According to Wikipedia,  that the name “Snickerdoodles” is a corruption of the German word Schneckennudeln (“snail noodles”), which is a kind of pastry.  I grew up eating this very Classic Snickerdoodles recipe at my grandmother’s house in Iowa, who was of German heritage.   Her secret ingredient (lemon extract) made them just a little bit tangy as well as sweet.  I could never eat just one!

Frugal Tips:  Since Snickerdoodles are mainly flour and sugar based, they cost less than cookies with chocolate chips.

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German Spaetzle is the ultimate “cheap” dish.  After all, it doesn’t get much more frugal than a dish mainly comprised of eggs, water and flour.  It’s the shape of these noodles that make them fun to eat.  Dress them up with gravy, herbs or freshly grated cheese.  My kids LOVE this dish and my daughter can make them all by herself.  Plus, they’re ready in about 15 minutes from start to finish.

Frugal Tips:  We have a Spaetzle Maker, but you can make an impromptu spaetzle maker at home.  The first time my husband and I made these noodles we were newly married and broke – so we used a tin can with holes punched in the bottom.   A smaller can “squeezes” the spaetzle dough through the holes.  You can also use a colander to make spaetzle if it has wide enough holes.

I first posted this recipe on Mommysavers.com

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The Brauhaus:  Authentic German Food in Northern Minnesota

Situated between tiny Nevis and Akelely Minnesota in the heart of lake country, you’ll find a hidden gem known as The Brauhaus German Restaurant.  Despite its remote location, visitors flock here year after year for authentic German food they can’t get anywhere else.  We’ve been going there for over twenty years.  It’s as much a part of our summer cabin tradition as taking the dock in and out of the lake.  Owner Gabriele Kirschman, known to everyone as Gabi, always greets us warmly when we walk in.  The hospitality is second only to the great food.

Everything on the menu at The Brauhaus is good, but our family’s favorite dish is the jägerschnitzel: a delicious, lightly-breaded pork cutlet served with green peppers, mushroom and onion gravy.  We always order it with a side of spaetzle noodles (great with the gravy) and red cabbage. The spaetzle noodles are so good, we started making them at home years ago.  The kids have been raised having them at least once a month or so (here is our own spaetzle noodle recipe).   All the entrees are under $20 (with the glazed duck at $21 as the one exception) and the portions are large; so there’s no arguing about the value.  Other restaurant specialties include sauerbraten and schweinhaxe; as well as desserts like schwarzwälder kirschtorte.  If you’re in a group, the hostess is likely to bring you a free plate of liver pate (pictured below).  If you’ve got picky eaters or kids in your group, there are plenty of American specialties to choose from as too – although I believe you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not ordering anything German.

The decor is homey with a bit of kitsch, but stays true to the experience:  waitresses dressed in old-fashioned German dresses, posters of Germany, and the bar stocked with German beers.   It’s definitely a family favorite and worth the trip if you’re ever in the area.

Frugal Tip:  The portions here are huge.  For lighter appetites, the side dishes can be ordered a la carte.  Sometimes, I simply order a side and have a few bites from my husband’s plate.

The Brauhaus German Restaurant
http://www.brauhaus-german.com/
Akeley, MN 56433-8024
(218) 652-2478

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