This was originally posted on September 9, 2010 on Cooking for Seven. Because these lessons were such an important part of my life, I will be re-posting them here.
{Grandma’s Cooking School is my chronicles of the informal cooking lessons that my Grandma graciously decided to give us girls. Enjoy!}
Apple Strudel. A thing of beauty. Sweet apples encased in a thin, flaky dough. Delicious.
We began our lesson by reading through the recipe and preparing the apples.
Next, we mixed together two kinds of dough: a quick version and a more traditional version made with yeast. Meanwhile we cooked the apple filling.
Time to roll out the dough! It must be so thin you can see writing through it.
Then we brushed it with butter, spread it with the apple filling, and rolled it up!
Baked.
Enjoyed by Dad.
Jealous yet?
I can’t believe I have come to the final lesson Grandma has shared with us. Hopefully she will continue our classes this Fall/Winter when things quiet down and we settle in for a long Minnesota winter.
Here are all of our lessons so far.
Part 1: Banana Cream Pie
Part 2: Chocolate Crepes
Part 3: Roast Beef Dinner
Part 4: Poppy Seed Torte
Part 5: Homemade Bread and Sweet Rolls
For my own interest I have included the original comments from Cooking for Seven:
29 THOUGHTS ON “GRANDMA’S COOKING SCHOOL: APPLE STRUDEL”
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So thin you can see writing through it?! Impressive!Looks so yummy and so timely with the good apples ripening as we speak!
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I am so excited for fall and fall baking. Great apple dessert!
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i’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting patiently for apple season and the prices/quality to improve before i make a strudel. being almost 100% german, i think it’s imperative i make apfelstrudel at least once in my lifetime. hopefully more. and hopefully as beautiful as your grandma’s!that implement you’re using to spread the apples — is that a knife or a spatula of some sort?cheers,*heather*
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heather: I believe it is an icing spatula, like this one.
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Oh, this is wonderful, Erica! My German grandmother used to make apfelstrudel for us, too, it was so good!This was such a trip down memory lane to me now.
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Yes…totally jealous and drooling! I’ve had to swallow several times just typing that much…I really need to make this!
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Your strudel looks delish (as do all your dishes) and I would like to try making it. Do you have the recipe published somewhere? I couldn’t find it on your site.
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Mary: Unfortunately I do not have the recipe on my blog. My Grandma wishes to keep the recipes in the family, and I must honor her wishes.
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You always look like you have so much fun with your Grandma! And her recipes look and sound really yummy:)
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thanks for the response!
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Your so lucky to be able to document these family recipes! Cherish them!
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I think I could use some lessons just on rolling the dough so thinly! That’s impressive!
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Beautiful! And BEAUTIFUL that you are doing this all with your Grandma. Cherish it. I lost my Grandma unexpectedly last year and I will always cherish our times together. So glad I found your blog!
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I understand Erica Leawe have family recipes like that too. Just enjoying your beautiful website.
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Sweet story – lovely photos – thank you for sharing!
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Your photos are so so lovely- Thank you.
Cathy B. -
i’m curious (again) about the strudel: does your grandma opt against the buttered breadcrumbs and chopped walnuts? i’m planning to make one today and, unfortunately, my very German grandma doesn’t have the recipe from her childhood. any help or hints would be appreciated.thanks much and cheers,*heather*
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I don’t remember using breadcrumbs or walnuts. Just let me know if you have any more questions!
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thanks so much for the quick response, erica lea! i’m trying my hand this afternoon — will let you know how it turns out, and if it remotely resembles yours and those i remember from my childhood!cheers,*heather*
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I love your website and the sweet e-mail you sent me.Thanks <B
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strudel was a success. the fiancée and i both loved it, and were sad to see it end. will be blogging about it soon! thanks for the inspiration.*heather*
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looks delicious! i’d love the recipe.
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I just stumbled across your blog and I am so excited to get started on some of these recipes!!!! Everything looks delicious! We live on an apple orchard so these apple recipes are first on my list!!
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I am jealous. Honestly. I wish that I could bite right into that right now. I love your blog and your recipes.itsallaboutalifestyle.blogspot.com
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I think it is your pictures that make this blog outstanding. I like in depth pictures and all I need is a scoop of homemade vanilla bean gelato!!
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Where do I find the Apple Strudel recipe? It looks wonderful!
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Where do I find the apple Strudel Recipe
Thank-you Mrs. Jane Gelwicks
York, PA-
Jane Gelwicks: My grandmother doesn’t wish to give out her recipes online at this time, so I must respect her wishes and not publish them.
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bryan flake
Thursday 10th of September 2015
I haven't had homemade authentic apple strudel since I was a kid. My grandma would make at least four or five at a time. We'd have them demolished by the time we had to go back to our house. The rich, gooey flavor of the apple filling is just right there in my mind that I can totally taste it. http://www.coricapastries.com.au/cakes-pastries
bryan flake
Thursday 10th of September 2015
I haven't had homemade authentic apple strudel since I was a kid. My grandma would make at least four or five at a time. We'd have them demolished by the time we had to go back to our house. The rich, gooey flavor of the apple filling is just right there in my mind that I can totally taste it. http://www.coricapastries.com.au/cakes-pastries
Cris Mic
Friday 23rd of January 2015
Who don’t want to have food of grandma’s hands? I love eating food made by my grandma. I really loved reading this article, and all recipes shared here are just wonderful! Can I get links of online cooking classes from you? Please share, as I will follow same steps to cook something or my dear husband.
Sarah Snyder
Monday 20th of October 2014
This looks so good!
SarahMidwest Darling