It’s Summertime – So Let’s Get Cookin’!!

Another month closer to our reunion ― exactly 5 short months away!
The excitement has been building as we get closer to November… several  registrations a week, plans for a genealogy class and newly-found cousins. It just keeps getting better!

It’s Summertime, so let’s get COOKIN’!!!

We are a little more than halfway to our new goal of 250 recipes for our Roederer Family Heirloom Cookbook, Vol. II. In addition to the yummy recipes, many of you are including fascinating, family anecdotes. So if you have a story to share, certainly include it with your recipe. It makes the dish even tastier BEFORE it hits the table!

If you have already submitted a recipe and have an anecdote to add, it’s not too late –  just email it in! Better yet, if anyone has a family memory to share, we will have a special section of the cookbook (“Remember When”) devoted just to those special memories of loved ones past and present. Not everyone is a cook, but EVERYONE has a funny, touching or inspirational story to tell about family!

Here’s a sneak peek at one funny, family tale…
“Grandma wrote on the calendar every day that Grandpa drank beer! Always made me laugh! She would show everyone. Grandpa did not care!! He was never fazed one bit. She would always tell me & my dad. Grandma thought someone would stop him… not in this family!  Grandma called him ‘Pop’. So on the calendar it always read ‘Pop drank beer’. I wish I had that calendar.”

You’ll have to wait and get the cookbook to find out who “Pop” is and how he is related to you!

This is NOT just another cookbook, but a charming Family History told through the love of food and the love of family. All recipes are by a Roederer, a spouse or a descendant of a Roederer. The contributor’s relationship to their immigrant ancestor will also accompany each recipe.

We would like to have as many immigrant lines represented as possible. Potentially, there are 17 branches and currently we only have 9 of which sent in their family favorites. In the 2010 edition, we had many submissions from the families of the immigrant clans of George Phillip, Anna Maria R. Ettel, and Magdalena R. Kuhn. We’d love to include these branches again this year. So far, the Johannes Clan is leading the pack as the “master cooks” of all the Roederers.

Deadline is June 15^th. So get those recipes, anecdotes and family memories in ASAP!!!
You can email our cookbook coordinator at patti.jako@gmail.com

Here is a family-treasured recipe from my great-grandmother to whet your appetites:

Jam Cake
Katherine “Katie” Christman Roederer (1867-1954)
wife of Christian K. Roederer, son of Christian

1 c. Butter
2 c. Sugar
4 Eggs
1 c. Blackberry Jam
1 Tbsp. Cocoa
1 c. Buttermilk
1/2 tsp. Salt
4 c. Flour
1 tsp. of each (Soda, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg)

Cream butter & sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating in between. Add jam, cocoa & milk. Sift all dry ingredients together; add to wet ingredients. Mix until blended. Pour into greased, floured 9×13″ pan. Bake at 350⁰ for 40-45 minutes. Cool and serve. Can top with glaze, if desired.

Over 100 of you took advantage of the Early Bird Special. Many of whom were with us at our 2010 reunion; others who have just found us and are eager to be a part of this exciting event. So far, besides our 7 special German visitors, we have family coming from all over the country ― CA, ND, FL, CO, TX, SC and yes, I even found cousins right here in New Orleans that will be joining us. Keep spreading the word! We don’t want to leave anyone out!

Many of you have asked about genealogy research – how to get started, where to search, and what the heck does ‘second cousin twice removed’ mean? One cousin called me asking, “How about giving a short course at the reunion? I’ll be the first to sign up!” Hmmm… What a splendid idea!! Looking for something to do for a couple of hours on Saturday before our German Feast?
Stay tuned for details.

If you haven’t reserved your hotel yet, NOW is the time to secure those rooms. The Derby is over and what a great race it was! Will Justify be our next Triple Crown winner? The next major horse racing event in Louisville is the Breeders’ Cup ― the same weekend as our reunion! Racing fans have already started booking hotel rooms. So don’t let them be the front runner and beat you out by a nose. Remember you can cancel without penalty 3 days prior to the event and receive a full registration refund before Oct 1. You can’t get better insurance than that! We want everyone at the reunion ― a guaranteed great time!

Visit www.RoedererReunion.com for links to Reunion Registration, online payment, LODGING, past postings and more.

That’s all of our news for now. Have a great summer kickoff and we’ll have lots more to share in July! I leave you with one more family favorite that is the perfect summer treat… Guten Appetit!

Melt and cool marshmallows; mix with remaining ingredients. Add a few drops of food coloring. Cool and serve. 

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370