DIY   Life Hacks  

German Bake for Two

As a first-time homeowner living with my fiance, I do a lot of my grocery shopping at Aldi markets. They're a supermarket chain based out of Germany, but you can find them across the tri-state area.  Aldi sells similar products, but from generic brands at lower prices. You'll find everything from meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables, fresh
Aldi sells products like those you might find at Trader Joes (organic produce, various snack foods, and unique items like Cookie Butter) but from generic brands at lower prices. You'll pretty much find everything you would at a regular grocery store at an Aldi, sans a deli counter (though they do have pre-packaged deli meats). As a bonus, I often will find things you can't find in any other grocery store - most of the time, these are brands native to Germany or other European areas - and that's always a treat. I'll bring snacks to work and people will be like "What is THAT?!" Plus, I didn't have to spend an arm and a leg to get it! Because they don't sell "name-brand" products, you're able to get great deals on all of the offerings at Aldi. In fact, their one commercial boasts shopping at Aldi can "cut your grocery costs in half." By shopping at Aldi, you can save without cutting back. All in all, it's a great place to shop, particularly those "ballin' on a budget" like myself. In addition to being a great food store, the Aldi website is pretty awesome. They upload new recipes every week that only use products they sell in-store. That's where I discovered this German Bake! It's basically a casserole that features every wonderful food from German culture (minus potato pancakes). It's cheesy, it's hearty, and most of all, it's filling! The recipe Aldi had on-site yielded servings for 6-8 people, but I've modified it so you can make it for yourself of significant other on a chilly November evening. Without further adieu, here's how to make this warm, delicious, creamy German bake for two:

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. Deutsche Küche Egg Spaetzle
  • 3 slices Specially Selected Center Cut Bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1/2 apple, cored, peeled and diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon Stonemill Essentials Iodized Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Stonemill Essentials Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 package (5 brats) Deutsche Küche Smoked Bratwurst, sliced
  • 4 ounces Happy Farms Cream Cheese
  • 1 cup Deutsche Küche German Style Sauerkraut
  • 3 slices Happy Farms Swiss Cheese, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Countryside Creamery Unsalted Butter

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°.
  2. Boil 2 quarts of water in a large pot. Add a bit of salt to get the water to boil more quickly. Boil the spaetzle for 10-12 minutes or until a soft, chewy consistency. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a medium frying pan, crisp up the chopped bacon. Once cooked, remove from the pan and dry on paper towels.
  4. Add onion, apple, salt, and pepper to the bacon grease. Sauté for about 5 minutes, then add the bratwurst and cook until heated through (about 10 more minutes).
  5. Lower the heat and add the cream cheese and drained bacon. Stir the mixture until well blended.
  6. Turn heat off and stir in sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and spaetzle.
  7. Coat an 8x8 cooking pan with your favorite non-stick spray. Add the mixture to the pan and top with pats of butter.
  8. Bake covered for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly!
To the people who are weary of German food - I seriously recommend this recipe! When it comes to food, you should always try anything at least once. And if you're cooking for a crowd...click here for the recipe that serves 6-8! It's great for a quick and easy meal around the holidays. You can even make it ahead and give it to friends and neighbors with heating instructions - everyone loves a gift made of food!
I absolutely love casseroles during the fall and winter season. They're easy to throw together on a weeknight or serve to friends and family for a weekend gathering. Enjoy this delectable German Bake for Two this fall (and thank me later!).