Octoberfest, Poudre Douce, and the Great Apple PopOver

Harvest Parties and Medieval Surprises

It’s Oktoberfest! Harvest festivals all over the world are gathering. Each time I pick the autumn apples from my mom’s tree, I think, “Oh yes, my pretties, you are about to nourish many pies, many pancakes, many cups of grog.”

Susie in a proper dirndl at the German Culture Center Oktoberfest party in Santa Cruz. © Conor Quinto. No, I didn’t make these perfect pretzels, but I served them with pleasure!

I have two recipes for you today, hopefully off the beaten path.

One is a “popover” baked in an iron skillet filled with a sweet apple compote. It can be breakfast, brunch, or dinner dessert!

The other isn’t a meal, it’s a magic powder. A powder that goes with all things dark, sticky, and wintry! It’s called “Poudre Douce” and I discovered it in the original “Game of Thrones” cookbook, A Feast of Ice and Fire.

Let’s start with the Sweet Powder, courtesy of a 14th century text:

• 4 ½ t. Cinnamon

• 1 t. Ground Ginger

• 1 t. Grains of Paradise (or substitute black pepper, but once you taste paradise, …