dampfnudel

i had a therapist once who i don’t think really understood me at all. she’d say things like “hmm, it seems like you do have a sense of humor after all” (i guess i was always in a bad mood during my sessions with her???) or “wow! you tried a new food! that’s a step in the right direction!” while anyone who knows me knows that i’m usually one to try/love the weirdest sounding thing on the menu. (“that sounds like something kara would like” generally being code for “that sounds super weird and low key disgusting”) i may be full to the brim with anxiety, but i’m also a gryffindor (in a Neville Longbottom kind of way) and think of myself as actually kind of adventurous, at least when i have the energy for such things.

because i’ve spent a lot of my adult life sick in bed, my desire to try new things is stronger than ever. when i’m feeling well, i feel a kind of need to make up for lost time by squeezing as much lemonade out of the lemons that life has given me as humanly possible. and yes, time tends to drag on when your full-time job is waiting around to see if medication attempt #5 is going to work, but it’s also kind of like, man where have the last 7 years gone? and trying new things, i’ve been told, has the ability to slow your perception of time

some people will try to tell you that you should constantly be giving things you’ve tried and hated another chance. if i have to hear one more time about how much better my life would be if only i could learn to love salmon, beer, or downhill skiing… but these are things i’ve tried and not only know i don’t like but am perfectly content living without. so i’m not sure exactly why it’d be worth dedicating my time to “learning to love” these things. i guess salmon has lots of health benefits or whatever but there are many things inn the world with many health benefits, you know?

all this to say that instead of making myself yet another bowl of plain pasta with butter and parmesan, and instead of making and eating a cheesecake even though, yes, i’ve tried many a cheesecake in my life and trust me when i say that i know it’s not for me am perfectly okay with that, i made a recipe i’d never made before, never eaten, and had never even heard of before watching the contestants on the great british baking show struggle through making it during a technical challenge.

but wait there’s more. in the tradition of yesandyes.org, i’m coming atcha with yet another list (and am still working my way through my new years list, having crossed off um…candle-making for sure but there are several other items on it which i am working towards, ok???!!). this isn’t a list that i’m planning on completing within any particular set period of time. some things on it can be completed on a lunch break while others are going to take a little longer. although honestly i’d love to be able to cross off everything before too too long, if only so that i can start another new things list, because i had such a hard time narrowing down this first list. there are so many things to do in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and of course there are plenty of new things you can experience from the comfort of your bed. if not for chronic illness, i might not have started writing a food blog and probably wouldn’t have taught myself 3d modeling. …or watched all 6 seasons of white collar.

some of the new things i’ve experienced lately include visiting a cat cafe, celebrating may day, making a hot dish, and eating a weird turkish dessert called “kunefe”. what’s on your list of new things to try??? here is mine:

  • make dampfnudel – completed!
  • read “to kill a mockingbird” (um, sorry it’s taken so long, mom and dad) – completed!
  • go ziplining
  • eat camel at safari express
  • get a hot stone massage
  • take an appalachian clogging class
  • attend dance church
  • try miracle berries
  • go paddle boarding
  • try dim sum
  • go swing dancing at the wabasha street caves
  • read infinite jest (sorry it’s taken so long, White Guys With Beards of the world)
  • take an overnight train ride
  • eat at a molecular gastronomy restaurant
  • see a shakespeare play
  • cook a pork tenderloin
  • do a helpstay (maybe this one or this one?)
  • go to a purim party
  • stay at a weird, local airbnb (ahem)
  • volunteer at an animal shelter
  • eat a sushi burrito
  • play d&d
  • try making paper flowers
  • knit a sweater for my dog
  • eat at culver’s
  • try canning
  • try meditation – completed!
  • indoor skydiving
  • cook from the alinea cookbook
  • attempt 3d photoscanning
  • take a trapeze class
  • watch titanic
  • try korean shaved ice – completed!

ANYWAY about the recipe. dampfnudel are pillowy little balls of dough, caramelized on the bottom and served with a most delicious sauce or two. admittedly this recipe is a bit of a challenge, especially when it comes to telling if the dampfnudel are done, but they are so worth the effort even if they don’t come out perfectly. so maybe they’re a little misshapen or not quite caramelized enough on the bottom, but you can only feel so bad about yourself when digging into a happy little ball of warm dough topped with tangy fruit and creamy vanilla sauce. remember this next time you’re feeling a lil down. you tried something new and i’m so proud of you.

-kara

dampfnudel with peach rosemary sauce and vanilla sauce
serves 8
adapted from allrecipes with help from pbs.org

for the dough:

  • 3 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 packages active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup lukewarm whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened

for the poaching liquid:

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk

for the peach rosemary sauce:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups sliced peaches
  • juice of 1 medium orange
  • 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
  • 2 tbsp sugar

for the vanilla sauce:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

instructions

to make the dampfnudel:

  1. in a food processor, blend the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. add in the milk, eggs, and butter, and pulse until the dough begins to form into a ball. (it will still be quite wet and sticky but that’s okay). spray a large mixing bowl with cooking spray and transfer the dough to the bowl. cover with a towel and allow to rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
  2. transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead for 5 minutes. roll out the dough and cut out 8 circles using the rim of a drinking glass. cover the dough circles with a towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
  3. make the poaching liquid by melting the butter in a large non-stick pot or skillet over medium heat (make sure it’s a pot with a lid!!). once the butter has melted, stir in the sugar and cook until the mixture is just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. stir in the milk, then arrange the dough circles in the pot. cover and cook until dough is cooked through, about 25-30 minutes.
  4. remove the lid, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook until all the liquid is gone and a caramelization has formed on the bottom the the dampfnudel, about 30 minutes.. remove from heat and carefully lift them from the pan. serve warm topped with warm peach sauce and warm vanilla sauce.

to make the rosemary peach sauce:

  1. melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. add the peaches and cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften. add the orange juice and rosemary and continue to cook until all the juice has evaporated and the peaches are very soft and falling apart. stir in the sugar and cook another 5 minutes. remove from heat.

to make the vanilla sauce:

  1. melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. add the flour and stir until the mixture begins to bubble. add the milk a little at a time, stirring constantly, until it is all incorporated and has thickened. stir in the sugar and vanilla extract until a smooth sauce has formed, 2 to 3 minutes. remove from heat.