In honor of National Pig Day, (March 1 – yes, it’s a real day set aside to celebrate our porcine friends), play a card game of Pig, curl up on the couch and watch one of the memorable pig movies-Charlotte’s Web or Babe, and enjoy a tasty meal of Himmel und Erde – Heaven and Earth! This hearty main dish originates from Germany. The name indicates how *two of the ingredients grow – apples up toward heaven and potatoes down in the earth. Also a great choice for your Oktoberfest celebration.
Here is what you will need to prepare this robust recipe:
*4 large cooking apples (i.e. Granny Smith) – approximately 2 pounds
*4 large potatoes – approximately 2 pounds
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
6- 8 cups water
Pinch ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
3 medium onions, peeled and sliced into rings
½ teaspoon dried basil
6 bratwurst
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Wash, peel, core and cube the apples
- Wash peel, and cube the potatoes
- Put the apples, potatoes, salt, sugar, and vinegar into a large pot. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Potatoes should be tender when pricked with a fork.
- In a frying pan, saute the onions and basil in the vegetable oil over medium heat for 5- 10 minutes, or until tender and light brown. Reduce the heat to low to keep the onions warm.
- Boil the bratwurst in a saucepan according to package instructions. Reduce heat to low to keep them warm.
- Drain the apple-potato mixture into a colander. Return mixture to saucepan and mash until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture into a serving dish.
- Drain the bratwurst and arrange on top of the apple-potato mixture. Top with onions and fresh parsley.
