Every 25th of September is International Cooking Day.

   The world is cooking together.

What does it mean ?

We rush and we scramble trying to make it through our day, rushed for breakfast, rushed for lunch (half an hour? You have to be kidding me!) and exhausted for dinner. Who has time to cook anymore? Do we even know how anymore? Cooking Day reminds us that there’s nothing that quite matches the flavor and comfort of a delicious home cooked meal, and that learning how to cook is an important skill to enhance our health and pass tradition on to our friends and family.

   Cooking with friends or with family, good fun for everyone !

History of the Cooking Day.

It is not known who’s idea it was first and when, but that day is known for many years. We know that it is time for  a proper celebration and recognition of home cooking, and the flavors and smells of tradition that come with it. It used to be that the home cooked meal was the only meal that was eaten on a regular basis, with take out and fast food being a rare treat rather than a staple of family life.

  Many years World Cooking day.

Boxed meals and TV Dinners were equally unheard of, they were the province of the single male or the housewife who just never quite learned how to prepare a proper meal for her family. These days such gender stereotypes may be on their way out, but boxed foods and instant meals are very much more in.

   Doesn’t matter if you cook alone or with a partner, cook out- or inside, it will be fun.

Cooking Day seeks to change all that, by reintroducing the concept of the home cooked meal to the family, or just to the lives of the bachelor-(ette). Taking the time to learn how to cook a proper meal does a lot for the individual, from allowing you to express yourself through your meals, to being able to show someone that you care for them.

  Why not trying some „international cooking“ ?

Often it can even be cheaper to prepare a meal for your family than to rely on boxed goods and instant meals, and you would be surprised by how far ingredients can go when you learn how to use them properly. Cooking Day is about all of this, and exemplifying the wonder of the home cooked meal. And – finally Cooking Day should be a day of FUN !

  Or why not having a „sexy“ Cooking Day ?

How to celebrate Cooking Day.

Start with getting in your kitchen and finding out what tools you have available, and start figuring out what you can prepare. There are a ton of different websites out there with a variety of different recipes and ways of preparing meals. And if you like my recipe section and cooking tips, just start here, most are soooo easy to follow.

  Own burgers are always better than neighbors, right ?

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous look up a new way to use a pot or pan that you have already, or even invest in a new piece of kitchen equipment that will open up new culinary doorways for you! Whatever you do, Cooking Day is your chance to start preparing delicious meals from fresh ingredients. Down here I leave you an easy recipe, everyone can do. Takes no time and no skills, but it is so much fun – and delicious !
Now get in your kitchen and start cooking!

  You also can book a cooking class, but … Whatever you do, it should be FUN, it should be a day you want to remember the whole year, till next Cooking Day in 2017 !

German Potato Pancakes.

This recipe for German potato pancakes is wonderful. We grew up loving these – our Mother would make them when we had left over mashed potatoes. They’re practically a staple in a German household. I especially love them with Wiener Schnitzel, with Haxn or with Daube, but that will be some different posts.

These pancakes are not to be confused with „Roesti’s“, which I will publish in a future post. Those pancakes (Roesti’s) use shredded potatoes and onion, this one here uses mashed potatoes. They really are easy to make.

I would recommend when you plan your dinners, have mashed potatoes for a meal and plan to make more than you need, and use the leftovers with this recipe later on. Or just make the mashed potatoes ahead so you have less to do when cooking these.

  Drain the pancakes on paper towel.

Ingredients.

4 medium sized potatoes, peel and diced
½ cup milk
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 egg
6 tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon snipped chives, a few more for garnish
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil

How to do.

Put the peeled and diced potatoes into a large pot and cover with water.
Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until potatoes are tender. Drain.

In a small skillet melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat.
Add the chopped onions.
Cook until they are translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Return the potatoes to the pot and mash the them with a potato masher.
Add the onions, milk, flour, parsley, snipped chives, salt and pepper, mix well.

Heat a large skillet with 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons oil.
When skillet is hot, drop spoonfuls of the mashed potato mixture into the skillet,about the size of a serving spoon, flatten with the back of the spatula.

Turn when the bottom side is golden brown.
Cook until the other side is golden brown.
Drain on a paper towel.

  With apple sauce, or sour cream and chives.

Tips.

Serve these with apple sauce ! Or with sour cream. Some smoked salmon or some slices of Parma ham will also do ! And if you have leftovers (you can easy contain them in your fridge for a few days) try them cold with jam !    Hmmmmm soooo good !

And finally, if you are on your own, if you have no family or friends (very very sad of course) and no sexy cook around (even more sadness), then just cook for yourself – you have plenty of time anyhow – try my turkey recipe BELOW.

HOW TO COOK A TURKEY ?

Step 1 .  Buy a turkey.

Step 2 .  Have a glass of wine

Step 3 .  Stuff the turkey

Step 4 .  Have a glass of wine

Step 5 .  Put turkey in oven

Step 6 .  Relax and have a glass of wine

Step 7 .  Turk the bastey

Step 8 .  Wine of glass another get

Step 9 .  Hunt for meat thermometer

Step 10. Glass yourself another pour of wine

Step 11. Bake the wine for 4 hours

Step 12. Take the oven out of the turkey

Step 13. Tet the sable

Step 14. Grab another wottle of bine

Step 15. Turk the carvey !

Enjoy your International Cooking Day !!