Toast Hawaii – Best German Snack

toast hawaii

If you had been to Germany yo might have seen this classic German snack Toast Hawaii in menus in country inns. It’s such a delicious small meal that is very easy to make and it doesn’t need special ingredients. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients Toast Hawaii

4 Servings
For each serving you need ONE
sliced pine apple, can, preferably unsweetened
slice of toast bread, wheat (in Germany we would use the Golden Toast) RECIPE: How to Make German Golden Toast Bread –
enough butter to spread on each slice
boiled ham, sliced
sliced cheese such as Swiss Cheese
if you like decorate with cherries or lingonberry jam
mayonnaise, optional

Cooking Instructions

– Pre-Heat oven to 375 F (180 C).
– Spread butter evenly on each slice of toast. Optional: spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on top.
– Drain pineapples, let drip in a sieve.
– Place on top the ham, followed by the pineapple and at last a slice of cheese.
– Use parchment paper on the oven rack and place the toast directly onto the paper.
– In a few minutes the cheese will melt and it will get brown.
– When you see that the cheese has melted into the pine apple opening and gets brown, you should remove the toast right away. It will be after about 6 minutes.
– Let cool off a bit before you enjoy this delicious snack.

Photosource

Tomato Sauce German Style

tomato sauce German style

In Germany you can get a classic packaged spaghetti dinner that is called “Miracoli”. (from Italian miracolo = Miracle). You might know it because you lived in Germany, and it’s available in every supermarket. It’s very popular and widely known. But I learned that this product is not the same anymore, and you cannot get it in the USA at all. Kraft sells a spaghetti dinner that is similar but the ingredient list is not the same.
Miracoli was one of my favorites back in Germany because I wasn’t much into cooking (really!) so this packaged dinner was very convenient.
I found a recipe that is copying the taste of the tomato sauce and I must admit, it’s the best tomato sauce German style I ever had. Forget about the ones in the jars – they are tasteless compared to this home made tomato sauce. Best is to serve the sauce with Italian spaghetti that are made only out of durum wheat and are not enriched. I find them at ALDI, they are very good. And of course sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients Tomato Sauce German Style

7 ripe tomatoes, medium size
1 medium onion
5 twigs of fresh rosemary, thyme and oregano
1,5 tsp Italian herb mix
salt, pepper to taste
1 dash Cayenne pepper
2 celery stalks, 1/2 zucchini
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 dash sugar
olive oil for frying
1 cube instant vegetable broth (Edwards &Sons)
Spaghetti
german classic spghetti di

Cooking Instructions

First you need to Peel the Tomatoes
– Cut with a knife a cross on the top or bottom side of the tomatoes.
– Place them in a big bowl.
– Pour enough boiling water over them so all are covered. Let tomatoes in the water for 10-15 min.
– Now remove the skin with hands as the skin has become very loose around the tomatoes. That’s how it should be. If the tomatoes are not quite ripe leave them in the water 10 min longer.
– Cut all tomatoes into smaller pieces, keep all the liquid from them. If tomatoes are very ripe they produce quite some liquid.

ripe tomatoes

– Peel onions and chop fine.
– Heat olive oil in a pot, sauté onions until transparent.
– Add the tomatoes, chopped herbs, sugar, herb mix, salt and pepper. Mix well.
– Chop celery stalks and zucchini into very fine cubes.
– Let cook on low-medium heat for 10 min.
– Now depending on the tomatoes the sauce can be thin or thicker. If the sauce is thin it needs to cook much longer as it will thicken the longer you cook it. Is it too thick add some water.
– Add the chopped vegetable, the broth cube and Cayenne pepper.
– Leave the pot uncovered at all times.
– Let cook for another 15 min or longer depending on the consistency. It can take up to 45 min if tomatoes are very juicy.
– Mix frequently, make sure sauce won’t stick on the bottom of the pot.
– Spice as needed.

