Es ist Oktoberfest, ja!
It's that time of year. Guys get into lederhosen (oh, Dean) and gals don their dirndls. The oompah bands strike up and much beer is consumed.
Oktoberfest has it's origins in the 19th Century marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. The celebration went on for days, including horse races, dancing, singing, and feasting. The party was so popular that Germans decided to make it an annual thing. It also coincided with harvest time, when many popular festivals were held.
If there isn't an Oktoberfest in your area, have one of your own! Invite some friends over. The idea of Oktoberfest is to celebrate with lots of people. Or, make yourself your own little Oktoberfest for dinner. I've included some yummy tips for a easy Oktoberfest meal.
Genießen Sie Oktoberfest, meine Damen und Herren!
First of all, check and see if you have a German (or Polish) deli, butcher, or store in your area. If you do, you're in luck! You can find all or most of what you need there. Or you can just visit Frankenmuth.
First of all, you need beer. If you have a German store or liquor store with a good selection, you can pick up some there. I know not everyone likes beer, but most folks are used to American beers. Find a good German beer or a artisinal beer from America. It makes all the difference. I'm not much of a beer drinker, either, but I do like good German beer.
For an easy meal, you can't go wrong with Würstl (sausage). Every grocery store carries bratwurst and kielbasa. If you can find other German sausages, all the better. I like to cook my sausages in a pot with beer. Just prick the casings so they don't explode and let them simmer (not boil) for a good 30-45 minutes.
Next, cook up some Spaetzle. If you can't find it at the grocery store (check the ethnic food aisle), kluski noodles will do in a pinch. Cook, drain, lightly butter, and season with salt and pepper.
I love Blaukraut (pickled red cabbage). You can buy this in cans or jars. Just heat and eat! If you want to change things up a bit, you can substitute Brotknödel (bread dumplings) or mashed potatoes for the Spaetzle. and sauerkraut for the Blaukraut. I prefer the Bavarian-style Sauerkraut myself. It's not as tart as regular sauerkraut.
Get yourself a slice of Black Forest or German Chocolate cakes and you are in business! If you're feeling more adventurous, you can find some great authentic recipes here.
Gerne essen und guten Appetit!
Oktoberfest has it's origins in the 19th Century marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. The celebration went on for days, including horse races, dancing, singing, and feasting. The party was so popular that Germans decided to make it an annual thing. It also coincided with harvest time, when many popular festivals were held.
If there isn't an Oktoberfest in your area, have one of your own! Invite some friends over. The idea of Oktoberfest is to celebrate with lots of people. Or, make yourself your own little Oktoberfest for dinner. I've included some yummy tips for a easy Oktoberfest meal.
Genießen Sie Oktoberfest, meine Damen und Herren!
First of all, check and see if you have a German (or Polish) deli, butcher, or store in your area. If you do, you're in luck! You can find all or most of what you need there. Or you can just visit Frankenmuth.
First of all, you need beer. If you have a German store or liquor store with a good selection, you can pick up some there. I know not everyone likes beer, but most folks are used to American beers. Find a good German beer or a artisinal beer from America. It makes all the difference. I'm not much of a beer drinker, either, but I do like good German beer.
For an easy meal, you can't go wrong with Würstl (sausage). Every grocery store carries bratwurst and kielbasa. If you can find other German sausages, all the better. I like to cook my sausages in a pot with beer. Just prick the casings so they don't explode and let them simmer (not boil) for a good 30-45 minutes.
Next, cook up some Spaetzle. If you can't find it at the grocery store (check the ethnic food aisle), kluski noodles will do in a pinch. Cook, drain, lightly butter, and season with salt and pepper.
I love Blaukraut (pickled red cabbage). You can buy this in cans or jars. Just heat and eat! If you want to change things up a bit, you can substitute Brotknödel (bread dumplings) or mashed potatoes for the Spaetzle. and sauerkraut for the Blaukraut. I prefer the Bavarian-style Sauerkraut myself. It's not as tart as regular sauerkraut.
Get yourself a slice of Black Forest or German Chocolate cakes and you are in business! If you're feeling more adventurous, you can find some great authentic recipes here.
Gerne essen und guten Appetit!