by Roxanne -

Spaetzle – German Mac & Cheese

Last year when my sister-in-law was visiting the U.S., we met her in Milwaukee. After an afternoon visiting the stunning Calatrava Art Museum we went to Karl Ratzsch’s restaurant for dinner.

She and I ordered the spaetzle. It was amazing. Creamy, savory, with a hint of nutmeg. Surely this couldn’t be too hard to make? When we got home I checked to see how difficult it was to make spaetzel. It’s surprisingly easy. It’s fast food. About 10 minutes from the start of mixing the batter to enjoying it.

Here’s the recipe –

1 cup flour, 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup water or milk, 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, pinch of nutmeg (or substitute with cayenne or curry). That’s it. Whisk until blended.

Place a colander over a pot of boiling water. Put half the batter into the colander and use a spatula to push the batter through the holes. Repeat with remaining batter.

By now the spaetzle has floated to the top of the pot. That’s how you know it’s done. Drain and top with butter, cheddar cheese or gravy. Creamy, cheesy, delicious. German mac & cheese. Mm mmm. Add a glass of crisp, chilled, white wine.

You can watch how easy it is by watching this college-aged kid here. You don’t even have to understand the language!

You may also like Winter Comfort Food and Ultimate Banana Bread.

by Roxanne -

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

Around our small townhouse these days, simplicity looks like this:

Eliminate an entire set of dishes. Just because retailers and manufacturers try to get us to buy entire sets of dinnerware doesn’t mean we have to. Buy only those dishes that work for you. We have discovered that using these plain, white, porcelain low bowls replaces dinner plates, salad plates and soup bowls. At 10″ diameter, they are durable and inexpensive at $2 to $3 each. You can find them at IKEA, Pottery Barn, West Elm or Crate & Barrel. This clears out an entire shelf in my kitchen cabinet. There is an added benefit. If we eat in the living room or serve many buffet style, the scooped edges keep food and sauces in the bowl and off your lap or napkin. We stack six of them in the corner of our kitchen counter for easy access. This corner is otherwise wasted space. Best of all, because they are inexpensive, if one breaks it’s not a disaster. Simply buy one more.

Right now I am looking for thick-walled clear glass tumblers to use for both hot and cold drinks. Hopefully with a wider base than the picture above so they won’t tip easily. This would eliminate a miriad of mugs, wine glasses, cold drink glasses, etc. If you use cups with saucers, it would eliminate those too. Again one item, many uses. Kitchen shelves with space here we come!

Similar to this picture, we are using three tall glasses to hold forks, spoons and knives for quick use on our counter top. This makes our ONE large kitchen drawer available for knives and other utensils. Of course jam jars, canning jars or even antique tea tins could serve the same purpose.

These sturdy, but beautiful cotton dish towels in bright, seasonal colors function as kitchen towels but also as cloth dinner napkins. Look for a flat weave or jacquard weave. One item, two uses. They are often on sale this time of year.

NET: avoid single-use items.

For other voluntary simplicity ideas watch Annie Leonard’s video Story of Stuff here or read: How Much is Enough?, Simpler Living, Compassionate Life or Deep Economy.

Please pass along your ideas. Leave a comment.

You may also like Simplifying My Wardrobe and Simplifying the Kitchen and The Jewelry We Keep.

by Roxanne -

Ground Hog Day

Today is Ground Hog Day. It’s the day we find out if spring is just around the corner – or another six weeks of winter – although in Minnesota the question of Ground Hog Day doesn’t apply. We will probably have quite a bit more winter before warmer weather arrives. Of course “warmer weather” is relative. After many days of sub-zero weather, temperatures above zero can seem to be “warmer.”

Just for today I want a glimpse of the springtime ahead. So here are a few pictures to remind me – and you – of what the world looks like when it isn’t covered with white stuff and old “grey stuff.”

Were you able to go someplace warm and have an early spring? If not, treat yourself to fresh flowers or a potted herb today. Meanwhile, stay warm. Roxanne

Photo Explore-Flowers.co.uk

Photo TulipsMarcad.com