German Salad & 10-Minute Soups

This week was all about keeping meals simplified, so today I’m sharing meals you can put together in just 10 minutes!  Working on so many painting projects hasn’t allowed for much time spent in the kitchen so it was important that this week’s meals be very quick to prepare.

Last night’s Octoberfest party was tons of fun.  The hosts went all out with a five-piece band in their living room, German flags hanging throughout the house, German beer, and oh… the food!   There was beef stew with noodles, bratwurst with peppers & onions, sauerkraut, potato salad, and the German salad I put together yesterday.

German Garden Salad

A typical German garden salad is very simple in its ingredients and it’s display.  The key is to display the vegetables in layers.  On a plate, place a small pile of shredded carrots, a small pile of pickled beets, a small pile of sauerkraut, a small pile of thinly sliced radishes, and top it with leafy red & green lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and chives.  Prep time:  10 minutes

German dressings are also very simple:

• 1/2 cup Canola Oil  (olive oil may be substituted)
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1/4 cup White Wine Vinegar
• 2 tbsp minced Red Onion
• 2 tbsp Honey
• Salt & Pepper

Homemade Chicken Soup

This is the best and easiest homemade chicken soup recipe I’ve ever made.  In a large pot place the following ingredients.   As soon as it comes to boil, turn the stove down to about number 2-4 and let simmer for eight hours.  Prep time:  10 minutes

• 1 Whole Chicken
• 2-3 Carrots peeled
• 2-3 Celery stalks
• 1 large bunch fresh Parsley
• 1 large Onion peeled & cut in half
• 1 clove Garlic peeled
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 tbsp Course Sea Salt
• 1 tbsp vinegar (apple cider preferred; I use white balsamic)

Homemade Sausage Soup

Another of my favorites is Sausage soup.  The sausage gives this soup a great spicey taste.  In a medium pot, combine ingredients and let simmer for 30 minutes.  The original recipe calls for sweet italian sausage; in which case you would cook the sausage in a small fry pan, remove the casings, and dice.  I prefer to use pre-cooked sweet italian chicken sausage; in which case all I do is peel back the casings, dice and add it to the the pot.  Total prep time:  10 minutes

• 3 cups Chicken Stock
• 1 pkg Sweet Italian Sausage (casings removed & diced)
• 1 cup chopped Greens (kale, spinach, or collard greens)
• 1/4 cup diced Carrots
• 1/4 cup Peas
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes (may have seasonings)
• 1 tbsp Rosemary