GERMAN HOME COOKING BY MARIA M SWARINGEN

Maria M Swaringen – the author of the book- German home cooking, is born and brought up in southern Germany in a place called Bavaria. The tone is more of an autobiographical in nature.  She provides us an insight of her family and the state in which she lived.  More so she shares with us the recipes she learnt from her mother. The impact of the world- war II can be felt throughout the book. Helping tendency was high among the people. Many examples can be found in the book. Lot of emphasis is given on the preservation of fruits, vegetables and meat in the cellars.

“Make hay while sunshine aptly suits them as they preserve it for winter. Even vegetables are canned to last for longer time. She suggests to use stainless steel pots for canning. This book is a compilation of recipes for home cooking.  It is always healthy and safe, as they are made with lot of care by our loved ones.The recipes cover a wide range of items from horsd’oeuvre to desserts. She even highlights the medicinal qualities of certain beverages.  Lots of herbs are being used in cooking.  She has taken care of even the minute things in a recipe and provides a “NOTE” to each one of it.  She helps us to have a glance into German cuisine and also about Oktoberfest and fasching\mardi gras.

SNIPPETS:

* Beef is a part of almost all the soups. Bread soup is the very good meal during world- war II.

* Wheat, egg and cheese are must in their kitchen shelves. Leftovers are used sensibly to avoid  wastage.

* Vegetables like potato, cauliflower and onion are part of their everyday meal.

*Kohlrabi is like turnip. Kohlrabi and leek soup is a good soup for a cold winter days.

*Mushroom Fondue is called a Friendship food’

*The people in the southern Germany are pork eaters. They love potato dumpling with pork roast.

*Veal is the most expensive meat in Germany.

*During the period of lent, farmers houses have their smoke house, for they all smoked their own  meat.

*Pancakes are Sunday evenings treat for children. Pan rolls are Sunday breakfast in Germany.

*Spaetzle- a homemade noodle popular in schwaebisch region in Germany.

*Fried elderberry blossoms and Mittelberg noodles are the meatless main meal.

*Gluehwein is a holiday beverage.

*Vanilla sugar is a German product.

*Butter cake is best to have with coffee.  Having coffee with a pastry is their style.

*Rabbit ears can be served as a side dish with a meat entrée

*Cottage cheese- noodles is a very old recipe dating back to 1500 A.D.