The Comfort of Dumplings and Family Roots
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In this cozy and nostalgic episode, Kathie Lapcevic chats with Kate Doubler of Real Food RN about a beloved family recipe: German potato dumplings. Rooted in Kate’s Depression-era grandmother’s cooking traditions, these dumplings are more than just food — they’re a heartfelt connection to home, family, and memory.
Kate shares how her grandmother made extra mashed potatoes just so she could craft dumplings the next day — always by feel, never by recipe. “She’d mush it in her hands and just knew the texture,” Kate recalls warmly. The dumplings were a call home from college, a fridge treasure protected from dorm mates, and a legacy of love through food.
The two discuss:
- The tradition of making dumplings with day-old potatoes
- Serving variations like gravy, sweet butter sauce, and sauerkraut with sausage
- Adapting the recipe for grain-free diets using cassava flour
- Freezing leftovers and turning dumplings into easy future meals
- Why this hearty dish is perfect for cold winter months and frugal families
They also touch on broader themes of preserving family recipes, teaching the next generation, and embracing seasonal, homemade food. As Kathie notes, “Food is not love… but sometimes, it kind of is.”
Where to Find Kate
Her Blog: Real Food RN
The recipe we discussed: German Potato Dumplings