Recipe for Oktoberfest Success!

Mmmmm!  We love German food...and October is the time of the year that it can be found everywhere.  We once had the good fortune (though our boys might disagree) to spend October in the German-country of Pennsylvania.  YUM!

Mustard to go with Homemade Pretzels

• 1 c yellow mustard seeds
• 3/4 c apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 c water
• 1/2 tsp turmeric

1. Put all ingredients in a wide mouth pint-sized jar. 
2. Let sit three days to let seeds soften. If it gets dried out, add 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar before next step. 
3. Use an immersion blender in the jar for 60 seconds.

Rotkohl mit Apfeln (Red Cabbage with Apples)

• 2 1/2 lb red cabbage head
• 2/3 c red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp bacon fat
• 2 apples (peel and wedge)
• 1/2 c chopped onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 c boiling water
• 3 Tbsp red wine

1. Shred head of cabbage.
2. Toss cabbage with vinegar, sugar, and salt.
3. In large pot, melt bacon fat.
4. Add apples and onion and cook 5 min.
5. Add cabbage and bay leaf.
6. Stir mixture into boiling water - bring to boil over high heat.
7. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
8. Remove bay leaf, stir in wine, and serve.

Grunkohl mit Kartoffeln (Kale, Sausage, and Potatoes)

• 9 Tbsp softened butter
• 3 lb kale
• 1 lb sausage, diced
• 1/2 c broth
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 9 potatoes, boiled and diced
• 1/2 c milk
• black pepper
• 2 egg yolks

1. Boil kale 10 min, then drain and chop.
2. Coat 8x10 baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter.
3. In large sauce pan, cook sausage until brown - add kale, broth, nutmeg, and 1 tsp salt
4. Simmer 20 min, stirring occasionally.
5. Mash potatoes with 6 Tbsp butter (in separate pot) - add in milk, salt, black pepper, and egg yolks.
6. Spread kale / sausage mixture into baking pan, smooth potatoes over it, and dot with remaining butter.
7. Bake 20 min at 400.

Pfeffernusse (Spice Cookies)

• softened butter
• 4 c flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 c honey
• 1 c dark corn syrup
• 3/4 c sugar
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp lard

1. Coat baking sheets with butter.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon.
3. In a sauce pan, bring honey, corn syrup, and sugar to boil - reduce and simmer 5 min.
4. Remove pan from heat, add butter and lard and stir.
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients.
6. When batter is smooth, drop onto baking sheets.
7. Bake 15 min at 400.