ONCE UPON A TIME, in 1974 to be precise, I entered college with every intention of majoring in German. Eventually, though, I realized that following such a path, because I had no desire to teach, was rather foolish. And so I pursued my other love, writing, and earned a journalism degree.
I tell you this tidbit because it relates to the rest of this post, about an upcoming German Fest to be presented by Cannon Valley Lutheran High School.
We need to backtrack even further, first to Wabasso High School where I studied the German language for four years and was an active member of the German Club. I loved learning German. I expect either you love learning a foreign language or you don’t and German was the single foreign language offered at my alma mater.
I also enjoyed the social aspect of German Club, specifically our annual club trip to New Ulm, undeniably the most German city in Minnesota. Back in the 1970s, traveling to New Ulm in the next county to the east to shop downtown and at Domeier’s, a little German import store, and later dine on a German meal at Eibner’s Restaurant, rated as a major trip. I am serious. It is not all that often that I left Redwood County while growing up.
It was on one of those German Club trips to New Ulm that I first tried sauerbraten, beef marinated in vinegar and I don’t know what else. The main dish tasted so exotic and different from the corn-fed beef my mom roasted in her speckled enamel roaster back on the farm.
During that single meal in the upstairs of a New Ulm supper club, I felt as if I had traveled across the ocean to Germany to dine.
Serve me sauerbraten now and I am that giddy German-speaking high school girl dining at Eibner’s in New Ulm.
The 2011 CVLHS German meal: sauerbraten and spaetzle on the left, German potato salad, sweet and sour cabbage, dinner roll and sauerkraut and brats.
Today I needn’t even leave Faribault, my home of 30 years, to eat sauerbraten. Cannon Valley Lutheran High School will serve sauerbraten and a plateful of other German foods—spaetzle, German potato salad, sweet-and-sour red cabbage, bratwurst with sauerkraut and bread pudding—at a Sunday, November 11, German Fest. Serving is from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at Trinity Lutheran Church, 530 Fourth Street Northwest, Faribault.
It’s a heavy, filling ethnic meal that is absolutely delicious. These Cannon Valley people know how to cook.
Diners pack the Trinity gym and enjoy the German meal at the second annual CVLHS German Fest in 2011.
Tickets go fast. So do not tarry if you wish to partake. To reserve your tickets, call CVLHS at 507-685-2636 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday – Friday or email the school at cvlhs@cvlhs.org. (Tell them I sent you.) Advance ticket purchases are recommended by Wednesday, November 7. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.
Meal tickets are $13 for ages 11 – adult; $7 for ages 5-10; and free for preschoolers with paid adult.
In addition to the German meal, the Fest includes a free program of “Thanks and Praise”—songs and readings in German and English—beginning at 4 p.m. in the Trinity sanctuary.
During the supper, diners will be entertained with polka music. You will have to tap your feet as I do not expect there to be dancing.
However, I do expect great food and fellowship.
As a bonus, you will support CVLHS students by attending. The meal is a fundraiser for a German Club trip, not to New Ulm three counties to the west, but to Germany in February.
CLICK HERE TO READ a post I wrote about last year’s second annual CVLHS German Fest.
BONUS PHOTOS: Earlier this fall, CVLHS hosted its annual silent and live auctions at the Morristown Community Center in Morristown, where the high school is based. Below are three images from that event. Students, staff, parents and others volunteer countless hours to support Christian education at CVLHS. Their dedication continues to impress me.
The crowd of bidders at the annual CVLHS auction. The school has strong community support.
CVLHS students work the baked goods and produce sale during the recent auction.
Auctioning of a beautiful pieced quilt at the CVLHS live auction.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love German food, especially warm sauerkraut – I know I am a little weird – ha! Great Post and thanks for sharing! Have to go out to get supplies and make a German meal for me and my hubbie. My hubbie makes a good spaetzle with a little nutmeg – YUMMERS! Enjoy the Feast – a little jealous:)
You can bet I’ll enjoy the feast. Wish you could join us.
I so love saurbraten!! Used to make it often when the boys were young. Really easy to do!! German potato salad (I was raised on that!!), red cabbage (my recipe is “killer” good), spaetzle…everything–major yum! We have an authentic German restaurant in Houston……yup, right here!!…run by Rosi Buege (a war bride)…such a sweetie!! Here’s the link to a story about her place: http://www.agrinews.com/authenic/german/food/served/at/through/the/grapevine/story-3589.html Let me know when you get this way and we will go with you!!!!!! For sure!!! Hugs, D
Thanks for the tip on the German restaurant in Houston. Sounds like the type of place I would love.
Definitely!!!!!
Aubrey,
As always, thank you for writing about our little school! We love Cannon Valley Lutheran High School with all of our hearts, and we are so pleased that so many people come out to support the school. I guess to say we love the school is almost an understatement. We LIVE the school! My husband was at the original interest meeting in 2000, and since then, we have supported CVLHS with all of our heart and soul. We feel honored that our daughters graduated from such an awesome school, and that our son is also able to attend there as well. He will be one of the students venturing to Germany in February, and we consider this a chance of a lifetime for him. Also, thank you for the great pictures of the auction! That quilt was made by my mother-in-law and she makes one every year. She proudly puts one square on the back with the name of the school, the date of the auction, and her name. She says it’s so people remember who they were supporting when they bought it. Sorry we missed you at the CVLHS hog roast in Janesville. We served over 130 people, and brought in over $1200 for the school. God has truly blessed Cannon Valley Lutheran High School!
Joan 🙂
You are welcome, Joan. I’m always happy to promote Cannon Valley. The enthusiasm of those who support Christian education at CVLHS so impresses me. You and your family are among that dedicated group. I wish we could have made the hog roast. Happy to hear it was another successful event. And, yes, God truly has blessed your little school.
My German mother made wonderful sauerbraten. Her secret ingredient? Ground gingersnaps. Wish I could go to this!
I never would have guessed that gingersnaps could be added to sauerbraten.
I had a great meal tonight at Trinity! I had great company in Audrey, her husband and friends. Thanks Audrey.
Tom, I’m so glad you came up and introduced yourself this evening. I so appreciate your kind, kind words about Minnesota Prairie Roots.
Glad you enjoyed that super delicious German meal in our company. Can you believe we arrived home @ 7:45 p.m.? Yup, talking and laughing and enjoying the time with friends. Please join us again next year and bring your friends for us to meet.
Thanks, I will!