To Eat or not to Eat

On the first day of the new year I give you a treat.
My dear husband did the cooking and he also did the writing. Enjoy!

Am ersten Tag des neuen Jahres gibt es etwas Besonderes.
Meine Bessere Hälfte hat heute das Kochzepter geschwungen und den Text komponiert. Er schreibt aber nur auf auf Englisch. 
Trotzdem viel Vergnügen!

På den første dagen av det nye året har vi en gjest på bloggen min.
Gubben laget maten idag og han skrev også teksten. Alt er på engelsk. Håper du liker det!


To Eat or not to Eat
I have rambled on about my good childhood memories a couple of times before, so you have to bear with me if I do it again.

One of my fondest memories is about eating a very favorite dish. It was served every year on New Years Eve, at my granny's place. The German name is "Grünkohl", over here it is called Kale. I kinda announced that the other day. If you pay real good attention here, you might learn about a good dish. So here we go:

This is what you need for two hungry people:

2 pounds of Kale
1 pound (or more) of baby potatoes (gotto be real small)
2 smoked sausages of farmer-style variety
1/2 pound of smoked pork chops
a handful of cut bacon
1/2 of a midsize onion
salt, pepper and SUGAR
1/2 cup of fat like lard, butter or magarine (lard is best)

You start with cooking the small potatoes. 
While they are cooking you take the kale and chop it with a big knife. Don't chop up the stringy stems in the middle. (you throw them away) 

Lots of kale is needed!

Take a big enough pot and fill in 1 inch of water. The chopped up kale goes into that pot to be cooked. At this point it will look like you have way too much kale. Don't worry, it will be of a much smaller volume, once it is cooked.

You add the fat, salt, pepper and some sugar to the kale. Let it cook a while. Meanwhile you cut up some bacon and put that on top of the kale. Also add the two smoked sausages and the smoked pork chops. Is your pot big enough? It should. You put a lit on and reduce the heat.

Your small potatoes are now cooked ready, so you pour off the hot water and replace with cold water, so the potatoes are covered. They are now cooling down. Consequently you can grab them and peel them. Put them aside. Now, if your potatoes aren't really, really small you better cut them in halves. They NEED to be small and preferably round, but halves will work)

Potatoes are ready to go...

Do you have a steel pan? Take it out. (Teflon is no good for this..) Put margarine into the pan and melt it. You pour the potatoes into the pan and put in the oven. You add generously with granulated sugar. The sugar will melt and create a caramel layer around your (rolling) potatoes.

Caramelized Potatoes, Yummy!

We did that part on the outside BBQ. If you have a Teflon pan only this might not work, or you ruin your pan.

As soon as the caramelized sugar has turned the potatoes nicely brown you are done.

The dish will be served as shown and you might want to have a dark ale with it. It's heaven!

If you absolutely don't like caramalized potatoes, because you are a diabetic, you can make it with salted potatoes, but hey it's not the original.

The dish originates from the east coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany, and is traditionally made during the winter. (there is no kale in the summer) It is a dish which will keep you warm during a cold winter night.

Bon Appetite!

Kale and Christmas Parade

Yesterday evening we went to the lightning of the Christmas Tree Celebration nearby. Today it was the local Christmas Parade. It is all so very different from European Christmas Markets. To me it resembles more a fair or carnival and has nothing to do with the real reason.  But maybe we are just too old for this kind of celebration.

Kale

The other day I cooked kale. J.P. likes it very much, he grew up on kale. It is a special winter food in northern Germany. I made it my way.


1 onion, minced
1 fed of garlic, 
1 cup of bacon, in bits
1 tbs. oil and 1 tbs. butter
kale, a bunch
water or instant broth


Rip the leaves off  and discard the stalks,  chop the green like spinach. Sauté the onion, garlic and bacon in the fat for a few minutes. Take the garlic out before adding the kale. Fill up with 1 cup of water or broth and simmer until the kale has collapsed and softened.  Season with salt, pepper and a dash of sugar.
Side dishes: potatoes and bratwurst or hamburger.

Booth with Toys

Christmas Tree

Local School Band

Santa Claus doesn't come with his reindeers...

