Luvachicken Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 When I was much younger my mum used to make Hermans cake. I can't remember exactly but someone would give my mum a dollop of starter mixture to which she would add stuff. Once mixed she would take a dollop out and pass it on to someone else and she would cook the rest. A bit like a chain letter I suppose. I can't remember what it tasted like - apart from nice. Any one remember such a cake ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I remember it - a bit like a Ginger beer plant in a jam jar - must have had yeast in it? Yes we were given one when I was little by a neighbour. Mum added cinnamon & Apple to it - nice cake it was. Don't know how you start one off do you? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I currently have a batch in my freezer as having cooked about 8 cakes and tried to find umpteen home for them I got a bit fed up of it. It was fun while it lasted and I tried to make all sorts of variations with it. I discovered you could make the most scrumptious pancakes with the mix. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Yup! We called it Friendship cake. Was quite a nice cake, if I remember rightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Ooo, any one got the recipe ? Or know how to start it off ? I think yeast was involved somewhere along the line. It would be a lovely way to remember a childhood cake . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 There is a recipe here http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/food-feeding-555/recipes-557/577548-herman-friendship-cake.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Thank you so much for that bluekarin. I might start it off nearer Christmas and give it to the girls where I work as a little mini secret santa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Might give this a go always up for trying new recipes and LMW can always take it to school for her cookery club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 One of my friends gave me some - and I fed and looked after 'Herman' - made a cake and handed on some of the batter for my friends to continue. It was quite nice - a strange but nice flavour and the boys liked it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I've got one from my son - and it rules my life - well, any remaining life left from chickens! I add apples and whatever I have handy to the cake when I make it. The trick seems to be to use plenty of cinnamon and/or nutmeg. Everyone loves it - but I've run out of friends to give the starter too - we all have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 I think my mum must have killed Herman at some point Because then we didn't have him any more. I am going to start a new life at the weekend. Hooray to Herman. And thanks to those who remembered him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I started my Herman yesterday................I'll report back in 10 days or so............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I thought it was typo! I know it as German friendship cake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue_F Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Arrh yes I made about 6 and then, when a friend gave it to me the other week my Mum threw it away after day 2... She said she needed the bowl.... Katy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 We're on our third Herman here The only problem is finding people to give the starters to at the end! The friend who gave it to us said she swapped the cinnamon for cocoa powder and added chocolate chips so we might try that next. I'm also interested to try those pancakes now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 This was the recipe I used: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/herman-pancakes/ Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 This was going around my school at the end of the summer term, and in the end we had to put a plea inthe school newsletter, because " herman " was being left in drawers and cloakrooms, and it was becoming somewhat of a biohazard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 This was the recipe I used: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/herman-pancakes/ Sue There are a lot of Herman recipes on that site - biscuits, doughnuts, bread.... I was all set to start my own Herman when my sister gave me a Herman baby on Monday.......it's obviously doing the rounds again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I have 2 helpings of frozen HERMAN resting in my freezer!!He has been there for rather a long time - supose I should defrost him - I'm sure he will go down well at work - especially with apple and cinnamon added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Have you been 'Hermanned' Article. Click Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Yup saw it in Sunday Mail - I did one years back - really stunk - I will tip it over anyones head who leaves one for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 Have you been 'Hermanned' Article. Click Perhaps I won't make it for my friends then. Mind you, the photo of that cake does look rather yummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooksrus Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 We got 'herman' about 2 weeks ago and now we're on 'son of herman'. The kids treat it like a pet and talk to it when we stir it or feed it. I mean really.... We made the apple & cinnamin cake and it was really tasty. We have missed the odd day re. instructions but he is a hardy chap and lives on. It is sourdough though isn't it? I've been meaning to try a sourdough starter for a while but I think I can use this instead. The pancakes mentioned earlier - do you cook using only the batter or do yoou add the starter to a pancake mix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I think you use it as part of the mix - if you Google Herman you will find lots of recipes. Our Herman died when we spent a lot of time at the hospital last month - he is quite hardy and put up with a few missed days but couldn't survive two weeks I was always disappointed that as a starter, it wasn't enough and you still had to add raising agents,I tried without extra raising agents but it made a very soggy dough. I'm more interested in sourdough now so won't be bothering with Herman. I know how to make sourdough starter but I'm hoping to go on a bread making session near Rugby soon so will wait until I've done that and had some tips from the baker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I've just been Hermanned, not waiting 10 days though going to divide and cook on day 5 and send him on his way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
