Pretzels (Brezel)

One thing I really miss in Australia – and there aren’t too many – are “real” German bakeries.  I have no idea why but German bread just has such a wonderful full flavour and seems so much crunchier.  If you have visited Germany, you would agree.

In Germany, bakeries are so popular that they can be found just about anywhere.  One of my personal favourites are bread rolls (preferably pumpkin seed – just to be high maintenance!) and soft pretzels. They make a great snack for in-between meals.

Needless to say I was more than excited to find some traditional German pretzels at the Jan Powers Farmers Markets in Brisbane City.

 

Brezel goodness

 

Aussie hubby couldn’t resist them either on our last Europe trip…

Aussie hubby with mega Brezel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sausage stir fry (GF)

This is the German take on a traditional Asian dish.  I made this dish up when I had nothing else in the fridge one night.  Aussie hubby really liked it and it has become one of our regular meals now.  This meal is also gluten free.

Sausage stir fry and kitchen hands

Cooking time – 20 mins
Preparation time – 5 mins

What you need
1 packet of chicken or beef sausages (preferably free range/organic)
1 packet of pre-cut Asian vegetables
1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 red chilli
Olive oil
Fish sauce
Soy sauce (GF)
1 handful of cashew nuts (optional)

How to prepare
Cut onion and chilli into small pieces, crush or chop garlic.
Cut sausages into small bites. Heat olive oil and add sausages, cook on medium heat
until both sides of the sausages are brown (ca. 10 mins).
Add onion, chilli and garlic and cook until onion and garlic are lightly browned. Set
aside.
Stir fry Asian vegetables in olive oil for a couple of mins.
Add sausages, onion, chilli and garlic.
Add a small amount of soy sauce and fish sauce and stir through.
Add cashew nuts.
Serve hot with rice or on its own.

PS: I don’t recommend feeding this to your little furry sausages!

Sauerkraut

Love it or hate it but “sour cabbage” is THE German super food.

Aussie hubby and I eat it with, of course, sausages (or steak).  It is so easy to prepare – simply heat up with a little water.

Make sure you buy genuinely fermented sauerkraut which is available in most health food stores. Unfortunately, the supermarket brands are often loaded with vinegar.

Three reasons for adding a little sauerkraut to your diet:

1. It has a high vitamin content, especially vitamin C.  Sauerkraut helps to prevent vitamin deficiency.
2. It is also a good source of lactobacillus – it has more than yoghurt!
3. It is loaded with minerals, such as iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium.

Just a little note on the side, do not over-indulge if your tummy is not used to fermented food as Aussie hubby discovered during our last Germany trip…

Available in Australian health food stores