Friday, October 2, 2020

Friday's Great Read

 


Rouladen Recipe – A Guest Post by Chrys Fey

 

Growing up, my family always had Rouladen, sans pickles, for our special Christmas Day feast. I can still recall the smell of the bacon grease from the fried bacon and the scent of chopped onions lingering in the air. And, oh boy, there was nothing like the flavor of the thin meat wrapped around the bacon and onion stuffing, held together by three toothpicks. That’s coming from a vegetarian, too, who no longer eats meat—GASP! But, hey, we never forget the things that made our taste buds go wild as a child, and I am comfortable admitting that the smell of bacon is still ah-mazing.

 

My mom got the recipe from her mom, who got the recipe from a couple who came to Michigan from Germany. (Although, my maternal grandma was German, herself.) After she got the recipe, my mom only made Rouladen once a year as well, since it involves a lot of cooking and the meat can be quite expensive.

 

My mom kept that tradition for us while we were growing up, so I decided to give that tradition to Donovan’s mom and grandma, who live in Michigan, too.

 

EXCERPT:

“Here. I also wanted to give this to you.” Meredith reached into her apron pocket and pulled out an index card.

 

Beth took it. On the top it read, “Rouladen— Goldwyn Family Recipe.” It was the recipe passed down to all Goldwyn women.

 

“I should’ve given it to you a long time ago,” Meredith said.

 

“I wouldn’t have known how to make it if you had.”

 

Meredith patted her hand. “When you make it the first time, we can video chat, and I can walk you through it.”

 

“We may have to do that the second time, too.”

 

“As many times as you need.”

 

Beth tucked the index card into her pocket with the snowball cookie recipe.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

The timer for the last batch of cookies went off. Meredith pulled it out of the oven, not knowing how much those two recipes in Beth’s pocket truly meant to her. They were a Christmas present on their own, more valuable than anything that could be bought in a store.

 

 

Rouladen Recipe:

 

Ingredients:

-        8 pieces round beef slices, 6 inches, ¼ inch thick

-        ½ cup minced onion

-        ½ pound of fried, cut-up bacon

-        Pinch salt

-        Pinch black pepper

-        Quartered, peeled potatoes

-        For gravy, you’ll need flour and water.

 

Instructions:

 

1. Cut up bacon and fry.

 

2. Remove bacon. Sautee minced onion in the bacon grease.

 

3. Remove onions from pan. Keep the bacon grease in the pan.

 

4. Mix bacon with the onion in a bowl. Sprinkle on salt and pepper.

 

5. Lay out prepared beef slices. Add a generous heap of the bacon and onion mixture into the center of each slice.

 

6. Roll up the beef slices. Use toothpicks to secure each end and the middle shut. Three toothpicks usually do the trick.

 

7. Brown the rouladen bundles in the bacon grease, on all sides.

 

8. Remove the rouladen bundles and put in a roasting pan. Add some water to the bacon grease pan. Scrape up all the goodies. Pour over the rouladen bundles. Don’t drown them, just enough to reach half-way.

 

9. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

 

10. Halfway through the baking time, add the quartered, peeled potatoes around the rouladen bundles, into the juices.

 

11. It’s done when the potatoes are tender. Transfer rouladen and potatoes to a dish or platter.

 

12. Gravy: Add more water or substitute beef broth to the pan if a lot of the juices cooked down. Put pan on burner and boil. Now, in a separate bowl, mix flour and water together. Add the flour mixture to the boiling juices until thick. If you need to thicken it more, make more flour and water mixture and then add to the juices. Keep mixing.

 

QUESTION: Did you family have a special meal for Christmas (or any other time of the year)?

 

 

When disasters strike around every corner, is it possible to have a happily-ever-after?

BLURB: Beth and Donovan are expecting their first child. Life couldn’t get any better…until a stalker makes his presence known. This person sends disturbing messages and unsettling items, but it isn’t long before his menacing goes too far.

Hoping for a peaceful Christmas, Donovan takes Beth to Michigan. Days into their trip, a winter storm named Nemesis moves in with the goal of burying the state. Snowdrifts surround their house, and the temperature drops below freezing.

Except, the storm isn’t the only nemesis they must face. Everyone’s lives are at stake—especially that of their unborn child. Will they survive, or will they become a frozen crime?

BUY LINKS: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes

  

***HUGE DISASTER CRIMES GIVEAWAY*** 

 

Prizes: 4 eBooks (Disaster Crimes 1-4: Hurricane Crimes, Seismic Crimes, Tsunami Crimes, Flaming Crimes) + Girl Boss Magnets (4), Inflatable Cup Holder (1), Adventure Fuel To-Go Cups (2), Anchor Fashion Scarf (1), Mermaid Nail Clippers (2), Citrus and Sea Salt Scented Candle (1), Snowflake Handmade Bookmark (1), Insulated Cooler Bag (1)

 

Eligibility: International

Number of Winners: One

Giveaway Ends: October 30, 2020 12:00am Eastern Standard Time

LINK: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0221/?

