Here I am again with more German food. It isn't that I had a grand plan or a theme. It is sheer coincidence and not a part of a intentional pattern. For Mother's Day I wanted to cook with my mom and so I had her teach me how to make spaetzle. Then came the Low & Slow event for Sunday Supper and Sauerbraten fit right in. In the meantime, Shulie of Food Wanderings asked if I wanted to contribute to her Baking with Heritage series. There was only answer to that question: YES!!! I decided to bake Brötchen (German Hard Rolls) in representation of my family's heritage.
I am very proud of my heritage. I believe everyone should also celebrate their heritage with pride. The food and traditions keep family memories alive for generations upon generations. If you do not have family recipes then research and find ones to cook and adjust to fit your particular family tastes or history. Those may be what is made by your grandchildren, nephews, and great-great-great-nieces on down the family line.
Brötchen are crusty white rolls. There is no telling how many my dad ate in his lifetime. It was one of his favorite things to eat when we visited family in Germany. My mom would occasionally buy some from a local German bakery. The rolls are one of my husband's favorites. I've put away a few in my life too. Learning how to bake them was an opportunity I could not pass. I am very grateful Shulie invited me to share my experience and recipe on her lovely blog. I have admired her recipes, photos, writing, and food wanderings for a very long time.
Baking with Heritage is a brilliant idea. Big thanks to Shulie for including me in the series. You can read all about the rolls, my family, and get the recipe by clicking here -> Brötchen on Food Wanderings. While you are there be sure to take a look around at all her fabulous recipes.
What is your heritage? How do you celebrate it? Leave me a comment and share your family traditions. I love to read about how families come together through food and more. I'm sure others would like to read about it too.
Thank you so much Renee for being a guest on Food Wanderings and sharing these rolls from your German heritage. It turned out so beautifully and the communication with you was such a pleasure and flowed with such an ease. Marked this recipe on my to do list and btw my go to is Challah, usually on Fridays.
It was a sheer pleasure to share the rolls and an honor to be featured on your blog. I'll be baking some Challah soon and thinking of you.
OOOH! These do look deeeelicious!!!! I'm technically part German but that part of my heritage was always..well...not present. Irish and Italian sides all accounted for but my grandpa Friedrich (yepp there it is) didn't have a lot of family around and didn't appear too connected to his German upbringing. So the moral of the story is I'm so bummed I missed out on these awesome rolls!
It's never too late to have some good Brötchen. You have to bake or find some soon. They are so good.
Just read your post on Food Wanderings Renee!! Lovely collection of recipes you have here. Its like taking a peek into a german dinner table. And how crusty and chewy those rolls look. Hmm. i can smell bread baking already!
Thank you so much for visiting here Anusha! I hope you come back soon and often.
I read a great book a few months ago (The Baker's Daughter) and they kept talking about the Brotchen she made in it. All I keep thinking about as I read it on my commute was my desire for a piping hot one right out of the stove!
I need to check out that book. It sounds like a great read.
Love the look of your brotchen and the love behind them =) You can bet I'm heading over to Food Wanderings to check out the recipe, Renee.
As for celebrating heritage...Well, this towheaded blonde whose first language was Japanese sometimes celebrates the traditions of America and Japan. Is that the same with you and Germany?
Yes, it is similar. I didn't learn any German until a few years ago. My mom wanted to raise her children American and never taught us the German language.
P.s. Great story of how your dad met your mother. Danke =)
It is a true love story too.
We definitely need to share our heritages! These rolls are beautiful =)
Thanks Peggy!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I made them and they are just wonderful.
A heavy yet velvety dough. Crusty on the outside and soft inside. Firm enough to butter without tearing apart! Will be making them for years.
Have made copies of the recipe so that I never lose it. Hubby said that these are the only ones that he wants to eat. Hubby gave a german co worker one of them and she said that they were incredible.
Taste the same as the ones she used to have when she lived in Germany. Thank you! Karen
Thank you so much and you have no idea how much you made my day by stopping back here and letting me know how much you enjoyed the recipe.