I am not an expert at all in German food or Oktoberfest, but I do love beer and cheese and pretzels. Obatzda is a traditional creamy cheese and onion spread that, I have read, is often served at beer halls, like it’s Austrian cousin Liptauer. I like to mold it onto a ball for serving, because we do love or cheese balls in the South and call it a cheese ball … [Read more...] about Beer Hall Cheese Ball (Obatzda)
beer
Oktoberfest Onion Dip (Beer Caramelized Onion Dip)
This time of year, I always seem to find myself thinking up new dip ideas. Fall seems like dip season – tailgates, back to school events, Halloween and Thanksgiving and all sorts of harvest events. I don’t know. That being said, I love onion dip any time of the year. I make it with roasted onions, with a hit of bourbon and bacon, a recipe you’ll find in my … [Read more...] about Oktoberfest Onion Dip (Beer Caramelized Onion Dip)
German Meatballs
Recipe ideas come to me everywhere, at any time and take me in odd directions. I was reading a magazine during an interminable wait at a doctor’s office once and saw a recipe called “German Meatballs.” My mind immediately went to bratwurst, beer and mustard so I was intrigued and kept reading. But that magazine recipe involved frozen meatballs, French onion soup mix and … [Read more...] about German Meatballs
Beer Shrimp Boil with Beer Sauce and Homemade Shrimp Boil Spice
Summer officially kicks off with Memorial Day, and it is the perfect time for outdoor gatherings with big groups of family and friends. I think a shrimp boil makes a nice switch from the classic burgers-and-dogs grill fest. I have a big outdoor table on my patio, and this has become a favorite way to entertain. I simply cover the table with brown paper and scoop the boil … [Read more...] about Beer Shrimp Boil with Beer Sauce and Homemade Shrimp Boil Spice
Guinness Glazed Irish Bacon
It’s hard not to start cooking with Guinness around St. Patrick’s Day. It is a very versatile brew, lending itself to sweet and savory recipes. And as the old ads say, it makes you stronger! I love this simple glaze and think thick slices of Irish bacon are the perfect vehicle for it. Irish bacon is similar to Canadian bacon and more like ham than our “streaky” bacon, so a … [Read more...] about Guinness Glazed Irish Bacon
