The forager

I am a forager at heart, and judging from the items (for the most part) in our apartment and the meals I cook, I do make great use of found items that others might deem as to be fit for an early “burial.” I adore looking for “name” clothing at Goodwill (and finding it quite often, since many of the big-name items are not as well known in El Paso, so tend to not be marked up as such… Vera Wang shirts for $4, anyone?). I use leftovers to make a multitude of meals which in turn become leftover-leftover meals or even leftover-leftover-leftover meals (I stop usually there, or else I zap out all the nutrients). I gladly and thankfully take others’ old dining room tables circa 1990. I’ve even been known to dumpster dive (albeit not for edible items, but more for the dining room set, completely intact, I found in the trash at the apartment complex next to mine. Oh, and unsold books and magazines from a chain bookstore in town, which simply tears off the covers and throws the books away)… Yep, I’m a modern day, urban forager.
Yesterday I foraged what I could to use up some staples that were beginning to show their age, as well as to make some room for some NEW groceries (what a concept!) in the pantry. While Christian was at work, I decided to make “El Paso Harvest Bread,” using produce that is grown in El Paso and its immediate vicinity. I had some apples that I really needed to use up, and since Christian and I are heading back up to Cloudcroft this weekend and picking more apples, I thought adding apples, nuts from the local pecan growing company Stahmann’s, local eggs and dried habaneros to the dough. The bread, made with about a third rye flour and the rest bread flour, milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar, water, salt, baking soda/powder and a dusting of semolina, turned out great and tasted very “autumnal.” It’ll go so well with a smear of butter and local plum jam (made by Eva of Eva’s Old Heidelberg restaurant here in town).
Since I had plenty of time yesterday evening while Christian was at work, I DID work a little harder to turn my “forager’s feast” into something romantic and lovely for when he returned home. I made a great salad filled with the last of our veggies of the week, including cabbage, parsley, green onions, jalapeno, mushroom, carrot and tomato. Dressed it with simple oil and vinegar and salt. The main course was Pfannsuppe, a simple broth to which the strips of the leftover Pfannkuchen from the night before were added to make a sort of “noodle soup,” delicious, light and SO easy to make.
Now we’re cleaned out for the most part, and ready to begin a new round of grocery shopping. But to be honest? I really get a kick out of making do with what is on hand. Makes me feel smart, lol.
And now, we’re off to Cloudcroft for a three-day weekend. One wi-fi spot means possibly iffy connection or availability, but if it’s on, so am I. However, I do reserve the right to blow off the blog for a day if it means a GREAT hike in the Technicolor aspens or a marathon apple-picking and baking morning at the cabin. It’s our last trip before Hannah’s born, so we’re milking this baby for all that it’s worth. I can’t wait!
See you (maybe?) this weekend….

A Pfann letter…

Here I am yesterday, at 27 weeks, 5 days, wearing the LAST pair of jeans I can actually button!

I’ve posted a recipe for Pfannkuchen before on this blog, but judging from the amount of hits I get for the recipe and all things related to that and Apfelstrudel, I will go ahead and post the recipe again, since that is what Christian made for dinner last night and I finally got some decent pictures of the luscious pancakes!
I request Pfannkuchen probably about once a week but it seems we’re always out of some element, be it flour, eggs, whole milk or the necessary jam to fill the pancakes. But last night I made SURE we had all of the above and besides, Hannah and I were in dire need of something light and sweet after a week of outdoor grilling, meats, cheeses and hot spices. Dear Christian obliged and even made extra pancakes to make pancake soup tonight. Probably the easiest recipe on the planet, once you have the pancakes. Even I can make that. (http://www.letscookgerman.com/starters-and-soups/pancake-soup-fladlesuppe.html)

And here’s the recipe that I trust will be used MUCH more often for us in the coming colder months, when my tummy needs something a bit more bland than habaneros and jalapenos, I get my sweet fix AND it’s not going to cause me to reach for the Tums five times a night…

Pfannkuchen
3 eggs
1 c. flour
1 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla (optional)
A dash of salt
Pour a small amount onto hot skillet, pick up skillet and turn to spread batter. Cook to barely brown and turn. Serve with jam, rolled up like a burrito, with sprinkled confectioner’s sugar on top if desired. Typically served for dinner in Bavaria, not as a dessert like in the States.

