Vintage Kitchen Vixen

traditional recipes

German Potato Pancakes Recipe (Kartoffelpfannkuchen)

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Kartoffelpfannkuchen, or, German potato pancakes, is a simple traditional dish that makes for an easy meal. All you need are a handful of ingredients, a food processor and hot skillet!

plate of german potato pancakes Kartoffelpfannkuchen

WHAT ARE GERMAN POTATO PANCAKES?

Growing up, German potato pancakes were a special treat on our table. Of course, we just called them potato pancakes, but when I asked my mom for her recipe, she looked at me blankly.

“Do you mean latkes?” she asked.

“When have you ever called them latkes, Mom? You’ve always called them potato pancakes.”

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Classic Cauliflower Gratin (Cauliflower Cheese)

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This classic cauliflower gratin (also known as cauliflower cheese) is the perfect devise to sneak veggies to picky eaters! Coated in a creamy white sauce and smothered in cheese, this cauliflower bake is a smash hit as a side!

classic cauliflower gratin side dish

A TRADITIONAL SIDE DISH

Prior to writing this post, I had always thought cauliflower gratin was a classic French dish. I mean, gratin, right? It turns out I was wrong!

Traditionally, this classic cauliflower gratin goes by another name: cauliflower cheese. And you know what? It’s an English dish!

Can you blame me for thinking it was French though? I mean, look at their classic ham and cheese melt: it’s blanketed in béchamel and covered in cheese.

Whatever the case may be, this is a traditional side dish and a popular one around the table, too!

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A French Canadian Tourtière Recipe

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This French Canadian tourtière is the taste of the holidays for many Quebecers. A flavourful beef and pork filling wrapped in a flaky pâte brisée pie crust, how can anyone go wrong?  

holding a French Canadian tourtière

There’s a region in Québec that’s a couple of hundred kilometres north of the famous St. Lawrence River, up the Saguenay River, called Lac St-Jean. I have family who live there and if they hear someone call a meat pie that isn’t from Lac St-Jean a tourtière, they are quick to disparage it.

There are tourtière recipes out there that are branded as Lac St-Jean style, but really, everyone’s recipes are so different that it’s hard for me to understand what makes that a tourtière, and my tourtière a meat pie.

By the way, here’s some food history for you. The name tourtière comes from the cooking dish these pies used to be prepared in, and the dish itself is of French origin.

Oh, and just so you know, this is not a tourtière from Lac St-Jean, nor is it in that style. It’s a French Canadian tourtière. The family can flay me later.

RELATED: Bacon and Sauerkraut Quiche

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Victory Borscht: An Easy Oil-Free Wartime Recipe

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Victory borscht is a winner in more than one way. This jewel coloured beauty of a soup is rich in flavour and completely oil-free. Learn how to make this simple wartime recipe for yourself! 

Let’s rewind back to another era. An era that’s often glamourized for the styles, gallantry and grace.

Where I am in the world, there’s abundance at every turn. There’s also so much waste that our great grandmothers would cringe. Unfortunately, many of us were simply never taught the art of being frugal.

Frugality has a negative connotation to it, doesn’t it? We know it’s a virtue, but we’re scared of how it would cramp our style.

The women who lived and worked through World War II had no choice but to be resourceful. They were self-sufficient and creative, and we can learn those skills again, too.

RELATED: WWII Food Rationing Tips

VICTORY BORSCHT RECIPE VIDEO

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German Spätzle Noodles Recipe (with bacon and toasted breadcrumbs)

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German spätzle noodles are easy enough to make, but need a bit of time and elbow grease. Learn how to make this traditional German recipe with buttery toasted breadcrumbs and crisp bacon.

German spätzle noodles with toasted breadcrumbs and bacon

WHAT’S SPÄTZLE?

German spätzle noodles are a type of pasta made with fresh eggs. Spätzle is found in quite a few European countries apart from Germany, like Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary. These noodles are something I was fortunate enough to grow up with and are high up on my list of comfort foods. They made an appearance on special occasions and were usually served with beef rouladen, schnitzel, or a potful of goulash. Of course, when my mom cooks, she cooks to feed an army, so my brothers and I would be eating spätzle leftovers for days. More about what to do with spätzle leftovers later, that is, if you even have them!

SIMPLE SPAETZLE RECIPE VIDEO

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German Beef Rouladen: an Authentic Traditional Recipe (with pickles)

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German beef rouladen is a traditional recipe that’s perfect for special occasions or Oktoberfest gatherings. Think thin slices of inside round rolled up with bacon, mustard, pickles, onions and seasoning that’s slowly braised until it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender. Scrumptious!

rolling german beef rouladen
Rolling German beef rouladen

WHAT’S GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN?

The recipe I’m sharing with you today is one that is near and dear to my heart. It’s a dish that I grew up with that was reserved for special occasions.

German beef rouladen is essentially thinly sliced inside round that’s rolled up with mustard, onions, pickles, bacon and spices. It is then slowly braised in a low temperature oven.

The end result is a tender piece of meat that practically falls apart at the slightest touch and bursts with rich flavours. It was one of my most requested meals growing up and it remains a special treat to this day. 

GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN RECIPE VIDEO

If this is your first time visiting the kitchen, you’re about to find out why I call my kitchen vintage… If you like my style, please consider subscribing to the Vintage Kitchen Vixen YouTube channel!

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