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While I was growing up we had Vaspa (low German) or Vesper (high German) for at least one evening meal each weekend.
Our mom would bake fresh zwiebach most Saturdays and they would be the star attraction at either Saturday or Sunday's evening meal (Vaspa).
Our mom would bake fresh zwiebach most Saturdays and they would be the star attraction at either Saturday or Sunday's evening meal (Vaspa).
If it was just our family around the table, the zwiebach were served with sliced cheese and various home made jams and jellies.
If company was present Mom would add some sort of cold meat - either cold Cutletten or Kotletten, sliced baked ham or farmer sausage and always, several kinds of pickles.
Sometimes she would make a Jello salad and/or a potato salad as well.
Sometimes she would make a Jello salad and/or a potato salad as well.
Dessert always consisted of a variety of Platz, bars and cookies.
Mary Emma Showalter, writes in the "Mennonite Community Cookbook" that no good Mennonite hostess considered a meal for company to be complete unless there were
"7 sweets and 7 sours" on the table served in pretty dishes.
Mary Emma Showalter, writes in the "Mennonite Community Cookbook" that no good Mennonite hostess considered a meal for company to be complete unless there were
"7 sweets and 7 sours" on the table served in pretty dishes.
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My husband remembers his youth group gathering on Sunday nights at one home for Vaspa, and then moving on to the next home and to the next until the supply of zwiebach was exhausted.
Vaspa is still served in our homes now although I don't think as often as in years past.
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Recently I served Vaspa as we celebrated my husband's birthday with our care group.
There were no complaints!
The zwiebach were devoured and there wasn't a speck of Jello left!
At the end of the meal when everyone was finished their meal, the host or hostess would bless their guests at the end of the meal by saying
"Gesegnete Mahlzeit"
Literally translated it means "Blessed Mealtime" but for us as children it meant
"You can leave the table now!"
If you haven't served "Vaspa" before, try it sometime.
It is a simple meal that is easily prepared ahead of time.
Vaspa includes the following:
Buns (Zwiebach are the traditional choice!)
(you can pick up fresh soft buns at your local supermarket or bakery
if you'd rather not bake your own.)
butter and various kinds of jam or jelly
sliced cheeses
cold meat
(ham, farmer sausage and Cutletten would be the traditional choice)
Jello salad
raw vegetables and dip
pickles
Platz (traditional)
cake, cookies or bars
coffee and tea
and, in days past, "Prips" or Postum"
Does anyone remember that?
Enjoy!
The zwiebach were devoured and there wasn't a speck of Jello left!
At the end of the meal when everyone was finished their meal, the host or hostess would bless their guests at the end of the meal by saying
"Gesegnete Mahlzeit"
Literally translated it means "Blessed Mealtime" but for us as children it meant
"You can leave the table now!"
If you haven't served "Vaspa" before, try it sometime.
It is a simple meal that is easily prepared ahead of time.
Vaspa includes the following:
Buns (Zwiebach are the traditional choice!)
(you can pick up fresh soft buns at your local supermarket or bakery
if you'd rather not bake your own.)
butter and various kinds of jam or jelly
sliced cheeses
cold meat
(ham, farmer sausage and Cutletten would be the traditional choice)
Jello salad
raw vegetables and dip
pickles
Platz (traditional)
cake, cookies or bars
coffee and tea
and, in days past, "Prips" or Postum"
Does anyone remember that?
Enjoy!