Another annual sauerbraten, käsespätzle, und rotkraut dinner

Every year when Tom's mother and brother visit for the Christmas holidays, we gather for our annual sauerbraten, käsespätzle, and rotkraut dinner. Usually we do it between Christmas and New years, but Seattle's weather threw everything off this year, so we ended up having our traditional dinner today.

This year we decided to forego the "quick sauerbraten" that I've thrown together in previous years. Instead, we made sauerbraten the real way, the traditional way -- soaking the meat in wine, vinegar, and spices in the refrigerator for a full two days. Thanks to Craig, who orchestrated it all, dinner was delicious... and oh, so much fun!

Elisabeth brought her boyfriend, CJ, and two of her housemates, Blake and Lauren, making for a grand total of eleven of us.

Here's a little photographic tour of our evening. One of these days, I'll need to post the recipes. Remind me before next year, OK?

Cutting 15 onions calls for "onion goggles." What? You think I'm kidding? Tom swears by these things!

Maybe it was more like 17 onions?!

I'm responsible for the rotkraut. First, take two heads of red cabbage and act like a junior high schooler:

Then steal some onions, add sliced apples, red wine vinegar, wine, brown sugar, and all kinds of spices:

Add the cabbage:

Let it all cook for a long time.

Meanwhile, bug Craig. Take pictures of everything he does as he prepares the sauerbraten:

Hey, Tom's bugging Craig too. But that's the job of a little brother, right?

This sauerbraten recipe is nothing like the recipe I've made for the past few years. First, the meat soaks for those two all-important days.

And this recipe has leeks...

and carrots:

Oh, and onions. Did I mention the onions?

Pretty, eh?

And now for the käsespätzle. It takes at least four hands to make them.

Awwww... brothers! Aren't they cute?

While those four hands are making the spätzle, grate the käse:

Then solicit three cute young ladies...

...to help assemble the käsespätzle.

Wait -- where did all these people come from? We SO need a bigger kitchen!

I think we might have made a little too much food!

Yup, we definitely did!

Now set the table all pretty and holiday-like...

And, after posing for yet another picture, dig in! Until next year, auf wiedersehen, tschuss, und GUTEN APPETITE!