Germany

In International Foods this week we made two dishes from the country of Germany. This country has stood out to me ever since my Aunt hosted a foreign exchange student from there. So, I was excited to try the German cuisine.

Germany is located in the middle of Western Europe, the summer nights are long while the winters are cold and snowy. Being located by Italy and France has caused Germany to adopt many of their spices and cooking methods. Cuisines in Germany vary based on region. Germany has mountains, plains, and seas that all produce different German dishes. Lamb, pork, and beef are common meats used in Germany. Some common spices include mustard, horseradish, and juniper berries.

Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer)
Ingredients

• 3 medium potatoes
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons grease

Recipe

1. Peel and shred potatoes, pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Mix potatoes, eggs, onion, flour, and salt.
3. Heat grease in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Pour 1/4 cup potato mixture for each pancake and spread with a turner to about 4 inches in diameter.
5. Cook pancakes until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Repeat process with the remaining batter. Add grease if pancakes start to stick.
6. Keep warm in oven.

Bierocks

Ingredients

• 1 package refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1/2 small onion, minced
• 1/2 lb. ground beef, browned
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Recipe

1. Open crescent rolls; spread out onto cutting board; cut in half.
2. Line a sprayed 8 x8 inch pan with half of the crescent rolls.
3. Brown meat in a non-stick skillet; drain excess grease; return to skillet and add onion, cabbage, salt, and pepper. Cook together until cabbage wilts.
4. Place 1 cup of the cheese as the first layer onto the crescent roll layer.
5. Top this with the meat mixture.
6. Layer 1 more cup of cheese.
7. Top with the remaining crescent roll.
8. Bake according to package directions of the crescent rolls.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this German unit, both dishes were great. If I were to make these dishes again, I would take the cabbage out of the bierocks and leave the potato pancakes as they were. Being a picky eater, I wasn't really interested in the idea of German food. However, I was pleasantly surprised. So far, this unit has been my favorite.