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Solly Mack

(90,758 posts)
Thu Dec 22, 2016, 11:58 PM Dec 2016

Not photography related but wanted to share anyway

Simply because it came out so well. I was thrilled!


I made Frikadellen (a sort of minced meat dumpling. I used pork.) with Kartoffelklöße (potato dumplings) and Jaeger (mushroom/onion) sauce. Served it with a simple green salad and bauernbrot (farmer bread/rye bread). Everything from scratch.

I thought about taking photos of the process and the final product, but I'm not a very organized cook. A dash of this, a little of that, and flour everywhere - on me, the cabinets, the floor...even my dog.

Course, after all that trouble, I was full after just a few bites.

Thank you for indulging me!

Solly

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Not photography related but wanted to share anyway (Original Post) Solly Mack Dec 2016 OP
Sounds wonderful, Solly Mack! elleng Dec 2016 #1
It was very tasty and it made me miss Germany something awful. Solly Mack Dec 2016 #2
How wonderful, my dear Solly Mack! CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2016 #3
I should have taken photos. My dumplings were so pretty! :) Solly Mack Dec 2016 #4
I love it...........that's great! CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2016 #5
I am available for taste testing. ManiacJoe Dec 2016 #6
My table always has room for more. :) Solly Mack Dec 2016 #7
Oh gosh, that sounds wonderful! Callalily Dec 2016 #8
I have a base recipe for the potato dumpling that I play with a little. Solly Mack Dec 2016 #10
I'll be right over! Mira Dec 2016 #9
I thought about you while I was scurrying about the kitchen. Solly Mack Dec 2016 #11
I'm glad you got your Julia Child on. alfredo Dec 2016 #12
It was pure pleasure for me. Haven't enjoyed cooking like that in a long time. Solly Mack Dec 2016 #13
I've been thinking about making bread again. alfredo Dec 2016 #14

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,534 posts)
3. How wonderful, my dear Solly Mack!
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 12:05 AM
Dec 2016

You did take a picture..........one made out of words. I could see clearly ever bit of flour!

Thank you for taking us with you while you cooked.

Solly Mack

(90,758 posts)
4. I should have taken photos. My dumplings were so pretty! :)
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 12:09 AM
Dec 2016

Flour and I are not friends. You ought to see me when I bake. I've found flour in places it had no right to be.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,534 posts)
5. I love it...........that's great!
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 12:23 AM
Dec 2016

Please forgive me for laughing, but the image you just conjured up made me laugh!

Callalily

(14,887 posts)
8. Oh gosh, that sounds wonderful!
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 07:54 AM
Dec 2016

I was going to ask you for your Kartoffelklöße recipe, until I finished reading. You cook like me, a little of this and a little of that.

But now I'm gong to have to research the recipe. Not only do I ADORE dumplings, your menu brings back my German heritage and the wonderful meals we had growing up. Now to find my sauerbraten recipe! I am craving it now!

Solly Mack

(90,758 posts)
10. I have a base recipe for the potato dumpling that I play with a little.
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 11:04 AM
Dec 2016

4 medium sized potatoes to 2 eggs to 1 cup flour. Couple slices day old bread, cubed. From there I adjust. I can use 1 egg for fewer potatoes and add flour as needed.

You want to be able to mold your dumpling and it not be sticky.

Drop into boiling water, cover and simmer 20 minutes.

I usually lightly toast the bread slices in a 250 degree oven for several minutes, then cube.

I salt my potatoes while they are boiling. Drain, allow to cool, mash with a little butter, add egg, bread cubes, and flour - mash, shape, and boil.

I sometimes add other seasoning with the mixture. Rosemary is good in the dumplings. Parsley is as well.

It was one of those days when we both wished we could go to our favorite restaurant in Mannheim. A little mom and pop place off the usual path.

They also made a really good sauerbraten. Wonderful little establishment that served home cooking.

I'm glad you enjoyed my post!









Mira

(22,380 posts)
9. I'll be right over!
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 10:43 AM
Dec 2016

This sounds like the soul food of my childhood. We call the Frikadellen "Fleischkuechle" (meat cakes) in Bavaria.

Solly Mack

(90,758 posts)
11. I thought about you while I was scurrying about the kitchen.
Fri Dec 23, 2016, 11:17 AM
Dec 2016

That's exactly what the meal was - soul food.

D and I were both missing Germany and our favorite restaurant. Small place, family owned, serving simple but delicious German fare.

They made the best cheese sandwiches in the world. We'd pick up a couple before heading into town and enjoy our lunch at the water tower. Sitting on the grass and taking in the scene. In the Spring and Summer there was almost always some entertainment in the park, singing or playing. Sometimes even dancers and actors putting on a show.

alfredo

(60,071 posts)
12. I'm glad you got your Julia Child on.
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 12:59 AM
Dec 2016

I'm not very organized in the kitchen.

