After her husband's death in 1998, Rita had to take over their Old Germany Restaurant in Dolores, Colorado. Following in the footsteps of her husband, who was a certified German chef seemed almost impossible at that time. Yet Rita began looking for recipes in old-written notes and in cookbooks. Not satisfied with what she found, she began to create her own recipes, making them as simple and easy-to-follow as possible. With the help of friends and family, she reopened Old Germany Restaurant in February, 1999. At the end of 2008, they closed the restaurant and went into retirement, but Rita promised her customers that she would write a cookbook so that she could share her wonderful German recipes with them. From her delicious customer favorite, Chicken and Dumpling Soup to the traditional German entree Sauerbraten with German Fried Potatoes and many wonderful desserts, Rita shares all of her favorite recipes. These recipes are the only constant that guided her through happiness and sorrow, through failure and success, through loneliness and comfort. Writing this cookbook was a very soothing endeavor that has brought closure to this part of her life. It is her hope that these recipes bring many satisfying meals to all."