Yummy Bavarian Hefekloss, Dampfnudel or Germknödel

The Dampfnudel (Dumpling or Hefekloß in Germany, Germknödel in Austria) is a traditional dish in the south and east of Germany and Austria. It can be enjoyed sweet as a dessert filled with fruits, or savory stuffed with meet and served with Sauerkraut.

 The Dampfnudel is considered a 'arme Leute Essen' (poor people's dish) because it uses only a few and basic ingredients: flour, milk, salt, butter and yeast. It originates in Bavaria and you will be able to find it on most menus in local restaurants.

Serves: 4 persons

Ingredients:

Yeastball

• 1 lb flour
• 3 packs of dry yeast
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 of a stick of butter
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar (if served sweet)

Savory stuffing

• 1 lb ground meat
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 onion
• 1 garlic clove
• salt, pepper, oregano
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 8 oz cheese

Procedure:

Mix flour, (sugar), salt and egg yolk. Dissolve the yeast in luke warm milk and add to mixture. Add soft butter and knead well. Let the dough rise on a warm location for about 30 minutes. Form balls, stuff if desired and let rest for another 30 minutes underneath a towel. Cook over steam or in hot salt water (not cooking) for 12-14 minutes.

Savory stuffing

Roast ground meat with oil, add remaining ingredients and cook until done. Stuff with filling and steam. Serving suggestion: serve with Sauerkraut, potatoes and slow cooked beef.

Sweet

Use jam of your choice to stuff the Dampfnudel or leave it as is and serve it on a bed of hot fruits and top with a mix of Cinnamon and Sugar.

Italian Layer Bake

Italian Layer Bake is a Mediterranean delight. This recipe features layers of Italian meats, peppers, and bubbly cheese under a golden crust. Mmm!

Serves: 6

Cooking Time: 40 min

What You'll Need:

• 1 (8-ounce) container refrigerated crescent rolls
• 8 slices deli turkey (about 1/2 pound)
• 8 slices deli ham (about 1/2 pound)
• 12 slices deli hard salami (about 1/2 pound)
• 8 slices Swiss cheese (about 1/2 pound)
• 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted peppers, drained
• 4 eggs, beaten

Meat can be substitute with mushroom, zucchini or spinach

What To Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unroll crescent roll dough without separating triangles. Separate dough into 2 squares along center cut line.
    
2. Place 1 square of dough into an 8-inch square baking dish; using your fingertips, press dough to fit bottom of dish.
    
3. Layer with half the turkey, ham, salami, Swiss cheese, and roasted peppers. Pour half of beaten eggs over peppers and repeat with remaining meats, cheese, and peppers.
    
4. Place remaining square of dough over peppers. Pour remaining beaten eggs over dough and cover lightly with foil.
    
5. Bake 20 minutes, remove foil, and bake an additional 20 to 22 minutes, or until golden and heated through. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes then cut and serve.