I'd love to get back to baking bread. You don't need tastebuds, just a good nose.

Solly Mack

(90,758 posts)
13. It was pure pleasure for me. Haven't enjoyed cooking like that in a long time.
Thu Dec 29, 2016, 04:32 PM
Dec 2016

I was having a good day. My pain is under control finally and it made all the difference.

Maybe soon you will be back to bread making. There were days when I wanted to cook but the body just wasn't up to the job. The taste buds were definitely not up to the task.

Last night I made homemade gnocchi with a pancetta and onion sauce. It was scrumptious!

alfredo

(60,071 posts)
14. I've been thinking about making bread again.
Thu Dec 29, 2016, 05:53 PM
Dec 2016

Here's the recipe:
Vegan No Knead Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

Written by Mattie



This Vegan No Knead Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread is now my go-to vegan bread recipe because it's simple to make and is a great example of how wet doughs can create wonderfully light and spongy breads. The higher water content allows the gliadin and glutenin in the flour to align into tight gluten bonds over time so you can forget about all that kneading drama. The result is a fluffy, chewy loaf that's perfect for sandwiches. Feel free to use this bread as a starting point and substitute a ½ cup of the flour for things like wheat germ, wheat bran or oat bran. It's important to note that due to the wetness of this dough it's only suitable for baking in a loaf pan.

Find more Whole wheat recipes on Veganbaking.net


Vegan No Knead Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread Recipe
2 cups warm water
2 Tablespoons maple syrup or agave syrup
1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast

3 ½ cups whole wheat flour
1 ¼ teaspoons salt

1) Mix the wet ingredients and activate the yeast
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the warm water, maple syrup and yeast. Let it sit for about 10 minutes so the yeast activates.

2) Whisk together the dry ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour and salt.

3) Mix the dough
Add the wet ingredients to the bowl containing the dry ingredients and vigorously mix with a wooden spoon in a circular motion for 1 minute. Cover the bowl with a plastic bag and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours.
The benefits of a cold dough fermentation
Alternatively, place the covered bowl in the refrigerator for a cold rest for about 12 to 24 hours. This method will produce more flavor because amylase enzymes in the flour will break out more sugars from the starches more effectively at lower temperatures. If you choose to use this method, factor in about a couple additional hours of extra time until the dough doubles in size. Typically after a cold rest, I leave my dough out at room temperature for about 4 hours until it doubles in size, depending on how hot my kitchen is. Since the dough will be cold, the yeast will be in a near dormant state and it will take time for everything to warm back up to room temperature to activate the yeast again. Feel free to let the dough rest in the refrigerator for some of the time and rise outside of the refrigerator the rest of the time; we want our dough to double in size regardless of whether it spends a full 24 hours in the refrigerator or rises at room temperature.

The great thing about the cold rest method is that if you want to make the dough ahead of time, or break up your bread baking into more manageable time frames, this method will allow you to do this as well asproduce better tasting bread. It's a win-win!


4) Mix the dough again briefly then allow it to rise again
Vigorously mix the dough again with the wooden spoon for 30 seconds and allow it to rise once more, covered, at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours.


5) Proof your dough
Preheat your oven to 350F (177C). Stir the dough one last time for 30 seconds to degass it. The dough can now be proofed by gently forming it into a lightly oiled loaf pan and allowed to sit covered with a plastic bag until it reaches about 80% to 90% of it's intended size, which should be about 40 minutes. The proofing stage is where the dough takes most of it's shape. It's important to leave room under the plastic bag so the dough can rise sufficiently.

6) Bake the vegan bread to perfection
Remove the plastic bag so the dough can rest for about 10 minutes. Due to the high water content in the dough it may begin to spill over the sides of the loaf pan. In this case, take the edges of the dough and stretch it over the loaf to the other side, working your way around the perimeter of the loaf pan as you go. Stretching the dough over itself will also help keep the loaf in its proper shape as it bakes. Lightly dust the top of the loaf with wheat germ, wheat bran or oat bran.

During baking, the dough will rise another 10% to 20% of it's intended size in the process known as oven spring. Bake until the internal temperature of the bread registers 180-190F (82-88C) when read by an instant-read thermometer. This should be about 45 minutes. Rotate the loaf 180 degrees in the oven halfway through the baking duration for even baking.

7) Allow the bread to cool slightly before removing it from the loaf pan
Remove the bread from the loaf pan after about 30 minutes and allow to cool on a wire rack until it's cooled to room temperature. This bread is best stored covered in a cool dark place or pre-sliced and stored in a plastic freezer bag in the freezer. This recipe makes one loaf of Vegan No Knead Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread.

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