•••

Yesterday I met Christian at his place of work to treat him to an outdoor lunch. The weather was fantastic and I’d yet to see him at work at his library. I myself felt a little like I was playing hooky, even though I’ve not been working for more than a month now. I still feel like I’m “sneaking around” during the day, so I’ve really been focusing on having a full schedule, busy days and no moping around the house. After I brought lunch to Christian (leftover curried chicken, rice and veggies for me, plus a Sharon fruit for dessert (what a good girl am I); and a ham/cheese wrap and leftover potato salad for Christian; I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up a curio (shadow) box for Christian’s ever increasing Homies and SpongeBob figurines. They were beginning to take over the kitchen “bar area” space, and I knew it was time to relegate them to a safe spot on the wall. Homies and SpongeBob figurines were never quite my thing, but once Christian started collecting them and getting so excited about getting a new and unique one when he put his 50 cents in the machines, I did too, and now I must say they’re a fun addition to our apartment decor, lol. And I guess with Hannah, I’d better get used to the notion of SpongeBob and/or (fill in the blank with this week’s flavor of cartoon character) filling up the house.
I found the closest thing possible… a jewelry holder. Does NO ONE carry curio boxes anymore? Not even Hobby Lobby did, and they are SUPPOSED to carry miniature-collectible boxes, no??? Uggh. Well, I made do and nailed the jewelry holder to the wall, and it works just fine. I am just praying Hannah doesn’t go for collecting Homies, lol. I wonder, wonder, wonder what she’ll go for. Me? I loved, and still love, seashells. But I guess Homies are a LOT easier to come by than seashells in El Paso, Texas. If we go back to Bavaria, she’ll be collecting those little toys that come in the chocolate eggs at Easter time (banned here in the states by the FDA, those party poopers)….

What did you collect as a child? Are you still at it?

Dampfnudeln din-din

Yesterday evening, Christian went back to his childhood to make us some fabulous Dampfnudeln, steamed pillows of dough steamed in milk, and served with vanilla sauce (powdered sugar and poppy seeds are also popular toppings). With that we had a fruit salad made with banana, golden delicious apple, pluots and blueberries.
In Germany, sweet dishes like this are very typical for dinner. Be it Dampfknudeln, Milkreis or Pfannkuchen. When I first was served Dampfknudeln for dinner when visiting Christian and his family in Bavaria, I was very surprised (and kinda wished I’d been served a small salad or something “healthy” because I tend to eat a LOT more and more often in Germany…or so I thought). But I lost weight or maintained my weight every single time I went to Bavaria. Not once did I gain an ounce. Why? Because one is SATISFIED after a meal in Bavaria.
I find here in the states, we snack all the time or fill up at all-you-can-eat cattle farm restaurants (I think y’all know the ones I am talking about) because we’re simply not satisfied. It’s more bang for your buck here, but the quality is dismal.
I love how just about EVERYTHING is made from scratch in most German households. Sure they’ve got the Maggi or Knorr instant meals and seasonings, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a German hausfrau who doesn’t take her time to pick each veggie by hand, find the best butcher, the best baker, the best cheesemonger…and to grow many of her own spices and herbs at home. And tradition is king. German recipes go back centuries and never grow old.
And this is how it goes with the Dampfnudeln. I can’t believe how satisfying these pillows of dough are! Two (at most!) are more than enough, and served with fruit make for a nutritious and economical meal that is WAY more satisfying than a take-away taco meal, any day. And don’t get me started on your sleep after you eat Dampfnudeln! They don’t resemble pillows for nothing.
By the way, I had two Dampfnudeln last night. Stepped on the scale this morning and I lost two ounces Can’t do that with enchiladas.
With the leftover dough, Christian also baked some, to store in a Ziplock bag for later eating. They go great with jam, like biscuits. Haven’t had one yet, but the day is very, very young…

