Family Meal Plan: Super Swiss Potato Rösti + Fresh Applesauce + Simple Swiss Cider

Super Swiss Potato Rösti

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• chop :

  to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

• fry :

  to cook in a pan in a small amount of fat.

• grate :

  to reduce food, like a carrot, to very small shreds or pieces of the same size by rubbing it on a tool with an outside surface that has holes with cutting edges (a grater).

• mash :

  to reduce food, like potatoes or bananas, to a soft, pulpy state by beating or pressure.

• measure :

  to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

• mix :

  to thoroughly combine two or more ingredients until uniform in texture.

• simmer :

  to cook a food gently, usually in a liquid, until softened.

• slice :

  to cut into thin pieces using a sawing motion with your knife.

• stir :

  to mix together two or more ingredients with a spoon or spatula, usually in a circle pattern, or figure eight, or in whatever direction you like!

• whisk :

  to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

What is Rösti?

• Rösti (ROH-stee) is a Swiss German side dish consisting mainly of shredded potatoes, pan-fried in butter, oil, or both until golden brown and crisp.
• Mainly a breakfast dish, many consider rösti to be a national dish of Switzerland. It is typically accompanied by "spinat und spiegelei" (spinach and fried eggs), a Swiss sausage called Cervelat, or Fleischkäse (meat-cheese). 
• Rösti was originally considered a peasant dish. It was eaten by farmers in the canton of Bern. Rösti is now eaten widely all over Switzerland and loved in other parts of the world.
• Depending on the region where rösti is cooked, other additions include apple, bacon, cheese, onion, and fresh herbs.

Let's Learn About Switzerland!

• The Swiss Federation is the official title of Switzerland, a small country in central Europe. It is landlocked—surrounded by land with no ocean access. It borders Germany on the north, Austria and Liechtenstein on the east, Italy on the south, and France on the west.
• The country's total area is 15,940 square miles. That is smaller than the US state of West Virginia and bigger than Maryland. The population is over 8.7 million. 
• Bern is the capital of Switzerland, and Zürich is its largest city. 
• There are four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. More than 62 percent of the population speaks German.
• The country's government is a semi-direct democratic federal republic with 26 cantons (administrative districts). Its citizens have more power than in a representative democracy.  
• Switzerland practices armed neutrality, meaning it does not take sides during wars and does not send troops to join conflicts, although it has a large military and will defend itself. 
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a noted Swiss 18th-century philosopher and writer who is said to have influenced the Age of Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and modern political thought. 
• Johanna Louise Spyri was a Swiss novelist from the 1800s who is known for writing Heidi, the well-known children's book about an orphan girl taken in by her grandfather in the Alps, which has been made into a movie several times. 
• Switzerland is known for its Swiss Alps, where the country's highest mountains are found. The well-known Matterhorn is the fifth-highest mountain in Switzerland at 14,692 feet, and the tallest is the Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet!
• Switzerland's climate is not all about snowy mountains—no excessive heat, cold, or humidity—and the climate varies according to the region. In the north, it is moderate, with cold winters and warm summers; temperatures drop in the mountainous east; the west has a mild climate; while in the south, it is so warm that palm trees line the shore of Lake Lugano.
• Switzerland has more than 1,500 lakes! Lake Geneva is the largest, although it is shared with France. 
• The Red Cross was started in Switzerland in 1863 and is headquartered in Geneva. The Red Cross symbol is similar to the Swiss flag, except its cross is red and the background is white, and the Swiss flag is white on a red background. 
• A few other institutions also have their international headquarters in Geneva, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the International Labour Organization (ILO). 
• Hydroelectric power is popular in Switzerland. Over 60 percent of the country's electricity comes from hydroelectric power.
• There are over 3,200 miles of railways in Switzerland. Most people travel by train if they are traveling to a different part of the country. The railway system is completely electrified.
• The bobsled was invented in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and the winter sports of skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering are very popular in the country. 
• The international organizations for football (FIFA) and ice hockey (IIHF) are located in Zürich. 
• In Switzerland, keeping just one guinea pig is illegal because they are considered social creatures.
• Swiss chocolate is famous around the world. The Swiss began making it in the 17th century and mechanized its production in the early 19th century. The average Swiss citizen consumes about 20 pounds of chocolate each year. 
• The Swiss dish, "fondue," consists of a communal pot of melted cheese and wine into which bread is dipped. The earliest known mention of the dish (though not called "fondue") comes from a 1699 cookbook, and some say a similar recipe can be traced all the way back to 800 BCE. Since its earlier beginnings, it has evolved to include pots of hot oil to cook chunks of meat and pots of chocolate to dip pieces of cake or fruit into.
• "Rosti" is a Swiss national dish of grated raw potatoes mixed with butter, oil, or cheese, seasoned with salt and pepper, flattened into a skillet, and pan-fried—similar to hash browns! It was originally eaten for breakfast by farmers in the canton of Bern but is now eaten as a side dish everywhere and at any time. 
• Another Swiss dish is "raclette." Cheese is put near the heat of an oven or fire, and the melted part is scraped onto bread or potatoes. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Switzerland?

• Swiss children can attend free "children's school" from 4 to 5 years old. Primary school begins at age 6. 
• Kids may enjoy skiing or other winter sports. They may play football (soccer), tennis, or ice hockey. They also may participate in the traditional Swiss sport of "schwingen," where the competitors wrestle in a circle of sawdust.
• Fun activities for kids include hiking-themed trails, like the Toggenburg Tone Trail. It is in eastern Switzerland and has 20 interactive musical activities along the route with beautiful mountain views. Summer tobogganing down a metal slide is popular. The mountains have playgrounds, coaster and scooter tracks, and alpine lakes to swim in. Touring a chocolate factory would also be enjoyable, especially with the chocolate tasting at the end of the tour!
• Breakfast is often bread with butter and jam, and a Swiss plaited bread called "zopf" with honey on Sundays. Kids may also eat cereal, cheese, eggs, fruit, oatmeal, or yogurt. For lunch, kids often come home between morning and afternoon school sessions to have a large meal with their family, and then supper may consist of cheese and deli meat or salad.
• In addition to Swiss chocolate, desserts may include "basler leckerli" (Swiss spiced cookie bars), "rüebli kuchen" (carrot cake), "schokolade kuchen" (chocolate cake), and gingerbread.