Sauer Braten = Happy Germans

Sauer Braten is a German pot roast, it has a sour taste to it and when cooking it you can really smell the red wine vinegar. We really enjoy it, if it's been a while since I've made it my family requests it like this: We better have Dad (or Grmpa) over for supper and you can make Sauer Braten. They all help-alot, and are more than willing to peel alot of spuds.

Sauer Braten

3-4 lbs bottom round roast
4 tbls. oil
salt & pepper to taste
4 cloves garlic-finely chopped (I use a garlic press)
2 large onions thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups red cooking wine
2 cups water
1-2 tsp. Lawrys
1/2 cup sour cream

What you see below is a doubled recipe--feeding teenage boys. When I double this I don't always double the cooking wine, I just use 1 bottle of red wine vinegar and 1 bottle of cooking wine. No one has ever noticed the difference or complained.

Braze the roast, 2 tbls. oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Slice onions very thin.

Saute 2 tbls oil, garlic, and onions in stock pot until almost golden, but not to tender.To the stock pot of sauteed garlic and onions add: brazed roast, bay leaves, tomato paste, ketchup, red wine vinegar, red cooking wine, water, and Lawrys. Simmer 1 hour, turn roast, and simmer 1-2 hours.

Remove roast and slice a bit less than 1/2 inch, return to stock pot, bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 1/2 hour. Most of the onions will cook into the mixture.

Add 1/2 cup sour cream, stir in well. You can pull the bay leaves out if you wish, I don't bother.

Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles, my family prefers mashed potatoes . I have never served instant potatoes with Sauer Braten, I think they would be to mushy. I mash the potatoes on the dry side because the sauce is not thick and the potatoes will get soupy. This meal is worth the work. Sometimes I will prepare it part way, refrigerate over night and then finish the process the next day, especially if we have it for dinner (dinner as in the noon meal).

Covered in Love

This is not the first time I have been covered in love, I talk about it here, and you can see me covered here. My very dear friend Barb has covered me once again--as she has so many times over the years. Barb and I met at a home school group 19 years ago. Our daughters are friends. We have hauled home a bunny, kitten, buckets of soup, pans of rolls and bars, from their log home in the hills near Winona, but mostly we hauled home the love. The love of the pure and simple, the love of their Savior that is fleshed out in word and deed. An example that has challenged me and caused me to say on many occasions "I want to be like Barb when I grow up." She has shared her heart, wisdom, home, books, beads, patterns, and more. Together we have watched our children grow, went on home school field trips, women's retreats, and ridden in an ambulance. We have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed! I love my Barb, and am blessed in more ways than I could count in our friendship.
Here I am all covered in my new apron that Barb made for me. The fabric is me through and through. When I tie this on I feel pretty. I feel in touch with the many women in history who tied on an apron every morning like a uniform and began the work of caring for, and sharing the fruits of their labor.

And look, Barb also covered Grace in some love!

Thank you Barb.

Five Nomad's Visit cont.

The General sounding the drums...

and preparing the troops.

The Princess, tickling the ivories...
...and her aunties heart!
(I have worn out my kids with crafts,
when I get to craft with someone else's child it makes my day)

Chocolate dog by his side and chocolate milk with J.J.

--his two favorite things at our home.

Tami calls him Bubby.
I call him Bubby-licious!

Five Nomads Visit

My sister of Five Nomads-here has been visiting for the past couple of days. They are back on the trail westward. I will post pictures in a day or so...

...I need a nap!

The Nomads have left the building. The drums in the garden shed are quiet. The piano in the dining room is quiet. The pencil sharpener is quiet, no snip-snip of craft scissors. The Star Wars dudes, American Dolls, and Cars are packed and gone. No discussions on weapons and baseball, no ballet pirouettes to entertain me while I'm in the kitchen. No little curly haired 3 year old bossing the 80 lb. dog or telling me that there is shiny grass in heaven. The Nomads are gone and for a few short hours our home is empty.

My heart is full.