As everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick's Day, so is everyone German in Oktober. I must admit that the Germans know how to party heartier than the Irish for it's Saint Patrick's Day while the German's celebrate Oktober which is a whole month!!!
My heritage is German -- on both my mother's and my father's side. My German roots run deep. So I embrace Oktoberfest!!!
 |
| Ein Bier Bitte |
And every Oktober for the past 17 years, Husband Jim and I do a labor of love for his Rotary Club -- we put on an Oktoberfest for the Club and their guests. 100 (give or take one or two) attend each year for German food and drink!
Remember the brats that I boiled yesterday . . . . they were grilled and served up to hungry wanna be "Germans"!
 |
| The brats grilled to perfection! |
All 150 of them!!!! (The brats -- there weren't that many wanna be Germans).
While I prep and cook all the food for the party, Husband Jim is not idle . . .
 |
| A welcome sign for the Rotary Club! |
he's at the shelter house in our city park, turning it into a little bit of Bavaria.
The secret to our good German food is not what I do in the kitchen but what is done in the park . . . with the brats, with the potato salad and with the sauerkraut and apple crisp . .
Our grill guys! With Petunia -- the BBQ Pig!!!
And inside, with banners and lights . . ..
 |
| New this year -- Husband Jim's lederhosen T-shirt -- my T-shirt was a dirndl complete with cleavage -- sign -- no picture! |
Our guests enjoy visiting pre-dinner
And visiting during dinner . .
 |
| The banners in the background are the flags of the different German states. |
While the buffet line stays open for seconds (and sometimes thirds) are not unheard of!
 |
| I waited until "seconds" were on the table -- I would have had a riot if I had made everyone wait for food while I snapped a picture -- Husband Jim understands but I'm not sure 100 wanna be German's would have! |
For this is half the food I fixed today -- brats and sauerkraut and hot German potato salad.
 |
| We reheat the German potato salad in the grill -- I think it makes it better! |
My German grandmother's potato salad which I've updated by using those little red potatoes which I do not peel!
After dinner and after the apple crisp, we have drawings for prizes which Husband Jim has procured.
More visiting, perhaps just one more brat and another beer . . . and then it's time to take down all the banners and flags and lights, wrap up any leftover food, and load our cars. Luckily, we have many hands to help us with clean up . . . but tomorrow, it shall be I alone who puts all the boxes back in the Oktoberfest corner of the garage -- where they will live quietly until they're called to duty next Oktober.
It's Wednesday and I'm joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.
11 comments:
What a feast! It sounds like you had a good time a well. I hope you have a great evening. Blessings...Mary
I have lots of German in me, and so did my husband, relatives living in German and one German sil from Munich where my middle daughter did her Junior Year abroad, and I lived there for nearly two years in the early 70s. This sounds delightful to me!
What a fun evening!
What a labor of love, Martha! that is a lot of work and how everyone must have enjoyed it. They must look forward to it the whole year. Now I am hungry for your German dinner and am still drinking 6 a.m. latte!
Francie
What a fun celebration and what would the Rotary do without you and Jim???
Carolyn
Love that pig! All the food looks delicious.....no wonder there are a lot of 'Germans' showing up for that meal :)
Give yourselves a pat on the back for jobs well done.
I loved making German Potato Salad when my kids were little and for some reason they didn't like it! I need to pull out the recipe again. It is wonderful!
This all sounds like so much fun! I love a good feast. My mother was German and we grew up on sauerkraut and noodles and sausages. This post makes me miss that comfort food!
XO,
Jane
Yummy! I made it to one of the Oktoberfest celebrations here. I gained 10 pounds just smelling all the amazing food!
Martha,
Perfect!!! I could almost here the music in the background!!! I well remember the food, the laughter, the music and the dancing. You are a dear to bring this culture to your side of the Prairie!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Wow, Jim and you are truly champions for his Rotary group! It looks and sounds like a wonderful lobor of love. Thank you for inviting us in for a peak. Cherry Kay
Post a Comment