And it isn’t a crime or naughty. Maybe a little tricky to say, but if anything, it is one of my most treasured recipes. I haven’t made it in decades, but the last time i did, was memorable.
Some fifty years ago, a friend gave me their treasured copy of “Amana Recipes”- Published 1948 in Hamstead Iowa. The Amana belief is different from the Amish- Both very old religious groups. Both simple living folks.
Most of the recipes have interesting names and are of German origin. They were fond of tossing the letter”Z” into a completely normal sounding word. Unless you read German, the names of the dishes wouldn’t mean a lot to you.
One receipt is for ‘Nun’s Cake’ A simple desert and it seems simple to make. Years ago I made it and placed it in front of a German man and explained what it was- He nearly died laughing at my feeble efforts.
But now, I did master the art of making Spaetzle- Pronounced: Spaetzle! A great dumpling type thing in the place of rice, grits or potatoes.
Amana Spaetzle:
One cup milk
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
6 cups boiling water (one teaspoon salt in water)
1 and half cups dry bread crumbs (optional)
Add milk to flour slowly, stirring constantly to keep mixture smooth. Add one egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Add salt and mix well. Into a separate kettle (boiler pot) pour boiling water, add salt and set over low heat so water is kept at a simmer. Pour batter into a shallow bowl: tilt over pot and with a sharp knife slice batter into boiling water.
(Best to cradle batter dish in left arm, tilting it over boiling water. As the batter starts to slurp over the edge, you cut it free and it falls into water- Always dip the knife blade in the hot water between each cut, otherwise it will stick to dough)
Let dumplings boil for five minutes then drain in a colander. Put in serving dish and top with bread crumbs that have been browned in butter. Serve hot with apple sauce.
I always make sure there are leftovers! They are especially good re-fried with cut up onion. No better lunch or brunch than that.
This took a lot of typing and words, but once you get the hang of it, it can be done quite quickly.
I recommend it espaetzle for you!
N.A.
N.A. Booko- writes and cooks in Chatham County- except for occasional take out-
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2020 16:52:35 -0400
From: “N.A. Booko”
Subject: Did you know you can”Spaetle” right here in Chatham?