A pancake is a pancake…

…even if it doesn’t come out so pretty, as in the case of last night’s dinner. For some reason, the batter didn’t want to cooperate with us, so our German pancakes (pfannkuchen) ended up looking a bit like a plate of scrambled eggs. So be it. They were just as tasty, and especially so with some cherry preserves from Cloudcroft. I managed to eat two plates full, and if I didn’t look pregnant before, I certainly do now!
Soooooo, we’ve decided to go with the amniocentesis procedure, coming up on the 27th. I’m scared to death, actually. Not of the needle, but of the waiting period (up to three weeks!) for the result. I’m also scared the needle will hurt the baby. Ugh. I’m already sick thinking about it and it’s more than two weeks away.
Has anyone else out there had it done? What should I expect? I have one friend who had to be jabbed THREE times in one day. The first jab didn’t get enough fluid, the second time the baby got in the way, and finally she got it done at three jabs. Oh man, and I’m the one they always have to jab about 4 times for getting blood drawn because my veins are so hidden….
But I have faith, and it will be a good thing to have any doubts erased after the amnio… including the sex of the baby! Wow, to think I’ll know in about a month, unless the sonogram that goes with the amnio happens to catch the baby at the perfect position, lol.

Some like it hot…not

Lately, my diet has consisted of the following staples: cabbage, jalapenos, bread in every way, shape or form; apples, coffee (or chai), oatmeal and pasta. I just can’t seem to stray too far away from these items lately, for some reason. I don’t know if it’s pregnancy cravings or just plain laziness in coming up with something new or different, but my comfort zone has been limited.
Now that I’m out of the first trimester of my pregnancy, I’m not too afraid of morning sickness anymore, and I think it’s time to expand my repertoire, as well as get some fresh and new ingredients into my system! I am really missing Christian’s Bavarian food, and I’m starting to tire of Mexican or Southwest-influenced dishes. I think my hankering for HEAT (as in habaneros and jalapenos) is finally waning. Give me a good reismilch, or some pfannkuchen, pflaumenkuchen, kartoffelsalat, spatzle, dampfnudeln or all of the above!
Last night was a last hurrah for the spicy, at least for a while. I cooked a brisket, soaking the meat in a mixture of: two cups orange juice, two tablespoons salt, two tablespoons jarred minced garlic, pepper and one cup local bbq sauce. After I’d cooked it medium rare, I sliced the brisket into fajita-sized pieces, and along with that made guacamole with two avocados mixed with the juice of one lemon and a few tablespoons of pico de gallo; refried beans with melted cheese; and warmed corn tortillas. So it was “make your own soft taco” night, and while it was good, I really just wanted to cozy up to a big bowl of grits or cream of wheat.
I never, ever thought I’d start shying away from my sacred spices, but for me right now, it’s all about bland.
Oh, and it’s Christian’s turn to cook tonight. Request? Plain old pfannkuchen, smeared with cherry jam. And a nice tall glass of ice cold milk.

