Recipes From a German Grandma

Recipes from a German Grandma began as a heartfelt journey into my family’s past.
Listening to the stories of my father’s childhood with his German parents
in the early 1900s—long before supermarkets and modern conveniences—I realized
how much history and tradition lived within the meals they shared.
Together, we created a cookbook that not only preserved the recipes
but also the culture, memories, and humor woven into everyday life.
What started as a family project has grown into something much larger:
a community space where others can share their own treasured recipes and stories.
Through our newsletter, step‑by‑step guides, and photo‑illustrated recipes,
we celebrate the flavors of German‑American heritage while uncovering the history behind each dish.
This project is more than cooking—it’s about remembering, connecting,
and keeping alive the traditions that shaped generations.
Go Here to Browse
our German Food Recipes
Introduction to Our Cookbook
This book is dedicated to my German Grandma for her recipes and the rich German culture that she she shared with us.
This recipe book features her original recipes, culture and cooking styles that she brought with her from Germany. It also includes a short biography of my grandmother Emma Block and her recipes evolved when she came to America in the early 1900s and settled in Portland, Oregon.
I still cherish the memory of those fall evenings with dinners of Sauerbraten, Spaetzles and Apfel Kuchen along with holiday delights such as Lebkuchen, Springerle, Pfeffernusse, and of course Christmas Stollen.
I invite you to come here and explore the world of German-American heritage with me.



Meet Grandma Block
Emma Streib Block grew up in Steinsfurt, a small village in southwestern Germany. The Streibs were a large family, with eleven children. Emma had three brothers and seven sisters. Their mother had died, at the age of forty-two, when the youngest boy was born.
Most of the children, when they reached the age when they could leave home, came to America looking for a brighter future. They came, two or three at a time, found work and saved their money, then bought tickets for the next ones to make the crossing. Eventually, their father made the voyage also.


Reviews of Our Cookbook
As a cookbook collector for over 20 years, I am very excited to have this one as a part of my collection. I have over 1,000 cookbooks. I will cherish this one because it comes from the heart and the recipes are tried and true family recipes.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
in Georgia visiting my Mom for the month of January. I sat down last night and read the book and really enjoyed the stories about you Grandmother. She must have been a wonderful lady and I wish that I could have met her. My husband and Mom got a kick about your Grandfather with the butter and margarine.
Sometimes us women have to do little tricks like that. I was born in Heidelberg but left at the age of 6 when my father was stationed in Augusta, Ga.
where I growup. I no longer remember how to speak German but I am thinking about trying to learn it again (I might be to old now). Thank you again for the book and I hope you have a nice day (you really brighten mine).
Best wishes,
A rewarding addition to any culinary enthusiast’s collection. “Recipes from a German Grandma” not only presents its gastronomic due but also the colorful and endearing life of Grandma Block as she took with her the lore, traditions and culinary heritage of the Old World to America. It is truly one perfect reading along with your afternoon tea.
Grandpa’s mother was full German. So, pickled green beans and bacon with potato dumplings were common around our house. As with your grandma, ours didn’t write much down either. Luckily, we ran across your book which not only has brought back many of the foods to mind, but many of the experiences too. It was quite generous of you to write a book such as this, sharing so much of yourselves and your German heritage in food. We feel pretty lucky…. Thank you so much.
Includes Recipes for:
Main Dishes such as:
- Bratwurst
- Goulash
- Rouladen
- Sauerbraten
- Wienerschnitzel
Sides Dishes such as:
- Potato Pancakes
- Spaetzles
- Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage
- Potato Salad
- Sauerkraut
Baked Goods & Holiday Treats such as:
- German Christmas Cookies
- Lebkuchen
- Pfeffernusse
- Apfel Strudel
- Stollen





