Happy New Year

Another year, another tradition (or two or three...)

A little background on this post - My dad's family came from Nebraska to San Jose, California in the early 1940's.  In Nebraska they spoke "low German,"  a dialect similar to Dutch.  During the 40's they called themselves Dutch to distinguish themselves from Germans who were the enemy during World War II.  Their families were Mennonites, devout and very cloistered.  The history of these very religious and wonderful people began in the 1500's in the area of Prussia, or Switzerland, where they followed the teachings of Menno Simons.  He was a Christian leader, a pacifist and the people were persecuted.  They ended up in Southern Russia, in the Ukraine region, where the Czar had wanted a people to occupy that land to fend off any invasion by other groups such as the Turks.  In exchange for giving them land which they would occupy and farm (they were well-known for their farming skills), they did not have to serve in the Russian military.  They lived their in their own Mennonite colonies until the late 1800's when a change in rulers made them choose to leave.  Their non-service in the military was revoked.  Rather than go against one of their teachings, they left their homes.  They took with them their farming skills and wheat, settled in middle America and helped establish that area as the "Bread Basket of the World."  Many of their recipes and traditions were handed down to my generation and I have chosen to pass them on to my children.

One of my kids' favorites is the making of Nuisch Kokas - New Years "cookies."  They are more like donuts because they are deep fried.  We made them when I was a little girl at my home and we continue to make them every New Year's Day morning.  All but Daughter S, who was in South Dakota visiting her husband's brother, came over to taste or make.

The eldest of the grandkidlets jumping right in.

 

After taking them out of the hot oil, you roll them in sugar.  Very messy (but tastey)

 

J liked the licorice more than this little tidbit of Nuish Koka!

 

DIA & N with their mommy

 

N guzzled quite a few...

 

Grandaughter, I

Baby S slept through her mommy having a taste, but we got the picture!

 

Son J, the Cougar, has done this every year his whole life.  He's now an expert and I hope he passes this tradition on to his kids.

We also decided to make our traditional "Varse," which I actually spell "Wurst" (the German way) and that the kids just plain call "Sausage."  This is done in bulk form or pressed through an old-fashioned sausage press into links (a great gift from my parents many years ago).  We just made the bulk form this year.  It is cooked into patties for breakfast or broken into scrambled eggs.  It has a decidedly unique, smokey flavor and the recipe is a highly, coveted one that I would be killed for giving out!

 

The idea of mixing raw meat and seasonings with your bare hands is repulsive to some, but Son J, the Cougar, and grandson D (listening to the Beatles and singing along) is always up to the task.

 

Mmmmm, bloody....

Even Baby Z got in on it.

One of the worst things about the mixing part is that the meat is REALLY cold!  You have to slather on the soap and wash in very warm water. 

Following the mixing of ingredients, the meat is weighed into 3/4 or 1 lb. chunks and put into zip loc bags.

Since the kitchen was a disaster already and after the sausage mess was cleaned up, I got a hankering for some bread to go with it.  Our family calls it rye bread but it's nothing like the rye you buy now a days.  It's actually made from pumpernickel meal and white flour.  It's very crunchy with a soft center and hard crust. There is nothing better for toast or to eat with sausage!

Grandson D might turn out to be a good baker someday.

These aren't the most beautiful loaves, but considering from the first cup of flour to the first piece cut off the loaf it was only 75 minutes, not bad.  I actually made 6 loaves, but the first one was toast (get it, toast?  hahaha) before it was even cool.  The dark stuff on the top is butter which was whisked away to put on one of the pieces before I could properly butter all the loaves.  

MMMMmmmmm good

DIA and N (Dian for short) had begged for a sleepover at the beginning of the week, but my activities prevented that until Friday night.  We had a good time except for the fact that grandson N didn't want to sleep with his brother and his sister didn't want him to sleep with her, so I got toes and heels in the chest, stomach and back all night long.  But it was still worth it because before going to bed I was treated to a heavenly salon treatment by all of them.  Neck rub, lotion on feet, legs and hands and the always lovely hair styling.  I actually do enjoy it!  The next morning I got them ready, even hair done, in time for the Meet your New Primary Teacher event at 9 AM!  Some things you never forget how to do.

Tomorrow it's back to work.  I really enjoyed the holidays with the kiddos and kidlets this year and feel very blessed.