A birthday for the belly

Yesterday we celebrated Christian’s birthday with a nice lunch with my parents at the El Paso Club and later he and I alone at Rudy’s BBQ. I managed to stuff myself silly at both establishments, whereas Christian remained vigilant about his ever-shrinking waistline. My waistline? What’s a waistline? I lost mine weeks ago, and even my “safe” shorts and pants are no longer. Christian’s boxer shorts are starting to be appealing to me to wear around the house.
Well, anyway, I managed to scarf down: two cheese enchiladas with pico de gallo, pasta salad, green salad with raspberry dressing, sauteed squash, pickled nopalitos, half a breast of chicken with mustard dressing, a slice of bread and a very good strawberry/almond cake slice. Christian’s plate looked like one of those portion-control plate samples the Diabetic Association shows on pamphlets in doctors’ offices, lol. He ate modestly while I just plain ATE. And just because it was there. Note to self: no more buffets until you learn that you don’t need to try a little of everything!
After work, we came home and I decided to take “a little nap” that lasted for almost two hours. Nothing worse than lying on a black sofa, right next to a window, on a hot summer’s day in El Paso. Woke up sweaty, groggy and disoriented…and still full from lunch. Quadruple whammy. But it was Christian’s birthday, and that meant one thing: Rudy’s BBQ.
I love Rudy’s but it didn’t love me back last night. I tried to be moderate–I had 1/2 a pound of turkey, a small cup of cole slaw, some pickled jalapenos and a diet coke. And then I had to have a slice of some of the most cloyingly sweet buttermilk pie I’ve ever had. Not that it stopped me from eating it all, but cloyingly sweet nonetheless. At least the turkey was lean.
So now I’m awake at 5 a.m., having walked 40 minutes by the irrigation ditches (try THAT when it’s pitch black outside), and I’m wondering how on earth I can eat breakfast. Oh god I miss being genuinely hungry! Lol. After breakfast (fruit for me, please) we’ll bike ride along the Rio Grande and hopefully I’ll build up an appetite for tonight’s soup made from leftover pfannkuchen and beef broth. That’s more like it.
BTW, got Christian a ceramic chef’s knife as well as a gift certificate from Germandeli.com, so he can order his favorite German food products just like home. I was tempted to “help” him pick out some items, but it was HIS gift At least I know seelachs, goulash, wurstsalat and leiberkäise are on the menu very soon!

Homesick

Yesterday my husband and I booked his ticket to go home to Germany for the holidays. That’s good. A good deal for less than $800 round-trip, and he gets to see his family again after a very long time. Also a bad thing. One ticket. I’m not going. I can’t go, because it will be too near our baby’s birthdate and we don’t want to take any chances.
Christian’s leaving Nov. 25 and returning Dec. 7. I’m due Jan. 10, but since it’s so near, we decided I should wait until the baby is 6 months old before I try to venture overseas again. (not that I can’t TRY to go in early autumn, but that would mean risking my job, lol).
It made me so happy that we could get a reasonable ticket for Christian, but just so sad that we can’t spend Christmas in Rohr, Bavaria, with his family. We’ve spent the last two Christmases together there, and they were everything that Christmas is all about. Family, warmth, food, memories, thankfulness and joy. At least Christian and I will still be together for Christmas, and we can Skype with his family, but I’ll miss the smells, sights and sounds of Christmas in Bavaria.
•••

Perhaps sensing my melancholy, Christian made for me last night some incredible Pfannkuchen, because he knows pancakes are my ultimate comfort food. He made lots, because we’ll make some Pancake soup (Flädlesuppe) on Saturday night with the leftovers. I personally had three of the massive crepe-like pancakes, filled with a fruit salad I made with bananas, pears and grapes drizzled with honey. I am SO grateful that Christian is such a great cook and comes from a family of great cooks, because I surely don’t! And I want so much for our “little Wally” to carry on that German tradition, as well as a plethora of others. It will be a challenge AND a blessing to raise the child biculturally.
•••
It’s 4:30 a.m., and I’ve already walked almost an hour near the river, come back and made some cinnamon-hazelnut coffee (decaf!) and now I’m waiting for Christian, my birthday boy, to wake up so I can give him his presents. I am definitely one of those people who’d rather watch OTHERS open their presents and see their joy and excitement than open presents myself. Not that I have ANYTHING against presents to me, lol, but I love to watch others get gifts. We’ll have lunch with my parents at the El Paso Club today (old-school luncheon club for businessmen members on the top floor of the Chase Bank Building downtown. Think buffet of 1960s dishes like steak diane, souffled potatoes, ambrosia salad, Parker House rolls and Angels on Horseback), and then tonight Christian has requested that we celebrate his birthday together at Rudy’s BBQ. I’m always game for Rudy’s 1/2 pound of smoked turkey, served with a side of cole slaw and some pickled jalapenos. But honestly? I’d be more than happy for just another stack of pfannkuchen and a night going through old photos and home videos of our times wandering the Bavarian countryside!
But he’s the birthday boy, and good ole Texas BBQ is calling…