Cook the Spaghetti
– Boil water in a pot with some salt and a splash of olive oil.
– Place the whole spaghetti into the pot and make sure that they all fit nicely into the water (they will sink into the water).
– Boil until they are “al dente”.
– Drain and  put back into the pot and serve right away.

Serve the sauce with Spaghetti and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.


A Spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food.Cooking with spices and herbs not only lessens the urge to shake the salt, but also enhances flavor and adds depth to a number of food


Plum Dumplings from Yeast Dough

plum dumplings from yeast dough

The Plum Dumplings from Yeast Dough are a classic plum dumpling version and are also called Bohemian or Silesian plum dumplings or “Zwetschgenknödel” in German. If you like to use potatoes instead of a yeast dough CLICK HERE for the recipe. The classic recipe is asking for a sugar cube per plum which will add a special sweetness to the dish. Maybe a bit too much sweetness… Either serve these dumplings with melted butter, ground poppyseeds or a mix of cinnamon and sugar. But a vanilla sauce would also be a yummy addition. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients Plum Dumplings from Yeast Dough

500 g flour
1 dash salt, 1 dash sugar
1 package dry yeast (must be enough for 500g flour or 1 cube fresh yeast)
250 ml semi warm milk
2 eggs
8-10 Italian plums
mix of sugar-cinnamon
melted butter
bread crumbs, natural, no spices
1 sugar cube for each plum

Cooking Instructions

All ingredients should have room temperature.
Make the Starter Dough
– Place some flour into a bowl, make a small mold, add the milk and yeast into that mold.
add salt and mix well.
– Mix in 4 tbsp flour, 1 dash sugar and 1 dash salt.
– Cover with a clean kitchen cloth and let raise for at least 30 min at a warm place until volume has doubled.
– Knead with hands until dough shows some bubbles and you can easily remove it from hands.
– Cover with a clean kitchen cloth and let raise at a warm place until volume has doubled.

– Combine remaining sugar and flour and mix well. Beat eggs with milk and add to to the starter dough.
– Wash hands with warm water and knead dough or use a mixer with kneading hooks.
– Dough is ready when it comes off hands easily and is not sticking to the bowl. If it should be sticky add more flour.

– Let raise for 1 hour. Knead the dough one time really good.
– Remove pits from plums.
– Place in each plum 1 sugar cube – that’s the original style.
– Place flour on a smooth surface and roll the dough 1cm thick. You can cut squares or circles big enough so a plum can be added and closed in.
plum dumplings

– Place 1 plum on the dough and close it, then roll to a ball.
– Cover dumplings with a kitchen cloth and let raise for 10 min.
– Bring water with 1 tsp salt in a large pot to a boil.
– Place the dumplings into the water and let cook on lower heat covered for about 10 min.
– Remove them with a slotted spoon.
– Serve with melted butter, a cinnamon-sugar mix, ground poppyseeds or vanilla sauce.

german vanilla sauce

Photocredit

Super Easy German Fruit Cake – Authentic Recipe

Here is a super easy German fruit cake that can be made within minutes. We call the base cake (it’s like a sponge cake) in German a “Tortenboden” and the entire cake would be an “Obstkuchen”.
You don’t have to be a master baker or chef to create this cake – it is really very easy. I found this recipe and thought I have to try this one because I felt somewhat lazy that day, and didn’t want to bake for 1 hour or so.  I also never used oil for making the base cake. So I became curious. And what do you say? It’s a wonderful cake and tastes just delicious! From now on I will use this recipe all the time when the time has come to use some ripe and fresh fruit for this special german cake from my childhood! Happy Baking!

