Geography Lesson

On Facebook (before I retreated), one of the viral clips my friends liked to highlight is one in which several man-on-the-street American dolts are asked simple geography questions, such as "Can you name a country whose name begins with U."

After a lengthy pause, during which you can actually see their rusty mental gears trying vainly to mesh, these hapless souls are likely to answer, "Yugoslavia" while the viewer is screaming out loud at her computer, "United States, you idiot!"

Sadly, I might have been one of those dolts - geography is not my strong suit. When I purchased these fricadellen from the man with the German accent at our Wednesday farmer's market, I asked him where in Germany he came from. Dresden. I had no idea where Dresden is.

I looked it up. It's over on the very eastern edge, next to Poland. Apparently, they have a tradition of making really delicious sausage patties there as well as very pretty china, because these fricadellen were quite, quite good. One might call them "heavy" but I prefer the adjective, "substantial." Made with pork, onions, bread crumbs and spices, they are rib-stickers. One feeds us both for dinner, sliced in half and served alongside some veggies and spuds. The man from Dresden recommended serving them with potatoes (preferably mashed) and sauerkraut.

They come vacuum-sealed, four to a package, already cooked. All we had to do was heat and serve. So far, we have enjoyed them for dinner and, the following day, for breakfast alongside some scrambled eggs. Although they are mild, they do have a peppery little zing that livens up their solidity. And, best of all, they taught me a small geography lesson.