Oktoberfest Sausage Dinner

This is the time to start thinking about a nice dinner to serve while celebrating.

  • 1 tbsp. of olive oil
  • 2 lbs. of your favourite sausage (Bratwurst etc.)
  • 3 small red onions (about 1 lb. or so)peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
  • 1  1/2 lbs. fresh thyme leaves
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place a large saute pan over medium heat. When hot, add the oil and sausages, pricked every few inches with a knife point and cooked until browned. Turn the sausages over, and again, prick as you did the first side and cook until browned. This should take about 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the sausage chosen.

Now, transfer the sausage to a baking pan and place in the oven, leaving the fat in in the pan and add the onions and stir. Add 1/2 cup water and scrape up all the brown bits in the bottom of the pan and cook for about 18 minutes.  Add another 1/2 cup of water if the pan becomes really dry. These should be cooked for about 15-18 minutes.

Remove the lid and stir in thyme. Season with salt and pepper and add the sausage on top.

Serve this with sauerkraut and rye bread. Could be fun! Oh yeah, almost forgot the beer…lots of beer.

Thyme and Lemon Tea Loaf

This is a unique and  yummy tasting tea loaf. I love it for sure. Definitely one of my most favourite.

This makes one loaf.

You will need:

  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh thyme
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp. grated lemon peel

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine milk and thyme in a bowl and microwave, uncovered, for one -two minutes or until bubbly.  Cover and cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt;  add to the egg mixture alternating with the milk mixture. Stir in the lemon juice and peel.

Pour into a 9″ x 5″ x 3″ prepared  loaf pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for ten minutes before removing from pan.

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup icing sugar and t tbsp. lemon juice and drizzle over the loaf.

All you need now is a good book, pot of tea and this. Heaven-made afternoon, I say.