Oktoberfest

The Autumn season brings us many things.  Some of my favorite foods arrive on the scene both in the farmers markets and in the supermarkets. Halloween, homecoming parades and football games, corn mazes, hayrides and apple picking come to mind. One of the big foodie events is Oktoberfest.  Typically the food involves brats and sauerkraut, candy apples and cider.  However, I decided to do different foods for Marilyn's Table.  Here is what we had:

German Rouladen
Cabbage and Potato Saute
Black Forest Tart

I have never made a Rouladen and was surprised as to how simple it was.  A flank steak is pounded flat and cut in rectangles. One side is painted with stone ground mustard.  Sliced deli ham, onion slices and dill pickle spear are arranged on top.  The meat is rolled and secured with string.  Saute in a bit of oil/butter mix and when rolls are browned pour over an inch or so of good beef stock. Cover and simmer for and hour and a half until meat is tender.

While the meat is cooking, saute diced onion in a bit of butter until soft.  Stir in shredded savoy cabbage and cook until wilted.  Add sliced cooked canned potatoes.  When heated through, stir in diced deli ham, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.  Add a bit of water and cook about 10 minutes.

To serve, spoon some of the cabbage mixture on a plate and place a meat roll on top.  Spoon some of the broth over the top. Garnish with chopped parsley for some color.

Dessert was a classic Black Forest Tart.  I changed the recipe up a bit, and downsized it as well.  In the bottom of a mini spring form pan, press crushed chocolate thin cookies with a bit of butter added.  Melt some dark chocolate over a low heat until it is completely melted.  Cream powdered sugar with half a package of cream cheese and stir in the chocolate.  Add some cherry pie filling and pour mixture into the crust.  Chill in refrigerator. When ready to serve spoon some cherry pie filling over the tart and top with some whipped cream. Sprinkle with additional cookie crumbs.  More pie filling can be spooned around each slice.

I found some Oktoberfest beer from Capital Brewery in Middleton Wisconsin and served it with the meal.  A heavier meal than my usual, but very tasty.  The beer was perfect with the food, I wish I had purchased more than one bottle.  Still time.....

I have a lot of Autumn harvest recipes.  I'm thinking that I might just feature some of them in the weeks to come. Perhaps not as a meal, but as special foods of the season.  So in the next weeks look for recipes featuring apples, pumpkin, and squash.  Get out and enjoy the crisp weather and the rapidly changing leaves.