2 minute read
History Passed on: The meaning behind long-lasting family recipes
History Passed On
HOW FOOD CAN CREATE A MEANINGFUL CONNECTION BETWEEN GENERATIONS
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By Mollie Brown
KASE KNEPFLA
INGREDIENTS:
Dough: -6 c. flour -2 eggs -1 tsp. salt -approx. 1 1/2 c. water
Cheese Filling: -3 c. drained cottage cheese -2 eggs -1/2 tsp. salt -diced onion -pepper to taste
Recipe Credit: Emma Bennet
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients for dough and knead until soft dough is formed
2. Roll out dough 1/8-inch thick, cut into circles 5x5-inch, or to desired size.
3. Combine ingredients for cheese filling
4. Put cheese filling in dough rounds and close securely by folding in half. Pinch ends closed securely. 5. Drop in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and fry in butter until lightly browned.
The sizzling oil pops, and the aromatic smell of pan-fried dough drifts across the kitchen. A traditionally German dish, Kase Knepfla is a type of cheese dumpling with its primary ingredients being dry cottage cheese and dough similar to that made for pasta—and it’s a symbol of togetherness for the Bennet family. Senior Emma Bennet doesn’t see their grandma who lives in South Dakota very often, but on occasional visits, they make Kase Knepfla as a family. She mentioned this being an activity they could all enjoy together. “It’s in a big book of family recipes that’s been passed on from her side,” Bennet said. This book comes from her mom’s side of the family, but both her parents have deep ties with cooking. In fact, their parents run the local restaurant Sybaris— although those aren’t family recipes. Instead, the menu shifts monthly—to showcase a variety of new recipes Bennet’s dad feels inspired to try. They couldn’t recall having any recipes that had been passed down from his side of the family. “My dad’s mom was a horrible cook,” Bennet said. “We don’t really have much from that side of the family.”
Photos of Kase Knepfla taken by Mollie Brown
Because of this, all the family recipes come from Bennet’s mom’s side, leaving her dad to start a new generation of recipes. “My dad just likes to cook, so some of that will be taught to myself and my sister and passed down.”
Photo Credit and/or Caption Goes Here
Photo used with permission of Emma Bennet
