This is about Herman, a recipe given by Céline. It never occured to me that there is such a cake that requires ten days for preparation! What’s even more amazing is there are people who happily take ten days to prepare such a cake!!
I thought that it is a sort of “intangible heritage of humanity.” Even if the UNESCO does not declare it, I would endorse my recommendation. It is a cake of friendship from Alsace, France. Is it called the cake of friendship because you need to think of Herman all the time, take care of it for ten days, and then share the Herman dough with your friends? Or maybe, as Herman stays in your kitchen for ten days, it certainly becomes your very good friend! Probably, the former explanation is the right one, as the latter implies that you eat a quarter of your friend in the end. Whatever interpretation can be given, Herman is special. Remember. A key to successful cake baking is respiration: Herman’s steady breathing. Also, it needs to stay out of a fridge. I imagine that it is something similar to cheese making in a cave.
Ladies and Gentleman, here is Céline’s recipe of THE Herman!
My name is Herman. I am also called a bread of friendship, and I am from Alsace. I am a fermented food, made from natural stuff. You need to take care of me for 10 days in order for me to become an adult.
If I have been entrusted to your good care, then start to read Day 1 section. If it isn’t the case and maybe you would like to start a new Herman friendship chain, then go to the Day 0 section (here).
Day 1
You have just adopted me! Put me in a large [ceramic, not plastic] bowl (you know, I may flee from the bowl if it is too small :-) and cover me with a cloth so that I can breathe.
Days 2 and 3
Stir me with a wooden spoon, several times a day.
Day 4
I’m hungry... Please feed me! I need to drink 1/4 liter of milk and to eat 150gr of sugar and 200gr flour. Thank you!
Days 5, 6, 7, and 8
Mix me several times. I love feeling dizzy.
I hope you put me in a large bowl because I’m now getting fat!
Day 9
I’m hungry again. Please give me another 1/4 liter of milk, 150gr sugar and 200gr flour. Thank you! Stir me well and then divide me into four equal parts; you should share three parts of me with three of your friends. Do not forget to give them these instructions.
Day 10
It’s the D-Day! Now it’s your turn to be able to eat me! But, before that, feed the last part of me (the quarter that you did not give to your friends) with melted butter (150gr), 3 eggs, 110gr to 160gr of sugar depending on your taste, 200gr of flour, and a little salt. Also, for example, you can add 100gr chopped walnuts, 100gr of raisins, sliced apple pieces. Or, for the gourmands, replace 100gr of sugar with brown sugar and add a lemon zest and one lemon juice... Mmm, yummy!
Then, butter a cake pan (a standard loaf tin) and bake me for 1h at 150 °C.
I hope you enjoy me!
If you wish to start a new Herman friendship chain, please read here after or visit the web page where this information is originating from Herman cake sour dough starter (courtesy netmums.com > family-food > recipes)
Day 0
Herman cake sour dough starter will require:
- 500gr flour
- 1/2 liter milk
- 250gr sugar
- 8 centiliters warm water
- 2 table spoons (i.e. 3cl) or 2 packets active dry yeast
How to proceed:
Mix one table spoon of sugar with the 8cl warm water (warm = temperature of your skin or slightly above). Spread all the yeast over this sugared water and leave in a warm place for around 10 minutes so it doubles in size.
In a large bowl (in ceramic or glass the better, in plastic if not; not in metal!), add the milk, the remaining sugar, and the flour to the yeast mixture and stir using only a wooden spoon.
Cover the bowl with a cloth so Herman can breathe and leave in a warm place.
Then, the next day is Day 1 and you can now follow the instructions above.