Prost! A German Program!

I am proud of my German heritage

I have always been proud of my German heritage

Grandfather Meinsen immigrated to the United States in 1885

My Grandmother Lydia's father immigrated to the United States 40 years earlier.

I was flattered to be asked to give a program on German food

at a great museum in the county just south of us:

We've loaned some of our German things for the exhibit.

After doing prep yesterday, I loaded the car

and headed south to do my program.

The 14 people who signed up by Thursday swelled to sixty on Sunday.

There were a few seats vacant but not many!

Oh, and to help,

Donna and Rita (Cookbook Book Club Members)

joined me to do the "hard work"

plating the food to make sure that each attendee got a plate . . . 

I talked about and demonstrated

Bratwurst

(plain, Johnsonville, boiled first in bill before sautéing or grilling)

(beer brand doesn't really matter)

(No fancy beer brats or cheese brats for us -- just the original plain brats)

Grandmother's Coleslaw

A recipe I've made hundreds of times

A recipe that has been at most of our family celebrations 

A recipe that mother made a lot for Sunday Dinner when I was a child

Grandmother's Hot German Potato Salad

Traditional hot potato salad which I've updated --

using small red potatoes and not peeling them

Using packaged real bacon bits instead of bacon

making the recipe less fat.

And no "meal" is complete without dessert

So I made a German Apple Cake

In mini muffin pans because they're easier to serve.

I so appreciated Donna and Rita coming with me

I could not have done it without them

They plated the food while I visited with those who attended.

It was a fun program from my point of view.

I always love to share food

I want to thank Jason and the Board of Directors at The Miner's Hall Museum

for inviting me to do this program.

I will be back in December (December 18, actually) to talk about German holiday traditions.

And I cannot wait.

And even though it is holiday traditions, part of the traditions are cookies!

I'll be bringing a nice assortment to share!
German ones, of course!

It was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

The recipes:

GRANDMOTHER'S POTATO SALAD

4 medium round red or white potatoes (about 1 1/3 pound)

3 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 c. chopped onion (white or yellow)

1 T. flour

1 T. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. celery seed

dash pepper

1/2 c. water

1/4 c. cider vinegar

Place potatoes in saucepan; add enough water just to cover potatoes.     Cover; heat to boiling.   Reduce heat and cook until potatoes are tender; drain.     Let stand until cool enough to handle.    Cut potatoes into 1/4 inch slices (do not peel!)

In skillet cook bacon over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp.   Remove from skillet.    Cook onion  in bacon fat until tender.    Stir in flour, sugar, salt, celery seed and pepper.     Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat.

Stir water and vinegar into onion mixture.    Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.    Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat.    Stir in potatoes and bacon.    Heat over medium heat, stirring gently to coat potato slices, until hot and bubbly.    Serve warm.

GRANDMOTHER’S COLESLAW

1 head cabbage, shredded

1 onion, sliced thinly

Boil together:

2/3 c. sugar

1 t. salt

1 c. vinegar

1/2 t. celery seed

1 t. mustard

Then add 1 cup salad oil and boil again.    Pour over cabbage and onion mixture.