The Seasonal Plate and Notable Words

The Seasonal Plate

Seasonal Inspired Food Pairings

The following recipes were printed in the Pilot Independent newspaper October 16th. Two weeks ago when I tried posting a link to my first food column it did not work since it required setting up an account to log in and view the article. So Iam just duplicating the Pilot article in the blog.

The theme for the column this week was Oktoberfest. I used recipes previously posted on my blog. But for this submission I scaled the recipes previously posted from serving 25 to 6 people. 

It's not too late to have an Oktoberfest meal. 

   Oktoberfest Meal

Oktoberfest is the world's largest fair held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16-day festival running from late September to the first weekend in October with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. To the locals, it is not called Oktoberfest, but "die Wies'n", after the colloquial name of the fairgrounds (Theresienwiese) themselves. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the original Munich event.

Just in time to celebrate the fall season are some Bavarian comfort foods recipes Apple Crisp, Hot German Potato Salad, Red Cabbage and an Apple and Sausage dish. 

Hot German Potato Salad

Cook’s notes: This dish can be prepared ahead, placed in a baking dish and reheated covered at 300 for 30 minutes. Serves 6

Ingredients:

·        7 large red potatoes

·        ½ lb. of bacon

·        1 medium onion diced

·        1/3 cup cider vinegar

·        2 TB. sugar

·        3 TB. flour (heaping)

·        1-1/2 tsp. salt

·        ½ tsp. pepper

·        1 tsp. celery seeds

·        ¾ cup water

 Directions:

·        Boil potatoes with skins until slightly soft and peel starts to split, don’t overcook

·        Drain and peel potatoes, cut in quarters

·        Fry bacon and reserve 2 TB bacon fat

·        In same fry pan sauté diced onions in reserved bacon fat

·        Blend in flour, sugar, salt, pepper and celery seeds

·        Cook on low heat, stirring until smooth and bubbly

·        Stir in ¾ cup water and 1/3 cup vinegar and bring to a boil-

·        Boil 1 minute, stir in potatoes and bacon

·        Mix well and serve warm

Apple and Sausage Dish

Cook’s Notes: I tested with Hillshire, Klements and Johnsonville products that had no fillers added. Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

·        2 lbs. of link sausages that are fully cooked such as Polish Kielbasa, Andouille or Smoked Sausages

·        3 apples peeled and cut in large chunks

·        1 large onion diced

·        5 cups apple cider

Directions:

·        Slice sausages into 1-1/2 inch pieces

·        In a large soup pot add sausage slices, cider, onion, and apples

·        Cook covered on low heat for 35 minutes or until apples are soft 

Apple Crisp

Cook's notes: A food processor could also be used to blend topping ingredients. Pulse ingredients briefly. Serves 8

Ingredients for Apple Mixture:

• 7 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 TB. flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2-3 TB. cinnamon

Directions for Apple Mixture:

• Mix sugar, flour, salt and cinnamon
• Add in apple chunks and mix well
• Place apple mixture in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish 

Ingredients for Topping:

• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 2 cups of quick cooking dry oatmeal
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1-2 TB. cinnamon
• 6 TB softened butter

Directions for Topping and Apple Mixture:

• In a large bowl mix all topping ingredients cutting in butter with fingers or pastry cutter
• Sprinkle topping evenly over the apple mixture
• Bake uncovered at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until apples are bubbly and tender 

Piesporter Michelsberg Kabinett, a German wine or Paulaner Oktoberfest or a St. Pauli Girl Lager, German beers pair well with this Oktoberfest meal.

Other seasonal recipes can be found on my blog at sockfairies.blogspot.com

Sue Ready The Seasonal Plate

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Noah Webster, Jr. (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843)

He was a lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English language spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education".  His blue-backed speller books taught five generations of American children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. Webster's name became synonymous with "dictionary" in the United States, especially the modern Merriam -Webster dictionary that was first published in 1828 as An American Dictionary of the English Language. It was Webster who took the letter "u" out of English words like colour and honour; he took a "g" out of waggon, a "k" off the end of musick, and switched the order of the "r" and "e" in theatre and centre.

I liked this poem found on the Internet by David Reinstein.
Words.
Words to express and
Words to conceal.
To create a dream
Or describe the real.
Words to engage and
Words to reject.
To be in agreement
Or to curtly correct.

Words to make love and
Words to make war.
To hide what we know
Or share what we saw.
Words meant to sooth and
Words meant to fight.
To darken a day
Or lighten a night.

They've no life of their own
Or are worth e'en a cent,
But that which we give them
With certain intent.
To use them with care
With our own inner light
Whenever we use them
To speak or to write
Is a goal for all people,
But one hard to achieve-
When internal impulses
Appear on our sleeve.

Words are forever and
Words can be lost.
They seem to be free
But can carry a cost.
Knowing and caring
Are two different things-
As is being aware of
What words can bring.

Words can sing and
Words can cry-
To express our deep feelings
Or reject and deny.
How we use them
Defines our own way
To all those who read
Or hear what we say.