 

***FREE EXCLUSIVE EBOOK***

 

To get the exclusive prequel to the Disaster Crimes series, sign up for Chrys’ newsletter. By signing up, you agree to receive Chrys Fey’s newsletter. After you confirm subscription, you will receive an email (so check your inbox and spam folder) with directions on where to snag your eBook copy of THE CRIME BEFORE THE STORM.

Click here to sign up and get The Crime Before the Storm FREE!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur Press. https://www.chrysfey.com

Author Links:

Website / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

 

35 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Loving seeing Chrys Fey's latest release featured across the blogosphere.
I am another vegetarian who still enjoys the smell of bacon.
Our traditional meals shifted except that on Christmas Day whatever other dessert was on offer there was always a fruit salad (featuring tropical fruit). And remember our Christmas falls in one of the hottest periods of the year. I still make fruit salad - and live on it for about the next week. I make more traditional fare for the other residents.

Valerie-Jael said...

Rouladen are very popular here in German, and indeed delicious, I sometimes get one from my neighbour when she cooks for her little boy (he's 60!), one of these days I might make them for myself! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

nashvillecats2 said...

Always good to see new works by Chrys, good luck to her with her new books. Great post to read Sandra.

Yvonne.

Birgit said...

Congrats to Chrys who deserves all the accolades. As for Rouladen...that is my favourite meal which I pair with red cabbage and mashed potatoes. I have made it many times but you must have the pickles in it. It’s very thin, long meat that you wrap up like a cabbage role and “pin it” with toothpicks to hold it together. You cook it like you do a roast and add some red wine if you wish. I make a nice gravy with this as well. My mom was German so she made this on special occasions like Christmas.

CJ Kennedy said...

Congrats to Chrys. In my family, it was Braciole but that was made to go with gravy (sauce) and macaroni (pasta) during the week (Wed.) Ma made it with leftover roast beef from Sunday dinner.

Christine said...

Thanks for the recipe and the book sounds interesting.

Chrys Fey said...

Hi, Brigit! My family doesn't put the pickles in it. Never has. The recipe we've used is old and did come from Germans, so while it is traditional to have pickles, pickles aren't always necessary. This Rouladen without them, still so good. :) Seems it's the perfect way to celebrate Christmas, as that's what my grandma and mom did, too. :)

Chrys Fey said...

Rouladen is super tasty. :)

Have a great weekend, Valerie! Thanks for commenting!

Chrys Fey said...

Bacon just seems so gosh darn good. lol No one can resist. ;)

Fruit salad sounds good.

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you for commenting, Yvonne!

Chrys Fey said...

Sounds good! Thanks for commenting, CJ!

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you, Christine!

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Sandra! I appreciate your support, and I'm thrilled to be here, sharing a beloved family recipe and talking about Frozen Crimes. <3

D.L. Finn said...

Congrats on your new release, Chrys and the recipe. I don't think I've ever had it before.

Sandra Cox said...

Christmas in hot weather would be a huge adjustment for me, EC. I guess it's whatever you are used to.
The HH would be with y'all on the bacon:)

Sandra Cox said...

Heh. I can empathize with the 'little boy', even if mine's not that old.

Sandra Cox said...

It's always exciting when Chrys brings out a new book in her series, isn't it, Yvonne?
Take special care.

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you, D.L.!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Although I'm a vegetarian, that recipe sounded wonderful. I also enjoyed the blub of your latest book, Chrys. It sounds like a mystery I would truly enjoy.

As for favorite dish, my grandparents who raised me from birth, were very traditional in their holiday meals. Turkey at Thanksgiving, ham at Christmas. However, one holiday treat I always loved was the holiday candle. It was made using a pineapple ring for the base, a half banana covered partially with homemade sweet mayo-like sauce, and a cherry on top.

I hope your latest book is a total success and I always applaud Sandra for featuring artists and their latest books/releases.

Sandra Cox said...

Chrys does indeed deserve accolades.

Sandra Cox said...

Even with the meat (heh) it does sound good, CJ:)

Sandra Cox said...

It does sound interesting, doesn't it, Christine?

Sandra Cox said...

Entirely my pleasure. We are all thrilled to have you here and wish you much success.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks for stopping by, Denise, and supporting Chrys. Heading your way.

yoga for constipation said...

Nice post

Lordosis said...

Great post love it

Sandra Cox said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sandra Cox said...

The blurb is great, isn't it.
Your grandparents sound like wonderful people. And that candle...what a delicious memory.
Stay safe and be healthy:)

Jeanie said...

What a fun post. Sending all good wishes for a successful launch. The recipe sounds really good!

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks for Chrys's well wishes.
The recipe does sound good, as does the book:)

Susan Kane said...

Roulade sounds amazing and I know my family would love it.

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the blurb. :)

Yes, Sandra deserves a big round of applause for all she does for authors. <3

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you so much, Jeanie!

Chrys Fey said...

It really is tasty. Thanks for commenting, Susan!

Sandra Cox said...

It does sound good. And this coming from a vegetarian:)