Ingredients Super Easy German Fruit Cake

6 tbsp sunflower oil
6 tbsp sugar
3 eggs
6 tbsp flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla sugar – How to make Vanilla Sugar –
fruit of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, bananas, sour cherries, canned mandarins, canned pears or peaches)
1 package red glaze Dr Oetker  – Make the Glaze from Scratch –


Find Original Bourbon Vanilla Sugar on Lovegermanfood.com
dr oetker vanilla sugar

Baking Instructions

– Mix eggs with sugar and beat until dough is foamy.
– Add oil spoon by spoon to the eggs, then sieve in flour.
– Mix flour and baking powder, then combine with egg mix.  Mix well.
– Grease the baking form with some butter.
– Sprinkle the form with some breadcrumbs of neutral taste (no spices or herbs).
– Pour dough into a non-stick German baking form for the base cake, diameter 11 inches (see below the one on Amazon).

Find this form on Lovegermanfood.com


– Bake in pre-heated oven on 375 F for about 5-10 min. The cake will be done when no dough will stick on a tooth pic that has been poked into the dough. The base cake should have a light golden color.
– When cake is done let it cool off, then place it onto a big plate that should be bigger than the cake (upside down).
– Cut the fruit in half or smaller such as strawberries and place it on top of the cake.
– Make the glaze per instructions and pour it over the fruit.
– Let cool off.

 


  

German Rhubarb Cake with Vanilla Cream

German Rhubarb Cake with Vanilla Cream

If you see rhubarb in the grocery stores or on your local farmers market you must get some so you can make this delicious German Rhubarb Cake with Vanilla Cream and Streusel on top. The base cake is a simple biscuit topped with a layer of vanilla pudding and Streusel. Happy Baking!

Ingredients German Rhubarb Cake with Vanilla Cream

Base Cake
100 g butter
80 g sugar
1 Package or 0.5oz vanilla sugar
2 eggs
75 g sour cream
180 g flour
1 tsp heaped baking powder
some butter

For the Cream
1 package vanilla pudding
2-3 tbsp sugar or to taste
375 ml milk
125 g sour cream
german vanilla pudding

800 g rhubarb, peeled

For the Streusel
200 g flour
100 g sugar
1 package vanilla sugar
150 g cold butter
cinnamon to taste
some powdered sugar for dusting

Baking Instructions

– Peel rhubarb and cut into small pieces. Add Sugar and let sit for about 30 min.
– Pre-heat oven to 355 F.
– Let drain in a sieve so all liquid will be gone.

For the base cake mix all ingredients very well with hand mixer.
– Grease a 10 inch spring form with butter or use parchment paper. Fill in the dough.
– Bake the cake for 15 min then remove it from the oven (it’s not 100% baked).

For the Streusel combine all ingredients and knead with hands until you get a crumbly dough.

For the Cream make the pudding per instructions (with milk and sugar), while stirring let cool off a bit.
– Add sour cream.
– Spread cream on the base cake.
– Add the rhubarb pieces and the sprinkle with a layer of Streusel

– Bake for 30-35 minutes more.

– Let cool off in the form.
– When removed from the form dust with powdered sugar.

Boiled Potatoes with Radishes and Yoghurt

boiled potatoes with radishes

Are you looking for a delicious spring recipe? Here is one: Boiled potatoes with Radishes and Yoghurt. If you can get the first seasonal potatoes the dish would be more than perfect. Enjoy spring and Happy Cooking!

Ingredients Boiled Potatoes with Radishes

4 Servings
5-6 potatoes, Gold (amount depends on the size)
8-12 radishes (amount depends on size, if you use small ones then you might need more)
salt, pepper to taste
100 cubed ham, bacon or Speck, or Prosciutto
4 tbsp chopped chives
4 small cups of natural Greek yoghurt such as the 5% Fage
4 tsp sparking water
lemon juice to taste
2 tbsp water cress or chopped parsley
1 tsp fresh chopped mint, optional


You will LOVE this German Dill Dressing from EDEKA
german dill dressing


 

Cooking Instructions Boiled Potatoes with Radishes

– Boil potatoes with skin in water until soft.
– Wash and clean radishes, cut in slices then in small pieces.
– Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 5 min.
– Cut Speck in very small cubes and fry in a pan (without adding any grease).
– Let drip on kitchen paper

– Cut chives in very small pieces.
– Combine yoghurt in a bowl with mineral water and mix until it’s very smooth.
– Add radishes, bacon and chives and spice with pepper, salt and lemon juice to taste.
– Peel potatoes, sprinkle with cress or parsley and serve with the yoghurt.


