Spätzle

What is Spätzle?  Spätzle is a German pasta and it is the easiest food ever to make...kinda like your dumplings. Simple ingredients but oh so delicious!

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons freshly rendered lard or 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 quarts water 
• Optional: For extra flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg 

Directions

1. Using an electric mixer, blend the eggs, lard or oil, water and milk.
2. Stir the flour together with 1/2 tsp of the salt and the baking powder in a dry bowl.
3. Blend this mixture into the liquid.
4. Mix well and set aside for a moment. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tsp of salt.  You can either use a Spätzle maker (if you have one) or just drop batter by 1/2 teaspoonfuls into boiling liquid (pinching off pieces will work also...just depending on how big you want it to be).
5. Use about 1/3 of the dough for each batch.
6. When the dumplings float to the surface, they are done. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place in a colander.
7. They can be served with way with paprika gravy or pan fried with a little butter, just until they are a bit golden, and topped with parsley.
8. Note: These dumplings can also be made by using piping bag or dropping very small amounts from a spoon.
9. The latter takes much longer.