A RECIPE FOR ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL is the latest German Culture article, and in Germany it is used for everything from a sauce for ice cream to a 'cure' for arthritis.

Known as Elderflower Cordial in Europe and Elderflower Syrup in the US, it is fragrant, refreshing, easy to make and comes from the elder shrub found in the wild almost everywhere. And is definitely worth trying if you have some bushes near you.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art176492.asp



And not connected at all to Elderflowers is this weeks word:

TEUFELSKREIS – Devil's Cycle. A vicious circle.

You jump on the scales, big shock. Thoroughly depressed you make for the freezer and the lovely tub of ice cream waiting there, which is guaranteed to make the situation seem much brighter. It was perhaps a mistake to jump on the scales the next day, but never mind there is some chocolate, containing nothing but the cheering up vitamin serotonin, lying in a cupboard.

And there we have it, the beginnings of a Teufelskreis. One event after another and each the cause of the next.





germanculture.bellaonline.com has many more articles on life and living in German and a forum:

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=247

If you have any comments or questions hope to hear from you, either in the forum or via email.


Francine McKenna,
German Culture Editor

http://germanculture.bellaonline.com