Alpine comfort food at it's best
Spaetzle in a ceamy sauce with caramelized onion, asparagus and topped with Emmentaler Cheese
Ausflug
aus = going outside
flug = flying
A Day Getaway
It is very hard to get me out of the house.
I can be such a home body,
But I can be persuaded.
A big long adventure scares me and sounds expensive.
However a little day get away, an adventure,
will get me away from the computer or yard work,
We have done some fun getaways…
we have even keep a travel bag in the trunk
in case we decide to spend the night somewhere.
We visit a town we haven’t been to or a museum,
shop or park we haven’t been to.
This is the spirit of the German “Ausflug”
Spring is the perfect time to do this,
not too hot, and not too cold.
My folks at the turn of the 1900’s would go to fun places for an
"Ausflug"
One of them being the islands on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.
They would travel on my Grandpa’s Tugboat,
out to an island and spread the tablecloth out for a picnic on the ground.
in this spirit I want to bring up some nice picnic items
that would be fun to take on your “Ausflug”!
“Wir machen einen Ausflug.”
(“We’re going on an outing.”)
“Wir nehmen ein Vesper mit.”
(“We’re bringing a picnic/snack meal along.”)
This is a possible "Vepern"
that my ancestors would have taken
to
the island picnic
in 1920,
sliced cold cuts, and sausages,
meat spreads, fruit, cookies in a tin, kuchen.
fried chicken, rolls, pickles and jam.
12 piece , 1,2 and 4 cup
Snapware Total Solution Glass Storage Containers are the kind of practical kitchen containers that somehow become part of every picnic, potluck, and leftovers night.
The glass dishes keep salads, stuffed celery, and picnic foods tasting fresh, while the locking lids travel well in a cooler without leaks or spills. I especially like these for Ausflug-style picnic food because they stack neatly, clean up easily, and look good enough to go straight from the refrigerator to the picnic blanket.
These Bavarian-inspired stuffed celery sticks are an easy picnic appetizer with an old-school deli feel and just enough beer-garden flavor to make them memorable.
Cream cheese, bacon, olives, Dijon mustard, and Maggi seasoning come together in a savory filling that gets finished with crunchy crushed pretzels and a dusting of paprika.
Packed into a simple glass container, they travel beautifully for picnics, cookouts, potlucks, or a relaxed summer lunch by the river.
Mrs. Eaton’s potato salad is one of those old-fashioned picnic recipes
that quietly becomes everyone’s favorite after the first bite.
Tender Yukon Gold potatoes are tossed warm with a
sweet-and-tangy bacon dressing, then finished with crisp iceberg lettuce
for a fresh crunch that makes it feel lighter than traditional mayonnaise salads.
Somewhere between a classic German potato salad
and an old American supper-club salad, it is simple, nostalgic,
and perfect packed into a cooler for an Ausflug
by the river with cold sandwiches, Fleischsalat, and good bread.
Fleischsalat is one of those old German deli salads that probably does not sound very exciting until you actually taste a good one. Thin strips of ham, cheese, pickles, and creamy dressing somehow turn into the perfect thing to pile onto fresh rolls at a picnic, especially sitting by the river with cold drinks and a basket full of snacks for an Ausflug.
Fleischsalat ...
I love the German pronunciation.
I grew up listening to it especially on music.
Germans have wonderful
sounding words,
especially to music!
To make it sound prettier I wrote a song about it.
Flash Salad
Symphony
In Deutchland, where flavors meet,
Comes a salad that's a special treat,
Fleischsalat, oh so divine,
With every bite, like a very fine wine
Fleischsalat, a taste so grand,
A symphony of flavors, hand in hand,
From the meats that are finely sliced,
To the dressing that adds the perfect spice.
In a bowl, a colorful display,
Crisp veggies and meats, they all portray,
A harmony of textures, a feast for the eyes,
Try Flash Salad, a delicious surprise!
This strawberry rhubarb kuchen is one of those desserts that never really looks fancy, but somehow everybody keeps going back for another piece. The rhubarb gets soft and tart, the strawberries turn jammy, and the little biscuit-like topping bakes up golden with cinnamon sugar over everything. This is the kind of thing you throw in a pan for a picnic, an Ausflug, or a summer supper when rhubarb is growing like crazy and strawberries are finally cheap again.
Kaesespaetzle is already one of the greatest comfort foods ever invented, but adding asparagus somehow makes it feel like spring dinner instead of deep winter survival food. The little spaetzle dumplings soak up all that melted cheese while the asparagus keeps the whole thing from getting too heavy. I really like using good Swiss or Gruyere in this because it melts into the noodles and gives everything that nutty flavor that goes so well with browned onions and butter.
This is one of those dishes that looks rustic and maybe even a little messy coming out of the pan, but once people taste it they completely understand the assignment. The crispy onions on top, the stretchy cheese, and those little bites of asparagus all work together.
In a way it feels like German beer garden meets farmhouse kitchen.
Serve it with a cold beer, a cucumber salad, or honestly just by itself in a bowl while standing in the kitchen because that also seems completely appropriate for Kaesespaetzle.
A simple but essential tool for asparagus season, this peeler removes the tough outer layer quickly and evenly, leaving the spears tender and ready for cooking. Especially useful when working with thicker asparagus, it makes a noticeable difference in texture.
Her recipes, culture and cooking styles that were brought over from Germany. How they evolved when she came to America in the early 1900s and settled in Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States. Over 100 recipes
Bonus recipes with step by step color pictures
Online for download
Rest your laptop,tablet or phone
in the Kitchen counter
and follow the recipes with pictures to help.
Bonus
PDF
for you to download
Read on your
phone, tablet or laptop
Vintage German Postcard replica's to use as bookmarks or to mail.
From Germany with Love tells the story of my grandma, Emma Block, growing up in a little town in Baden/ Würtemberg, Germany near Heidelberg named Steinsfurt. Then at the age of 15 immigrating to the United States, taking a train with one of her sisters and brothers to Hamburg and sailing the Atlantic with other hope filled Germans wanting to make a life in the "New World". It was not easy but with good values learned in her German upbringing made a full life, had a wonderful family with lots of fun and celebration including the great German meals.
This egg poacher takes the guesswork out of making perfectly cooked eggs. With four individual cups, it allows you to poach multiple eggs at once while keeping their shape clean and uniform—ideal for a Benedict-style brunch. The nonstick surface helps the eggs release easily, and the lid holds in heat for gentle, even cooking. It’s a simple tool that makes a noticeable difference, especially when you want consistent results without the fuss.
Hollandaise isn’t just borrowed; it’s become
an essential part of how asparagus is enjoyed in Germany.
While they love the classic butter, egg yolk emulsion,
It can be tricky and time consuming to make.
Packets with a simple addition make it simpler.
German Music
Through modern technology we can enjoy music from Germany at the touch of your computer, there are many venues now, Pandora, Amazon music, and Youtube is free.
I love my noise canceling headphones that are completely wireless and give incredible sound!
