When I think of the aromas of Germany cooking, I immediately think of Oktoberfest. This German tradition began in 1810 and is held the last couple weeks in September. A simple horse race was held to celebrate the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Tremendous amounts of brew and foods were consumed. My earliest recollection of German foods began at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. As you entered the house where are the german foods were prepared, the music and dancing were so captivating and the aroma of the were completely overwhelming. Among the regional dishes were dumplings, potato dishes, wursts (sausages), noodles, cabbage, cakes and pastries. Simple facts about German foods, the main meal is traditionally served at noon and then a lighter meal is eaten in the evening. Most prefer not to put ice in their drinks because cold drinks are considered to be unhealthy. Sauerbraten is a one of the best-known German dishes and a popular favorite dessert is the Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel). During the summer in Germany, small towns host carnivals called Kirmes or Schuetzenfest. And of course, lively foods play a huge part in the festivities. One of the most popular snack foods is the potato pancake (Rievkooche). The pancakes are freshly fried and eaten with applesauce or sour cream as visitors stroll through the streets. The US Census Bureau reported in July 2004 that nearly 43 million people in the United States identify German as their primary ancestry. So a lot of the foods that we think are American actually came from German traditional cooking. So from the Brooklyn Bridge, built by German engineer John Augustus Roebling and German architect Walter Gropius to Albert Einstein’s intellectual landmarks, let's enjoy cooking some of Grandma’s delicious German recipes. This section of Grandma's German Cooking is dedicated to my german descent friend, Brian Ringsdorf.
Grandma's German Home Cooking
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