Alternatives

The yoghurt with radishes could be also used as a dip with crackers or cut carrots and celery. For the dip cut the radishes in small stripes.

PhotoSource

Buttermilk Plinsen – East German Pancakes

buttermilk plinsen

You found a recipe for typical east middle German pancakes that are called Plinsen or Blinsen, in Russia they call them Bliny. They are round pancakes, some times they are even smaller than a pan size. If quark is added you get the “Quarkplinsen” or like in this recipe, you can make Buttermilk Plinsen by using buttermilk (Lausitz). There’s also a recipe for yeast Plinsen (Hefeplinsen).from Saxon. These little pancakes are fluffy and taste the best with jam, fruit puree, powdered sugar or apple sauce. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients Buttermilk Plinsen

(serves 4)
4 eggs
300 g flour
500 ml butter milk
1 package vanilla sugar, 0.3oz
1 dash salt
200 ml sparkling water, unflavored
oil for frying

Cooking Instructions Buttermilk Plinsen

– Combine all ingredients except the water in a bowl. Whisk well.
– Let sit for 30 min.
– Add the mineral water and mix well.
– In a non-stick pan add some oil, sunflower oil would be good.
– Add a spoonful of dough and fry until golden. turn after some minutes.

Sour Meatballs Danzig Style

sour meatballs danzig style

Danzig, or in Polish Gdańsk, is a city that has made a lot of history throughout the past centuries. It was and still is a very interesting place and used to be populated by Germans until 1945. From this time many recipes had its origin and others got lost.  The good thing is some recipes are still available, and one of these recipes is the West Prussian dish Sour Meatballs Danzig Style. The dish reminds of the Königsberger Klopse but it’s a bit different. The recipe is using Pimento which is originated from the Spanish word “pimienta” (pepper or peppercorn). To most English speaking people the tree is called “pimento” and the berries “allspice”. This recipe is a rare find and I hope you love it. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients Sour Meatballs Danzig Style

For the Meatballs
750 g ground meat beef or pork, or half/half
1 medium-large onion, chopped
t tbsp breadcrumbs (natural, no spices)
1 egg
salt, pepper to taste

For the Sauce
2 tsp flour TL Mehl
2 small onions, cut in quarters
1½ liter water
3 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp vinegar, eg Hengstenberg with herbs, or the German “Essig Essenz”
salt, pepper to taste
6 piment corns (Allspice)
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp butter
1 egg
hengstenberg 13 herbs vinegar

Cooking Instructions Sour Meatballs Danzig Style

– Chop onion fine.
– Combine egg white with meat, onion, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.
– Knead well until you get a dough that allows to make balls.
– Form small to medium size and round balls from the meat.
– In a larger pot bring onions with water, sugar, vinegar, bay leaves and piment to a boil.
– Add a dash of salt.
– Place each meat ball on a spoon and place carefully into the water. Reduce heat.
– Let meatballs simmer on low-medium heat for about 15 min, then remove with a slotted spoon.
– Keep warm and keep the broth. Remove the spices.

Make the Sauce
– – Heat butter, sieve flour over it and add 1 liter of the broth. Whisk consistently until a brief boil, reduce heat and let boil for 10 min.
– Spice with vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
– Beat the egg and add to the sauce – Make sure the sauce is NOT boiling. Turn off the heat.
– Add the meatballs to the sauce and let simmer on for 5 min.

Serve with boiled potatoes, that’s the classic side dish for the meatballs.