Brown-bagging it

First of all: I got this “überrübe” beet syrup, which came with this darling complimentary syrup jar, at a Netto supermarkt in Rohr, Germany, last year. I mainly got it because I liked the jar so much, but I really, really, really want to try the beet syrup properly. Does anyone from Germany or familiar with beet syrup have any tips or ideas for it? The closest taste to me is molasses, but perhaps there’s a specific use for it? Any feedback would be very much appreciated!
•••
I don’t go out to lunch on work days anymore, saving my money for the really important things, using up leftovers (and with my husband’s cooking, leftovers are not something to cringe at), and avoiding those horrible lines that make you have to rush, rush, rush through your meal. I prefer to sit at my desk, surfing the ‘net, eating at my own pace, and then using my lunch hour to go for a walk, grab a coffee, or even nap (which is much more common now that I’m expecting).
Today’s lunch appeared pretty revolting, lol. Well, I’m pregnant so I get to do whatever food combinations I want, right? Today’s magical food combination (it’s like playing the slot machine) is salad, potato salad, and the leftover carrots and onions that were used when Christian roasted his pork shoulder. He was going to throw away the “aromatics,” but hey, they’re great! Okay, maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m entitled.
On the side, a Belly Bar and for a snack later, a peanut/chocolate chip SoyJoy bar.
•••

Tonight we made German pancakes (like French crepes), slathered with forest berry jam and überrübe and rolled up like burritos. Light, fairly bland and much less caloric than last night’s meatball feast. I’m still aching from that!
•••
This weekend we’re going up to our cabin in Cloudcroft, N.M., to get some much needed R and R, hiking, RAIN (PLEASEEEEEE!!!), outdoor cooking, reading and bread baking. It’s only Wednesday but I’m already counting the hours until I get to sit in our (very) little cabin and listen to the rain on the tin roof. THAT is summer to me!

So, what are you brown-bagging to lunch?

Back to brotzeit

After weeks of Southwestern BBQ, hot Mexican salsas and all-American standbys like Tuna Helper and PB&Js, my husband and I went back to his German roots for dinner last night with his pfannkuchen, or German pancakes. He made me three and he had two (I was planning on dessert, yes, even dessert after pancakes, so I saved the third for today). We filled them with blackberry jam and also added some diced pear for crunch and added nutrition.

I’ve had German pancakes, or rather, Americanized German pancakes, at IHOP and Village Inn. I’ve even had others’ German pancakes in Germany. But my husband’s are the best, and not just because he’s my husband. They simply are amazing. I haven’t learned how to cook them partially because I know my pancake would end up looking like a plate of tostada chips after attempting to turn it.

While in Germany, staying with him, we’d have brotzeit for dinner, which is the norm in Germany. A round or oval wood board on which lay a few slices of deli meat varieties, some slices of cheese, a few pickles, a squeeze of hot or sweet mustard, and a few slices of rye or farmer’s bread. That was dinner. Lunch was the main, hot, course of the day. I miss that so much. The ritual, the simplicity, and not going to bed on a full stomach.

Christian’s making some bread now. It will take three days. He just started the sourdough starter last night, and we can’t use it until Saturday. I am thrilled! First of all, I know it will be just great (almost ALL bread is great to me), and secondly, we want to try to sell some of his loaves at the local farmer’s market in our neighborhood. I noticed that, at farmer’s markets, the baked-goods tables always seem to generate the most traffic. That and the potted herbs and wild greens. We can’t grow sorrel or watercress on the balcony of our apartment, but we sure can try our hand at artisan breads, muffins and energy bars! I’m still dreaming of an organic apple/spelt/poppyseed/chia seed muffin I bought at a farmer’s market more than a month ago! I’d love to recreate those and sell them.
We are trying to eat as well as we can for as little as we can, and recent circumstances have made that even more important for me. Speaking of which, for those of you who read this blog regularly, why not give a go at my “Can You Guess” blog (scroll down) and win a great giveaway package! Only ONE DAY LEFT! Then it’s not a mystery anymore!!!!
Just email me at krautundcracker@gmail.com if you think you have the answer.

And with that, I also leave you with photos of Mr. Gris, our apartment complex cat who loves to go with me to the laundry room and hide in the warm pile of clothes (necessitating a second washing sometimes, but I can’t get mad at him!).