangmyun!
In return I received an amazing Chinese dish called Jaijangmyun – Fried Sauce Noodles! Yun described how this is a dish, she would make on her own when missing home while studying in the United States. It’s a feeling of comfort for her – cooking and enjoying this dish.
I would sit down and write down which ingredients I would like to use, as Yun offered a lot of possibilities on that. I would go to the “Asia Supermarkt” in town and another grocery store. When I started cooking, my dad would suddently sneak into the kitchen and snack from the pan. The smell filled the air in our house and I really enjoyed the experience.