U-BAHN!

OHHHH MY GEEEEE HAPPY MONDAY – look what I found!!! So, I took this video knowing that riding the U-Bahn was one of the things I’d miss the most about living in Wien - it was an essential part of my everyday life. The transportation here just makes me WEEP! As a person who takes public transit, DAILY, I feel that I’m qualified to objectively appreciate a good transportation system and Vienna’s is TOP FREAKIN’ NOTCH.

I shall watch this video whenever I get a little “homesick”… it’s random and weird that the U-bahn pops into my head whenever I think of Vienna, but hearing the announcer (another favourite) and revelling in the simple efficiency of their transportation system always makes me happy :)

“Westbanhof. Umsteigen zu den Linien S fünfzig….U sechs, funf, sechs, neun, achtzehn, zweiundfünfzig, und achtundfunfzig… CHANGE TO AIRPORT BUS! Ausstieg LINKS” HAHAHA. BEST.

<3 MC

Wanderlusting: Christmas in Vienna

{ Currently missing Christmas in Vienna! }

TAKEMEBACKTHERENOWPLEASEANDTHANKSSSSSSS.

Very few things warm the cockles of my little black heart and this is definitely one of them. Just wanted to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope your hearts were warm and bellies full. I know I’m 2 days late, but better late than never!

<3 MC

Linzer Cookies

First up from last weekend’s Christmas Cookie Intensive, which we will now refer to as “CCI”, is the Linzer Cookie! They’re a popular addition to the holiday baking rosters in Austria. If you’re having deja vu, it’s because I made them for Valentines Day too.

Pardon the poor lighting. As mentioned in previous posts, it’s HELLA DARK at 4:30PM so the window of opportunity to take pictures with natural daylight is pretty small. But you get the idea, right? They’re pretty much an Austrian version of the Peek Freen, but less buttery and more nutty with a hint of cinnamon and lemon zest that pairs well with raspberry jam (I also used apricot jam for colour variety).

Recipe, adapted from the one my Austrian buddy sent:
300 g flour
200 g butter
100 g icing sugar
1 x pack of Vanilla Sugar (Dr. Oetker brand, you can find it at Bulk Barn)
2 x egg yolks
1 x pinch cinnamon (Like, 1/2 tsp ish!)
50 g grated hazelnuts
50 g grated almonds
Zest of half a lemon
Powdered sugar & Vanilla sugar for dusting
Any kind of jam that tickles your fancy to sandwich between the cookies

Mix all the ingredients to form a dough, wrap in saran wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 mins. After you’ve taken it out of the fridge, roll the dough out (3-5mm) and use a cookie cutter to make the shapes (I got my cookie cutters at Superstore). Bake in the oven at 350F for about 8-10 mins or until the edges start to turn golden brown.

Once the cookies have cooled, spread the jam on the bottoms & dust the tops with powdered sugar (mixed with a pack of Vanilla Sugar), sandwich, and then eat. EASY, RIGHT? Especially the eating part.

<3 MC

Christkindlmarkts in Vienna

I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Naturally, Christkindlmarkt’s were one of my favourite things about living in Wien. Let me try and paint a picture for you (but even pictures can’t do these beautiful markets justice, you need to see them in person) — mmmk so you know those cookies and chocolates your family gets every Christmas that come in those tins with little villages on them? Christkindlmarkt’s look exactly like that: tiny Christmas villages set against the magnificent back drop of Wien’s Baroque-style architecture.

Each Christmas market has about 50-100 decorated stalls that sell traditional handmade goods: a lot Christmas decorations, jewelry, ceramics, and random knick-knacks. The air smells like freshly baked cakes and spices from the Christmas punsch! To stay warm, getting a  ”TURBO” adds an extra shot of schnapps/liquor to your gluhwein ;) WU sells the cheapest gluhwein, FYI.

There are about 9-10 main Christmas Markets in Vienna. This post can be more or less a guide for navigating the Christkindlmarkets – not that you need a “guide” because they are ALL GOOD and you should go to ALL of them. Mind if I indulge in yet another photographic walk through memory lane? – sigh! 

{ Ice Palace in Museums-Quartier }

{ PROST! to friendship & gluhwein in MQ }

While I don’t have any pictures from the Altes AKH/University Campus Christkindlmarket, I HAVE TO mention that this one has the most EXTENSIVE selection of Christmas punsch. I recommend the egg-noggy one; look for the word “eierlikor” on the menu. This one was one of my favourite markets because it was in a quieter area of the city and therefore less touristy. Warning: it’s in a courtyard near the university and hard to find!

{ delicious knockerl in front of Schönbrunn Palace }

{ the only picture I have from Spittelberg :( haha }
Despite the lack of pictures, this one was one of my favourites too. It’s hidden away in this narrow alley/side street near MQ.

{ Maria-Theresien Platz }

{ Kubik }

{ Rathauspark }

The only ones I didn’t end up seeing were in Karlsplatz, Altweiner, and Belvedere Palace. Lots of smaller markets are scattered throughout the city too, like the one in front of Mariahilferkirche. If you don’t have time to see them ALL, I would recommend the markets in Altes AKH/University Campus and Spittelberg. The ginormous one in Rathausplatz is obviously a must-see, but it’s definitely more crowded and touristy. Logistically, you could hit up 2 markets if you go to Spittelberg, then Maria-Theresien Platz. OH HELL, they are all good. If you’re reading this and you’re in Wien RIGHT NOW, go and have a cup of hot mulled wine for me! THANKS :)

<3 MC