Gestern abend haben wir uns Weihnachtsbaumfeier angesehen und heute haben wir an der alljährliche Weihnachtsparade teilgenommen. Es ist schon sehr viel anders als in Europa. Mich erinnert es eher an einen grossen mexikanischen Jahrmarkt oder einen Karnevalsumzug. Auf alle Fälle hat es kaum etwas mit dem ursprünglichen Thema zu tun. Aber bei sommerlichen Temperaturen und Wüstenambiente ist das schon schwierig. Es fehlt mir die "weihnachtliche Stimmung", Lebkuchen und Glühwein, ich bin wohl doch zu "europäisch".


Letztens habe ich Grünkohl gekocht, auf meine Art. 


1 Zwiebel, klein gewürfelt
1 Knoblauchzehe
100 g geräucherten , durchwachsenen Speck, gewürfelt
1 Eßl. Öl und 1 Eßl. Butter
Grünkohl, einen Bund
Wasser oder Brühe


Die Blätter von den Mittelrippen rupfen und wie Spinat kleinschneiden. Zwiebeln, Knoblauch und Speck im Fett anbraten. Die Knoblauchzehe entfernen bevor der Grühnkohl beigefügt wird. Etwas Wasser oder Brühe auffüllen und den Kohl weichkoche. Mit Salz, Pfeffer und etwas Zucker abschmecken.
Dazu gab es Kartoffeln und Kochwürste. (Am 2. Tag Frikadellen).

Igår så vi på tenningen av juletreet i nabobyen. Idag var det juleopptog med skolekorps og mer. Det er så annerledes enn jeg vokste opp med. Det er ikke noe julestemning, det minner mer om mexikansk tivoli. 


En av siste dagene hadde vi grønnkål kok på min egen måte. 


1 løk, i terninger
1 båt med hvitløk
100 g bacon, i terninger
1 ss matolje, 1 ss smør
1 bund med grønnkål
vann eller kraft


Kutt bladene av og kast stilkene. De grønne delene hakkes som spinat. Fres løken med hvitløk og bacon i noen minutter. Ta hvitløken ut av kjelen før grønnkålen tilføyes. Fyll opp med noe vann eller kraft og kok kålen til den er mør. Smak til med salt, pepper og  sukker.
Serveres med poteter og stekte pølser eller kjøttkaker.

Kale Salad with Cranberries

Kale Salad with Cranberries

Boy, was it ever foggy this morning. Everything was dripping wet outside.
Luckily it didn't last. By 11 AM the sun had turned the sky blue again.

Foggy morning

Bright afternoon

We still had the kale theme because I bought a whole bunch the other day. 
Today I try a fresh kale salad.  
Luckily the kale salad was appreciated by J.P. and the bowl was empty after we finished our meal.


Ingredients:
1 Romaine lettuce sliced thinly
2 leafs of kale, stems removed, sliced thinly
1/2 cup of celery, sliced 
1/4 cup of unsalted peanuts or pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 tbs. raisins
2 tbs. cranberries
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tbs. white vinegar
1 tbs. honey
1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
 salt, nutmeg, Italian herb mixture


Blend salad and spices thoroughly and let it sit for 20 minutes to marinade.
Sprinkle with parmesan. (or, like for J.P. with shredded cheddar.)

Wir sind immer noch im Grünkohlfieber. Ich hatte letztens ungefähr 500 g davon erworben. Heute will ich einen Grünkohlsalat ausprobieren. 
Glücklicherweise war der Salat nach J.P.´s Geschmack und die Schüssel wurde leergegessen. 


Zutaten:
1 Romaine Salat, fein geschnitten
2 Blätter Grünkohl, ohne Rippen, fein geschnitten
100 g Stangensellerie, fein geschnitten
50 g ungesalzte Erdnüsse
2 Eßl Rosinen
2 Eßl Cranberries
7 Eßl Balsamic Essig
1 Eßl weißer Essig
1 Eßl Honig
Olivenöl
Salz, Muskat
Italienische Kräutermischung


Den Salat mit der Salatsoße mischen und 20 Minuten ziehen lassen. Mit Parmesan bestreuen (oder wenn man den nicht mag, mit Cheddar).

Vi er fortsatt eksperimenting med gønnkål. Jeg kjøpte en hel del for noen dager siden. Idag blir det fersk grønnkålsalat.
Heldigvis fell den i smak for gubben og alt ble spist opp.


Ingredienser:


1 romaine salat, tynn skåret
2 blader med grønnkål, uten stilker, tynn skåret
100 g seleri
50 g usaltet peanøtter
2 ss rosiner
2 ss tranebær
7 ss balsamik eddik
2 ss hvit eddik
1 ss honning
olivolje, salt, muskat
Italienske kydderblanding


Bland salaten med salatsausen og la den trekke i 20 minutter. Server med parmesanost eller med cheddarost på toppen.

