In 1904, my grandmother was not quite fifteen years old when she left her home in Steinsfurt, Germany, with her sister Sophie and brother Henry to make the long journey to America.
Several of her older sisters had already gone ahead and found work there, and their letters home told of a place where there were jobs for anyone willing to work and the promise of a brighter future.
America sounded exciting, but leaving Steinsfurt meant leaving behind her family, her neighbors, and the familiar life she had always known.
The Farewell
The night before they left, the family held a big farewell party. Relatives, neighbors, friends, and even the schoolteacher came to say goodbye. There were speeches and songs, and my grandmother remembered crying when they sang the old German farewell song “Muss i denn, muss i denn zum Städele hinaus.” Her sister Lisette gave her a little Vergissmeinnicht—forget-me-not—book, signed by their friends, a keepsake she carried with her into a new life. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the local saloon. The owner had baked a cake for the occasion; the women and girls drank coffee while the men drank beer. It was a sad goodbye, but for three young people about to cross the Atlantic, it was exciting too.
As much as we loved our life in Germany, there didn’t seem to be as bright a future for us there as we had heard there would be in America. Friends who had gone ahead had found jobs and were doing well. There seemed to be plenty of work for anyone willing to work.
So the older sisters began leaving first. Susie went to Ohio, where she married a farmer with a large peach orchard. Louise and Carrie came to Portland and found work as domestic servants. They worked, saved money, and eventually helped more of the family make the journey to America.
Street scene of Steinsfurt my parents took 1950's
Leaving Steinsfurt
In 1904, it was time for Emma, Sophie, and Heinrich to make the journey. Sophie was nineteen, Heinrich eighteen, and Emma was not quite fifteen.
The morning they left, the family and their neighbors came to the depot to see them off. They boarded the train here in Steinsfurt and began the long journey north to Bremen. None of them had ever traveled so far from home.
Steinsfurt Bahnhof The railway station where my grandmother Emma and her brother Heinrich and sister Sophie began their journey to America in 1904.
Bremen — The Ship Awaited
The next morning, we left on the train, and everyone came to the depot to see us off. It was a long train ride – clear up north to Bremen, and none of us had ever been so far from home before. We had to stay in Bremen for a couple of nights, because the steamer wasn’t ready. And when it did come in, it couldn’t reach the port because the channel wasn’t deep enough.
So, a smaller boat took us out to where the big ship was anchored. Until now, it had been hard to believe that we were actually leaving our old life behind, and that we might never see Germany again.
We watched the busy harbor around us—fishermen bringing in their catch, people sorting and pulen the little Nordsee-Krabben—shelling the tiny North Sea shrimp by hand., boats moving back and forth, and passengers gathering with their belongings. Everything was unfamiliar and exciting.
Somewhere beyond the harbor was the new life we had heard so much about in America. We had left our home in Steinsfurt, traveled all the way north to Bremen, and now there was nothing left to do but climb into the little boat that would carry us out to the steamer.
Germany was behind us. America was ahead.
Little did I know that the North Sea is too shallow because the unique few miles that
use to be a civilization that thousands of years ago sunk due to the melting of the Arctic ice.
know it is only deep enough to wade in and twice a day become a muddy flat
when the tide goes out. In these mudflats live the Nordsee Krabben ( North See shrimp)
live.
The Unique German Shrimp
Called Krabben
(What...Shrimp are called Krab?)
There is something almost romantic about the North Sea. The Nordsee has been both a provider and a formidable neighbor to the people who have lived along Germany's northern coast. For generations, fishermen have gone out into its cold, often unforgiving waters, working the mudflats and shallow coastal waters for their catch.
Among the treasures they bring home are the tiny brown shrimp Germans call Krabben. They may be small, but they have a remarkable flavor—briny, sweet, and distinctly of the North Sea. And there is an interesting story behind them, because although Germans call them Krabben, they aren't crabs at all. They are Nordseegarnelen—North Sea shrimp.
These little shrimp have been part of the food culture of the North Sea coast for generations. They are caught in special nets that scrape along the sandy and muddy bottom, and traditionally they are cooked almost immediately after being brought aboard. Then comes the labor-intensive part: pulen, peeling the tiny shrimp from their shells by hand.
If you ever find yourself in northern Germany, look for Nordseekrabben on a menu. Order them. Whether they're piled onto dark rye, folded into a salad, or served in a traditional Krabbenbrötchen, you're tasting a little piece of the North Sea.
Now let's look at some Noordsee Shrimp Salad
My Grandma's Shrimp Salad
(Oma's Krabbensalat)
Don't flip out about the miracle whip, you can use mayonnaise, and even better a deli style
creme like I like to use. Back when my grandma was cooking, Miracle Whip was a better choice and actually tasted better. I know because I met the head chef for Kraft foods.
So this recipe is very similar to most German Krabbensalat,
only she put shredded lettuce in it. The whole idea of putting shredded Iceburg
lettuce into a tuna or chicken salad sounds insane,
however it works really well with a shrimp salad where it doesn't make a thick spread.
The lettuce cuts through the
thick mayo or salad dressing, and clings to the
extra dressing, helping the keep the bread from geting soggy.
Shrimp Stuffed Tomato
Since tomatoes are coming on now, a great idea is to cut a tomato into
wedges but don't go all the way down. Keep it in tact, then just press
down to make a flower and then put a scoop of shrimp salad in the center.
Halligbrot, California Style
(Shrimp Avocado Toast, with a
Poached Eggs
A German American Creation)
The area of Hallig in Germany are little islands of the coast of Germany in the North Sea. They are famous for having a dish called Halligbrot. A slice of Dark Rye, lots of Noordsea Krabben and a fried sunnyside egg on top, that acts as the sauce.
I took it a step further and used avocado, and my grandma's shrimp salad,
and a poached egg on
top.
More about the Mysterious area of the Hallig Islands.
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.
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!
over 2500 perfect reviews, it is a bit of an investment but worth every penny.
ROCK Mi
Orchestra Meets German Schlager
This Clip: Maestro Guido invited his friends of @voXXclub. This vocal group is a household name in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They perform worldwide more than 100 shows a year and many TV appearances. Next to the fact that they are great singers, they became also good friends with Guido and Wendy. For this concert he Maestro made a new arrangement of this vibrant German song.
A German Summer-ey Song
Goldried Quintett -
Mei Muata und mei Vota
Volksmusik Video Kunterbunter Streifzug durch die
Volksmusik Bekannte Interpreten der Letzten Ja
Folk Music Video: A Colorful Journey Through Folk Music -
Famous Performers of the Last Year
Volkstümliche Schlager Hitmix Bekannte Interpreten der Letzten Jahre
Popular Schlager Hitmix - Famous Artists of Recent Years
Some of my favorite music from the Zillertal Valley
Thisis a great half hour of good fun music for the season
