Type:
Choose hardwoods with tight grains that will not splinter. Good traditional options include oak, beech, or maple
.
Dimensions:
A standard, easily manageable board usually measures about 8 to 10 inches wide and 15 to 22 inches long (including the handle).
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2. Draw and Cut the Shape
Trace the handle:
Starting roughly 4 inches from one end, trace a shape for the handle. You can use a jar lid to create smooth, rounded corners where the handle meets the main board.
Cut it out:
Clamp your wood securely to a workbench and use a jigsaw (or band saw) to cut along the pencil markings.
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3. Drill a Hanging Hole
Choose a spot centered on the handle and use a spade bit or Forstner bit to drill a clean hole. This gives the board a classic look and allows you to hang it up in your kitchen for storage or display.
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4. Sand to Perfection
Use an orbital sander to go over the entire board. Start with medium-grit sandpaper (80 to 120-grit) to smooth out the saw marks, then finish with a fine grit (220 to 320-grit) for an ultra-smooth finish.
Tip:
Soften and round the sharp edges and corners with your sander
5. Season with Food-Safe Oil
Do not use standard wood stains or varnishes
, as they are not safe for food.
Instead, apply a generous amount of food-grade mineral oil
(or a specialized butcher block conditioner) with a clean rag. Let the wood soak for 30 minutes, wipe off the excess, and repeat this process 2-3 times until the wood is fully seasoned
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6. Styling Your Board
When you are ready to use your board, lay out traditional, hearty Bavarian fare, such as:
Bread:
Slices of dense crusty rye or sourdough Bauernbrot.
Meats & Cheese:
Sliced cold cuts, salami, and Obatzda (a spiced Bavarian cheese spread).
Her recipes, culture and cooking styles that were brought over from Germany. How they evolved when she came to America in the early 1900s and settled in Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States. Over 100 recipes
Bonus recipes with step by step color pictures
Online for download
Rest your laptop,tablet or phone
in the Kitchen counter
and follow the recipes with pictures to help.
Bonus
PDF
for you to download
Read on your
phone, tablet or laptop
Vintage German Postcard replica's to use as bookmarks or to mail.
From Germany with Love tells the story of my grandma, Emma Block, growing up in a little town in Baden/ Würtemberg, Germany near Heidelberg named Steinsfurt. Then at the age of 15 immigrating to the United States, taking a train with one of her sisters and brothers to Hamburg and sailing the Atlantic with other hope filled Germans wanting to make a life in the "New World". It was not easy but with good values learned in her German upbringing made a full life, had a wonderful family with lots of fun and celebration including the great German meals.