Garlic Kale Sweet Potato Soup

This recipe did not agree with my dear husband. Too much on the vegetarian side. Kale for him is the German version only, with fat sausages and caramelized potatoes. He shall have it variation later this week.
But I liked this recipe very much.


"This Garlic Kale Sweet Potato Soup Recipe was developed by the nutrition staff at Nutricare - St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.
Yield: 6 servings (1 1/2 cup each) 


Source: see here

Kale, Sweet Potato, Beans (I had only chick peas), Onion

Sorry, but I had to adjust the amounts of garlic to my taste buds. 
And I think this is a portion for maximal 4 personer


2 1/2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 1/2 tsp. dried Italian herb seasoning
6 cups vegetable broth
2 (15 oz) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (white kidney)
I had only Chick Peas, but that was OK.
1 lb sweet potatoes, scrubbed and diced
4 oz. kale, tough stems removed, chopped coursely (about 4 cups)
12 garlic cloves (I've added a few more but it's up to your taste)
(NO WAY - I took only 1/2 clove)
salt and pepper to taste
nutmeg
1. Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and Italia herb seasoning; saute until onions are soft and golden.

2. Stir in broth, beans, sweet potatoes, and kale; bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add garlic to simmer soup base. Simmer until sweet potatoes and greens are tender.
About 15 - 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste."

The kale was very mild, I liked this recipe even without 12 cloves of garlic.

Knoblauch, Grünkohl und Süßkartoffeln
Dieses Rezept hat mein Göttergatte nicht besonders gemocht. Es war ihm zu "Vegetarisch". J.P. mag Grünkohl nur auf gute deutsche Weise. Gekocht mit Schweinebacke und Grützwurst. Dazu karamelisierte Bratkartoffeln. Diese Variation werden wir auch noch kochen.
Mir hat aber diese leichte Variante ausgezeichnet geschmeckt.


Die Idee stammt aus der Diätküche vom St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.


Zutaten für 4 Pers.


2 1/2 Eßl Extra Virgin Olivenöl
1 große Zwiebel, kleingeschnitten
3 1/2 Teel. getr. Italienische Käutermischung
750  ml Gemüsebrühe
2 Dosen Canellini Bohnen, abgegossen und gewaschen
500 g Süßkartoffel, in Würfel geschnitten 
500 g Grünkohl, ohne Stiele, kleingehackt
12 Knoblauchzehen (hier habe ich gestreikt, 1/2 Zehe war mir genug!)
Salz, Pfeffer (und Muskat für meinen Gemschack)


Die Zwiebeln in heißem Öl goldgelb anbraten, die Kräutermischung hinzufügen.
Die Brühe, Bohnen, Süßkartoffeln und den Grünkohl dazugeben und aufkochen lassen.
Dann auf kleiner Hitze ca 20 Minuten köcheln lassen bis die Kartoffeln gar und der Grünkohl  weich gekocht sind. (10 Minuten vor Ende der Kochzeit die Knoblauchzehen mit ziehen lassen, wenn es denn sein muß). Mit Salz, Pfeffer und Muskatnuß abschmecken.

Hvitløk, Grønnkål og Søtpotet
Denne oppskiften likte ikke gubben min så særlig. Det var for vegetarisk for ham. Jeg syntes at det var nydelig og jeg skal ha resten til lunsj imorgen. 
J.P. vokste opp med grønnkål kokt med fet, røkt svinekjøtt og søte, stekte poteter. Jeg skal nok lage denne typen grønnkål for ham senere.


Den er laget på kjøkkenet til St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.


Ingredienser for 4


2 1/2 ss oliveoil
1 løk, i terninger
3 1/2 ts Italienske krydderblanding
75 dl grønnsakskraft
2 boks hermertiserte Canellini bønner, vasket
500 g søt poteter, i terninger
500g grønnkål, uten stilk, hakket i småbiter
12 fed kvitløk (her jeg tok bare 1/2 fed, det er nok med meg)
salt, pepper, og nutmeg 


Fres løk i olje til de er lysebrun, Tilføy kraft, bønner, søtpoteter og grønnkål, Kok for et minutt og la det siden simmer på lav varme i 20 minutter. Smak til med krydder.
Det siste 10 minuter tilføy hvitløkbåter, de skal bare trekke i suppen.