COOKING TIME: 2 hours
INGREDIENTS:
150 g peeled barley
800 g beef
Leeks, carrots, celery, potatoes, butter, salt, pepper
DIRECTIONS:Cook barley in about 2 liter of water with butter. Stir often. When barley is done, wash off with cold water. Cook beef in about 2 liters of water. After 1 1/2 hours, add slices of potatoes, small pieces of carrots and celery. Cook until done. Finally, add the barley and stir. Spice with salt and pepper.
MEMORIES/STORIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECIPE: In the years 1878-1880, a big railway bridge over the little river "Nidda" was being built. About 300 people came to Assenheim to help build the bridge, many from Poland and Italy. The winter of 1879-1880 was very cold, with temperatures similiar to Siberia in Russia. No possibility to build the bridge, no money and no social services were available at this time. The workers begged for bread. The local people helped the poor workers. The Countess Thekla of Solms and the women of Assenheim established a kitchen with a big kettle for cooking soup. Everyday during the whole winter, all the poor of the area came to Assenheim to eat the soup. Come with me, we go to Assenheim to eat "Assenheimer Soup".