German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook
Recently Gerhild Fulson, who is the force behind Just Like Oma (aka Quick German Recipes) and one of my favorite German Recipe Bloggers sent me a copy of her new cookbook German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook to preview. It immediately jumped onto my list of favorite German Cookbooks. I know, I know… I have a lot of German cookbooks, what makes this cookbook so special, so worth putting on the kitchen bookshelf? Easy, German Meals at Oma’s is as much a book of memories as it is a cookbook. The recipes are dishes that you will find on the table in many German households. These are Oma’s recipes.
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German Meals at Oma’s
German Meals at Oma’s is the kind of recipe book I enjoy reading through. Oma Gerhild organized the book’s chapters by German States, meaning that the recipes are grouped by region (this way those from the Rhineland Pfalz can find their favorites without having to sort though the stuff from Schleswig Holstein!). A nice introduction about each state comes first… putting the recipes and flavor profiles into perspective. (Remember, Germans have always been big into the whole “eat local” scene, even before it was a scene). Then each recipe is given an introduction… maybe a story, maybe a little history, maybe an explanation of where the recipe came from. As the kid who always needed to know WARUM? (WHY?) I just love this!
The recipes ALL have a mouthwatering photo of the completed dish. Wonderful for whetting the appetite (and for comparing to see how close your food looks to how it’s meant to look). Ingredients are all readily available in the US and Canada (Gerhild’s home), and amounts are presented in US Standard and Metric.
Best of all, every recipe comes with tips that she calls “Oma’s Ecke” (Oma’s corner). These special tips are exactly like the tidbits of information you might get while cooking with YOUR Oma. She makes suggestions for substitute ingredients, what are the best potatoes to use, and even shortcuts to recipes. (Her blender shortcut for Kartofelpuffer is exactly how my mom makes them!)
German Meals, Recipes We All Remember
German Meals at Oma’s is not a big cookbook, but it has much of what you need to make great German food. (And since it comes in paperback, it doesn’t take up too much space, or hurt much when it lands on your foot). As I said, it’s divided by German State (Karen’s Eck- there are 16 German States), and each state has 5 Recipes. (Carry the 3…. 80 recipes). It doesn’t sound like much, but they are the recipes most people craving German food will want on their table. Rouladen (and Oma’s quicker take, Flatladen), Frikadellen, Königsberger Klopse, Falscher Hase (meatloaf), Blumenkohl mit Semmelbrösel (like my mom still makes Cauliflower like this), Brathandl and Sauerkraut. And of course, all those side dishes like Semmelknödel and Schlumpfnudeln. I was delighted to find a recipe for Haschee! My aunt would make it for us when I was a child, and now it’s my daughters favorite meal! And of course, Kartoffelpuffer (my daughter’s second favorite meal).
There are some very regional dishes like Birnen, Bohnen und Speck (Pears, Beans and Bacon), Hamelner Rattenschwanze (Hamlin Rat Tails), Eisbein (not Ice Leg… but Pork Hocks)… and my cousin’s arch-nemesis food Dicke Bohnen und Spreck (Fava Beans with Bacon). Bonus to me, the recipe for Kohlrouladen (Cabbage Rolls) is exactly like my mother’s! (without tomato).
The only thing you don’t find in German Meals at Oma’s is desserts. But stay tuned! I’m betting there will be a follow up cookbook for this, because Gerhild is a marvelous baker!
Why Should You Order ANOTHER Cookbook?
If you are looking for a German Cookbook that takes you back to the time when you ate your meals sitting around Oma’s Eckbank, then German Meals at Oma’s is perfect for you. I also see this as a great cookbook for new or tentative cooks (fair warning to my daughters, they may expect a copy of their own under the Christmas tree)… honestly, everything is spelled out carefully (but not condescendingly). With this book, you WILL be successful in cooking your favorite German Meals.
Order Your Copy of German Meals at Oma’s by Gerhild Fulson HERE–>
German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook
