Using mortar and pestle, lightly crush cardamom pods, coriander seeds and peppercorns. In saucepan, combine water, sugar, spices and ginger. Gently simmer over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Take off heat, add tea and steep until room temperature. Strain through cheesecloth or fine strainer and into a clean bottle. Refrigerate up to a month. Heat 1/2 cup of favorite milk and 1/2 cup syrup with sprinkle of cinnamon, or serve with cold milk over ice. Or use 2 tablespoons in hot coffee, iced coffee or hot cocoa.
Rosemary-Vanilla Bean Syrup
2 cups honey or granulated sugar
2 cups water
1 vanilla bean, cut vertically in half
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
In small saucepan, bring honey and water to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to simmer. Scrape vanilla bean into pot and place spent pod in pot. Stir and cook for 10 minutes. Add rosemary sprigs; cook 3 more minutes. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate up to a month. Use 2 tablespoons in hot coffee, iced coffee or hot cocoa.
Beyond Beer
Culinary classics celebrate German fall fest
By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer
Every autumn, Oktoberfest, whether in Munich, Germany, Mt. Angel, Oregon, or elsewhere, attracts millions of visitors from around the globe, eager to raise a stein of frothy beer and celebrate Bavarian culture. Beyond the beer drinking and polka music are a host of culinary classics that pair perfectly with the beer to make Oktoberfest a hearty, tasty time of year.
Pretzels
These iconic, twisted knots of dough, originally born in a monastery during the Middle Ages, are baked to golden perfection and standard at every Oktoberfest celebration.
Pork
Smoky bratwurst or spicy weisswurst (veal and pork back bacon) are grilled and served with a side of sweet mustard, seasoned with leeks, chives and green onions. Weisswurst were typically eaten in the morning, with the old saying, “Weisswursts should not be allowed to hear the noon chime of the church bells.” Schweinshaxe, roasted pork knuckle, is seasoned with herbs and served with sauerkraut and potato dumplings.
Beef
Sauerbraten, a beef pot roast, is marinated for days in a mix of vinegar, water and spices such as cloves, juniper berries and bay leaves. The roast tastes tangy and is served with a sweetsavory gravy made of gingersnaps alongside red cabbage and potato dumplings.
Dumplings
Made from potatoes, bread or semolina flour, knödel come in a wide variety. Kartoffelknödel (potato dumplings) are popular. A mix of mashed potatoes, flour and sometimes breadcrumbs, they’re boiled until fluffy. Pretzel dumplings are chewy and fused with savory herbs and spices, made for rich gravies and sauces.
Pancakes
A delicious crispy treat, kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) are crafted from grated potatoes, onions, eggs and flour, and fried until golden brown and served with applesauce or sour cream. On the sweet side, kaiserschmarrn is a shredded pancake served with fruit compote and powdered sugar.
Apples
Apfelstrudel is a traditional apple strudel with cinnamon-spiced apples and raisins and blanketed in thin pastry layers, topped with powdered sugar and whipped cream.
Pairing Perfection
While beer is the star of the show at Oktoberfest, pairing the various culinary specialties featured in this article with their proper mate will heighten one’s gastronomic experience. Weissbier, a wheat beer known for its fruity and spicy notes, is a fine complement for sausages and pretzels. For those partaking in Schweinshaxe, Märzen beers with their malty sweetness and robust character provide a balanced accompaniment. Even apfelstrudel finds a perfect partner in eiswein, a sweet dessert wine that elevates the apple and cinnamon flavors.
Beer, Food and Tradition
Far more than just a beer festival, Oktoberfest is a culinary voyage through Bavarian tradition and hospitality. So whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Oktoberfest enthusiast, grab a stein of beer and a plate of sausages and savor the flavors of autumn. Feel the convivial spirit of community and tradition, and raise a toast to the culinary classics that have made Oktoberfest a cherished world-wide event. Prost!
Hello, I’m Dan Muir, owner of MUIR PAINTING.
Since 1973, I’ve painted thousands of Northwest Homes. One thing that I have learned is that there is no way you can shortcut the process of a quality painting job. It takes the proper equipment, quality materials and qualified, trained professionals to get the job done right. Your home is probably the biggest investment you will ever make, and I hope you will consider MUIR PAINTING to protect and preserve its beauty for the years ahead.
Bathroom Remodels, Quality Guaranteed
Local company rates 5 stars
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By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer
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Photos by Laurel Bice
BUSINESS FEATURE
Weather Worthy
Family-owned-and-operated since 1994
that these valued individuals “are the keys to our success,” and couldn’t do it without them.
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By Patti Jo Brooks, Contributing Writer
by Lisa Kuhlman
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Photos
Matilda (1996)
“I’m right and you’re wrong, I’m big and you’re small, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Oddball, wallflower, nonconformist, weirdo. Whatever you want to call her, Matilda does not belong, especially in her family, almost as if she was adopted. She’s kind, lonely, she loves to read, she can solve large math problems in her head, and, well, eventually she can move things with her mind. And once she’s allowed to go to school, she begins to thrive, finds happiness and is well-beloved by her classmates. She finds a confidant in her teacher, Miss Honey, with whom she shares a common enemy, the scary Ms. Agatha Trunchbull (and Miss Honey’s aunt), who terrifies the school she leads. It’s dark, wryly funny and somehow magical. Starring Mara Wilson as Matilda, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris and more. While suffering at the box office, Matilda has become a cult classic since its release. Rated PG for mild violence, scary images and rude language.
Breakfast Club (1985)
“You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That’s the way we saw each other at 7:00 this morning. We were brainwashed.” You can’t help but feel existential when watching The Breakfast Club and that’s precisely the point. A movie that examines cliques, stereotypes and teenagers’ desire to be understood by their parents and adults, we learn the secrets and struggles of each student stuck in all-day detention at Shermer High School. We sometimes forget that none of us doesn’t have it all figured out, and that’s very much the case here — each of the students feels the pressure of expectations, whether it’s good grades, athletic success, or beauty. Even the “criminal” and “weirdo” have a reputation to uphold, but they’re just as vulnerable and lovable as anyone else. If there’s a point to this movie, it’s to be kind. Starring most of the “Brat Pack” — Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson. Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheed — as well as Paul Gleason and John Kapelos. Rated R for strong language, adult themes and triggering topics.
Harry Potter (2001)
“You’re a wizard, Harry!” As a millennial who grew up with Harry Potter in real-time, to say this movie is meaningful to me is an understatement. From the mind of a then-single mother on welfare writing in the Elephant House Cafe in Edinburgh, it’s easy to see why the magical world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts so easily whisks you away from reality. Directed by Chris Columbus, the first movie (and second) have an unmistakable warmness to them that’s impossible to hate — like a fireplace on a cozy night. Harry, living with his awful aunt and uncle and cousin, discovers on his 11th birthday that he’s a wizard, and is invited to attend Hogwarts to study magic. It’s a coming-of-age, family comedy, action-adventure fantasy all rolled into one. There are spells and wands, trolls and elves, dark wizards, goblins and unicorns, and all manner of magical creatures running around this mystical world. Rated PG for scary moments and mild language.
Stream these movies where available, or rent from your local movie store, library or rental kiosk.
