Super Oktoberfest fare on a shoestring

Break out the lederhosen and beer steins!

With Oktoberfest getting under way, "The Early Show on Saturday Morning" offered the best of the - wurst - from our "Chef on a Shoestring."

Werner Lehner has been cooking up delicious and traditional German meals for 25 years, at the nationally-acclaimed restaurant Zum Stammtisch, in the New York City borough of Queens.

Werner's dad opened it in 1972. These days, Werner is owner and head chef, and keeps the family tradition alive in the kitchen with his younger brother, Hanz, by his side.

"Hans joined me when our father passed in 1993," says Werner, "and we've been striving to keep the German authenticity and flavors ever since."

As our "Shoestring" chef, Werner made a traditional, delicious and festive three-course German meal for four - and sought to do it on our budget of just $40.

He also was automatically entered in our "How Low Can You Go?" competition, in which the "Shoestringer" with the lowest ingredients cost is invited back to whip up our year-end holiday feast - and spend as much as he or she wants to get the job done!

Enjoy all our "Early Show" recipes!

MENU

• German Wurst Salad
• Zigeuner Schnitzel
• Baked Spiced Apples

RECIPES

Deutscher Wurst Salat (German Wurst salad)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Bologna
• 1 Large Dill Pickle
• 1 Teaspoon Celery Salt
• 2 Tablespoon Mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoon Sour Cream
• 1 Boiled Egg
• Salt, Pepper to taste

Method:

1. Slice bologna and pickle into strips and put into a bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream and celery salt. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.

2.Put 1/4 of the mixture on a plate (or on a bed of lettuce if you prefer) repeat, then slice the egg into quarters and put on top of the 4 salads.

Zigeuner Schnitzel (Paprika Cutlet)

Ingredients:

• 4 8-ounce Pork Cutlets from the bottom round or loin (chicken cutlets can also be substituted for the pork)
• 1 Red Pepper
• 1 Yellow Pepper
• 1 Medium Tomato
• 1 Medium Onion
• 1 Tablespoon Sweet Paprika
• 1 Teaspoon Hot Paprika
• 1 cup Broth
• Corn Starch to thicken
• Salt, pepper to taste

For the Breading:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 cup Bread Crumbs

Method:

1.Cut peppers, onions into strips, cube the tomatoes. Heat a skillet, add a little oil and add onions. Sautee for 5 minutes then add peppers, tomatoes and paprika.

Sautee for another 5 minutes, then add broth. Bring to a boil then thicken with a cornstarch and water mixture strained through sieve. Keep warm in the skillet.

2.Salt and Pepper the cutlets. Put the flour, eggs and crumbs on three separate plates. Dip the cutlet first into the flour, then egg then crumb. Pat the cutlet so it holds the crumbs. Heat a skillet so a drop of water dances over the surface, then add 1/4 inch of oil, and lay the cutlet into the pan. Fry the cutlet for approx. 5 minutes- then flip, another 5 minutes, take out the cutlet and put on paper towel and tap dry.

3.Put the cutlet on the plate and pour pepper/paprika sauce over it.

Goes very well with Spaetzle (German egg noodle).

For Werner's Baked Spiced Apple recipe, go to Page 2.

Gebackener Apfel (Baked spiced apple)

Ingredients:

• 4 Large Gala apples (Granny Smith can be substituted)
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 Teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Method:

1. Combine the Raisins, Nuts and Peel, set aside. In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, water, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring mixture to boil then simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Core the apples (a little wider than usual) then put the raisin mix into the apple openings. Put the 4 apples on a non-greased baking sheet, sprinkling the rest of the raisin mix on the sheet. Slowly pour the sugar mix from the saucepan onto the apples making sure to saturate the raisins. Bake for 30 minutes or until apples are tender.

3. Transfer the apples from the sheet to plates with tongs, and pour the sauce from the baking sheet over each apple. Can be served with vanilla ice cream or a vanilla sauce if desired. Serve Hot!

So, how did Werner do in "How Low Can You Go?"

His grand total was $38.24 -- almost good enough to make our year-to-date Leaders Board:

1.Floyd Cardoz $33.54

North End Grill

2.Fabio Vivani $36.22

Café Firenze