Knoedelmaker

I often read the obituaries in the morning paper looking to see if I know anyone who died. The young may not understand. Today's paper had the obit of a 95 yr. old woman. Under her name was the caption, "Excellent baker of Angel Food cakes and cookies". Nice thing to be remembered for.

I paused to think what might be written about me. Sort of reminds you of that commercial, "What do you want on your tombstone? Pepperoni?"

If I outlive my sweetie, what I would say about him in his obit? Knoedelmaker. Let him be known as the man who made excellent knoedels. I don't think he would mind being known as a knoedelmaker.

What is a knoedel? It is a potato dumpling. The family recipe that came from his paternal grandmother uses raw potatoes unlike the lighter more common version that uses cooked potatoes. Ours are made from grated raw potatoes, flour, bread crumbs, eggs, salt and shortening. Formed into balls, they are boiled and resemble dirty tennis balls when cooked. (Think white tennis balls not the yellow-green) For the uninitiated, they do not look appetizing, but they grow on you--literally. They are a carbo loading meal. Top that with melted butter or gravy for a waistline busting orgy.

While serving in the Army in Germany in the 60's, Jon searched unsuccessfully for a German restaurant that served knoedels like his grandmother had made. Our German friends said the heavier, raw potato version may grace the table of Germans at home, but restaurants do not serve this labor-intensive variation he sought.

After sampling many Gasthaus's (in Germany) knoedels, Jon remained hopeful we would eventually find someone who made them like grandma. Since Jon's grandma was born in Austria, Jon remained hopeful we could find "the right knoedels" in Austria. On one trip to Austria he inquired where Nova Bistrice, her birthplace) was located. We were told it wasn't in Austria but rather the Czech Republic. It was part of the old Austian-Hungarian empire when she lived there but in more recent years the lines were redrawn to include it in Czech territory. Her family were Germans who lived there so it was unclear where this family recipe came from. We did not find them in the Czech Republic.