Life really can be a picnic!

Everyone loves a picnic! This blog is about some of the things I love the most, and the term "picnic" just about covers them all. First of all, a picnic has to include food; simple food that is easy to fix. Next, you need someplace fun or different to visit; a nice, peaceful location. And of course, you always need to take along a good book to read and a well-used quilt to spread everything out on. So, there you have it! Easy recipes, good books, fun quilts along with some interesting, down-to-earth places to visit. You can even take your family or a friend or two if you want.



Monday, October 28, 2013

Oktoberfest!

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." ~Emily Bronte


     October has been a party to us this year.  The fall colors have been amazing.  My son has returned after being away for two years serving a mission for our church.  My youngest grandson turned two.  And I went on a quilt shop hop with two of my friends and my niece.  Can't ask for a better month than that!


 
 
 
 



 
 
Here are a few of the beautiful quilts we saw during the Beehive Quilt Shop Hop!
 
 
 

 







 
We had so much fun on the shop hop and I made it to all 17 shops!
 
Since Oktoberfest originated in Germany and since some of my ancestors came from that fair land I have decided to post some recipes that our family enjoys and have ties to Germany.  First comes German Apple Puff Pancake.  The kids love to watch this puff up in the oven as it bakes.
 



German Puff Pancake


3 eggs                                                  ¼ tsp. salt

½ cup flour                                           2 T. butter

½ cup milk

            Preheat oven to 400°.  Set 9” clear glass pie dish into hot oven on lowest shelf until very hot.  Meanwhile, beat together eggs, flour, milk and salt in small mixer bowl, blender, or food processor until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Remove pie dish from oven; add butter and rotate pie dish until butter is melted.  Add batter immediately.  Bake on lowest oven shelf for 20 minutes or until golden.  Serve immediately with syrup, jam or applesauce.  Makes 4 servings.
 
Variations: For serving a large group triple the recipe and bake in a 9x13” baking dish. 

For apple puff pancake, stir 2 T. brown sugar and ¾ tsp. cinnamon into the melted butter in pan.  Add 1 large tart apple that has been peeled, cored and chopped; stir to coat apple and let cook about 4 minutes.  Mix batter and pour over apples.  Bake for about 20 minutes.  Serve immediately.  



     Next comes Unstuffed Cabbage.  This is a healthy meal that is very filling.


 

 Savory German Meat and Cabbage

1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey                       1 (14.5 oz.) can crushed tomatoes

1 Tbsp. olive oil                                                    1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes

1 large onion, chopped                                       1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced                                        1 cup beef or chicken broth

½ cup wild rice, uncooked                                  1 small head coarsely chopped cabbage

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

¼ tsp. basil

½ tsp. Italian seasoning

½ tsp. celery salt

     In a large soup pot, brown ground beef or turkey in olive oil.  Add onion and garlic and cook until tender.  Add rice and seasonings and cook and stir for about 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and broth.  Add cabbage.  Bring to a boil.  Turn heat to low; cover and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes or until rice is cooked. 
 
 
 
     And finally, Soft Homemade Pretzels.  Did you  know that some think pretzels were first made in Germany? Monks made them and gave them to children as rewards for learning their scriptures.
 
 
 

Soft Pretzels

1 cup warm water                                           1 Tbsp. butter

3 cups flour                                                     1 Tbsp. yeast

½ tsp. salt                                                       1 egg

1 Tbsp. sugar                                                  1 Tbsp. water

                                                                                                coarse salt or cinnamon sugar


            Put first six ingredients in a bread machine.  Select dough setting and let process.  Divide dough into 12 equal pieces.  Roll each piece into an 18 to 20 inch rope.  Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.  Shape each dough rope into a pretzel shape and place on baking sheet.  Let rest for 10 minutes.  Beat egg with 1 Tablespoon water.  Brush egg mixture over each pretzel and sprinkle with coarse salt or cinnamon sugar.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake pretzels for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.  Brush each pretzel with butter and enjoy. 
 

 
     My friend, Patti, recommended books by Susan Page Davis for some easy reading.  I read Sheriff's Surrender.  It takes place in the fictitious town of Fergus,  Idaho in the late 1800's.  I loved the characters in this book. 

 

 
 





 

 

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