A Short Guide to Oktoberfesting
So you’ve decided you want to have your own Oktoberfest. Well maybe this guide will help.
Why do we celebrate Oktoberfest? History has it that it started as a celebration of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to the Saxon-Hildburghausen Princess Therese in 1810. They decided they should keep celebration each year after, Oktoberfest became a celebration of harvest in the years following the marriage. Around the beginning of the 19th century it became more of a fair where people gathered to enjoy life and have a hoppy beverage known as beer. In recent years visitors have served as much as 6.7 million liters of beer!
Where to start?
First we need to find out how many people are coming and what they’re going to bring. Create you’re Facebook group, group text, or whatever it is you do to group communicate. Next head over to the Survey monkey website. I use Survey monkey to give me an estimate of how many people may be coming and what they plan to bring.
Example questions:
What are you bringing? (Make this one required unless you want the bill all to yourself and make an “other” sections in case someone is thinking of something that’s not on your list. If you happen to have someone that doesn’t know what to bring give them specific items.)
Are you bringing a friend?
Can you provide a ride for others?
You get the idea… You can also customize the survey to your specific needs.
Where are you going to have your Oktoberfest?
That could be anywhere. Ask yourself “what do I have access too?” Do you have access to a field? A stand of trees? A 2 bedroom apartment? You’re Oktoberfest can be held anywhere you have access too, of course this will determine the size of your event. Location may determine if you can have beer at your event as well if you’re doing it in a public area such as a local park.
For an open area find yourself some tables, they can be folding tables, they can be saw horses with plywood and a sheet on them. Find yourself some lighting because you know you’re going to be there half the night.
For a closed area such as you’re apartment, keep it small. Invite a few close friends and use what you have like a kitchen island, or table.
What kind of food?
Get yourself some brats, bake some chicken, or make some German potato salad. You can make this stuff yourself or you can buy it. Or choose from one of our following recipes
Sauerkraut Soup
1 Tbsp olive oil
8 oz bacon, chopped
1 stick celery, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 lb potatoes, peeled and sliced
2-3 cups sauerkraut, triple rinsed & drained (about 2 lbs)
8 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
1 (15 oz can) white beans
Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large stock pot. Add chopped bacon and sautee until browned then remove and put it to the side.
Add finely chopped celery and onion. Sauté until softened and golden (5 min).
Add sliced carrots, potatoes, 8 cups broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 min.
Add 2-3 cups of well rinsed and drained sauerkraut, cooked bacon, white beans with their juice, and 1 bay leaf and continue to cook until potatoes are tender (about 10 min). Season soup to taste.
Pretzels
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups warm water
1 cup flour
4 cups flour, mixed with
1 tablespoon salt, more flour if needed
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
Coarse salt
Stir yeast, sugar and warm water into large bowl
Let rest til yeast is dissolved it’ll be a little foamy.
Stir in 1 cup flour. Then the rest of the flour mixed with the 1 Tbl salt.
Knead on floured surface until smooth.
Place in oiled bowl, rolling around til all oiled. Cover and let rise till doubled in size.
Remove and knead again just a little bit easily.
Cut into 16 pcs., roll each pc.into 14" ropes, shape into pretzels and place on greased cookie sheet.
Cover and let rise 15 minutes.
Drop each, one or 2 at a time into a small pot of boiling water, boiling each 1 minute, and replace back onto greased cookie sheet.
Brush each with eggwash (1 egg beaten with 1 Tbl. water), sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake in preheated 450º oven for 12-15 minutes! This is the best recipe to make real soft pretzels!
Oktoberfest Burger
Ground Beef
Sauerkraut
Beer Cheese
Onion
Red bell pepper
Black forest ham
Honey
Stone ground mustard
Pretzel Bun
Fry or grill you’re hamburger patty
Sauté you’re onions and red bell pepper for about 2-3 minutes add sauerkraut, black forest ham, and add a tablespoon of honey. Let it fry for a minute or two.
Get your pretzel bun ready by spreading beer cheese on one side and stone ground mustard on the other side.
Now assemble your burger beer cheese bun on the bottom, burger patty, ham sauerkraut onion pepper honey mix, and mustard bun. Now you have a finished Oktoberfest burger.
Find yourself a beer mug or stein if you have it, and have fun at your Oktoberfest!!!