Cooking Tip of the Day: Great Recipes to Celebrate Oktoberfest!

You can't have an Oktoberfest without Beer Brats and of course steins of beer... German Potato Salad.. Schnitzel ... Strudel and so much more!

So What Exactly is Oktoberfest?

In case you were wondering what Oktoberfest is.... it's a 16 day festival held each year in Munich, Germany. This Bavarian festival runs from late September to early October. The festival traditionally ends on the first Sunday in October. It officially starts with the tapping of the first barrel of Oktoberfest beer. The popular festival attracts more than six million people. 2014 is the 181st Oktoberfest. Cities around the world hold Okoberfests modeled after the Munich fest.

The festival features fabulous German foods, music and, of course, beer. Beer tents everywhere! Some of the foods traditionally served at Oktoberfests are roast pork, potato pancakes, sausages (Bratwurst and Weisswurst, to name two), Sauerbraten (a German style pot roast), spaetzle, red cabbage, pretzels, strudel and many more wonderful German dishes. There is even a tent that serves only veal.

According to Wikipedia,“the original Oktoberfest occurred in Munich, on October 18, 1810, for the commemoration of the marriage between the Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.”

Picture from the Official Oktoberfest website - © Fotostudio Kubinska & Hofmann - to see more pictures from the festivities go to the official website.

For more information about Oktoberfest, go to Wikipedia and the official Oktoberfest site.

I would recommend you go to the official Oktoberfest site… it's a guide to all that there is to experience... the foods, the beer, the rides, the beer, the crowds of people, the beer (I think you get the idea), and information about attending, in case I’ve inspired you to hop a plane and go there. If you do, you can get some nifty official 2014 Oktoberfest souvenirs .... and send me some pictures!

Growing up in New York, we attended a yearly Oktoberfest and I loved the foods, the music and the festive atmosphere, I do miss going to it.

So to celebrate Oktoberfest... great food for family and friends..... here are some classic German recipes ...

For Breakfast...

Bauernfrühstück is a hearty German Farmer’s Breakfast…

German Apple Pancake - so easy.. light and tasty!

German Apple Cake is a delicious apple-rich coffee cake with a hint of cinnamon.

Main Dishes...

Beer Brats - a quick and easy recipe that you can enjoy anytime ..not only at Oktoberfest

Chicken Cutlets with Hunter's Sauce Schnitzel smothered in a brown savory sauce with vegetables

Schnitzel - What Oktoberfest would be without a Schnitzel?

Jagerschnitzel has a wonderful mushroom sauce over the schnitzel. It’s often served with spaetzle (German dumpling noodles) or noodles.

Crock Pot German Red Cabbage and Pork Ribs - a delicious meal perfect for a weeknight... the crock pot makes it so easy.. come home to a delicious dinner!

Side Dishes...

Spaetzle are little dough "balls" or dumplings that are boiled.. delicious with sauces, a German tradition.

Roesti Potatoes - a German and Swiss tradition made with shredded potatoes, sauteed onion and grated cheese, all fried in a little butter...

German Potato Salad - served warm in a vinegar based dressing with bacon and onion

Green Beans with Onion and Bacon - the name says it all

German Potato Pancakes - these are pancakes made from mashed potatoes and onion..seasoned and fried in a bit of butter.. serve with applesauce and sour cream.

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

And now for the Desserts...

German Cheese Strudel - layers of flaky buttery pastry around a wonderful sweet cheese filling... topped with powdered sugar .. totally divine! ... and easy to make!