Month December 2016

Coming to a close as the year winds down

Anna--The Adventurer

2016 is winding down and coming to a close…and it has been an enourmously eventufl year for me. Upon reminiscing over the year, realizing just how much has occured over the past 365 days. The dream list, posted in January of this year, I successfully marked off several components.

Here are just a few of this years occurences:

  • My brother got married and I caught the bouquet
  • I hosted a final garage sale, selling the general contents of my house
  • I moved to a foriegn country
  • Danced in a public venue
  • Enjoyed a live Baroque Quartet
  • Sampled Many different worldy beverages, many of them ocffee in origin
  • I learned how to navitage and use the tram, buses, and other public transportation in Germany
  • My best friend had a baby
  • My brother and his wife had a baby.
  • I adventured often in South West Germany
  • I had tea in a castle
  • I climbed to the top of an old fortress tower
  • Met up with an old friend of 20 years (an exchange student that lived with my family)
  • Gave a tour to my Grandfather
  • Practiced baking and cooking, expanding my culinary abilities and flavors
  • Wrote and received mail to and from friends and family
  • Read a childrens book (all on my own) in German
  • Spent Christmas  Eve with German friends
  • Enrolled and attended German language courses
  • Learned how to use WhatsApp
  • Lost Weight
  • Lost a Grandmother and Aunt
  • Attended-toured 3 different Christmas Markets in Germany
  • Petted Donkeys and Goats in a live Nativity
  • Crossed country borders in a car and bus
  • Shopped in a French Super Market
  • Drank Turkish Coffee
  • Thomas and I got a kitten
  • Thomas has started to teach me the joys of soccer
  • Open Air soccer viewing in an open air event
  • video chatted for the first time with friends and family

 

 

Chriskinder Market, Baden Baden

Anna--The Adventurer 1 Comment

What a fascinating event and a very unique experience. By taking two buses and two trains and taking a walking Adventure I came across the Baden Baden Christmas Market here and bad wartenberg Germany.

Upon entering the market the first thing I came across was a live nativity

scene complete with donkeys and goats the fresh scent of straw and wood shavings lining their bed in the manger. It was quite a sight to behold and the air smelled of all things Christmas and of all happiness. I spent over 6 hours just alone in the Christmas Market and I think I ate enough for 3 people for 2 days, sampling everything from specialty sausages to mustards 2 pastas to Crepes and vegetable,  fruit Delights in all kinds of sauces and creams. My waistline is surely expanding this Christmas but it is well worth it and I figure if I keep walking around maybe I’ll burn off a fraction of the calories I’ve consumed today.

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Chirstmas
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Homemade Fudge–sharing a tradition

Anna--The Adventurer

Fudge

Coconut Fudge, made with almond extract and shredded coconut.

Marshmellow Fudge

Classic Marshmellow Fudge, plain, traditional recipe

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A small dish of Marschino cherry fudge, absolutely delicous, made with tart cherries, almond oil, and chopped walnuts

 

 

Bakers chocolate

Bakers dark bitter chocolate shavings, used to create the fudge

 

 

 

Thomas had never experienced fudge before, which is such a bummer as it is one of my more favorite Christmas treats–and not knowing what Fudge and all of it its variations he was missing, I accepted the challenge of creating the wonderful delight, in a few simple varieties, at home.

I used condensed milk, sugar,  various extracts, walnuts, cherries, marshmellow fluff (which thankfully is now available in Germany) and love to make the delights, which turned out super well.

Thomas soon became ‘addicted’ to the wonderful American delights, which is great–now pronouncing the word ‘fudge’ is still a bit odd but I know what he means.

Cinnamon Christmas Cut-Outs

Anna--The Adventurer

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Step 1: Make the dough, roll out, and cut out the shapes

 

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Lay out the cut out shapes, make sure to punch a hole in the tops to string later. Flip over during ‘cure’ period to allow both sides to dry.

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Step 3, once ornaments are dry, paint ornaments and string with yarn or hooks.

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The ornaments are now ready to be hung on the Chrsitmas tree, one side is painted, the other side is plain so that the cinnamon scent can emmiate into the room.

The recipe for no bake cinnamon dough for ornaments can be found here.

Chocolate Cherries Compote on Apple Raisin Purses

Anna--The Adventurer

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Step 1 Line muffin tin cups with a crust, fill with apple mix (sliced apples, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt and ground cloves)

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Step 2: Cover each muffin cup with raw crust dough, pinching the dough around the edges, like when making a pie. Trim off any excess crusts.

 

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Step 3: Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, brush melted over the top of each purse and bake for 10 more minutes, until golden brown.

 

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Step 4: Top each purse with homemade chocolate cherry sauce–compote, serve hot. Delicious!!!

 

 

Check Out awesome treasures on my eBay

 

Chriskinder Market, Frederichsplatz, Karlsruhe

Anna--The Adventurer

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A nativity Scene on display

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A walking path through the lights inside the market itself

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A hand crafted, wood working vendor

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Thomas enjoying a hot glühwein in the market

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A dining venue located inside a rotating wind mill

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I am drinking hot red glühwein, too!! It is so good and really is lovely on a cold night, walking around the market

A great adventure this evening with Thomas–we went to the Chriskinder Market on Frederichs Platz in Karlsruhe. A little gift shopping, a little mulled hot wine and a lovely evening out on the town.

Make an Impression

Anna--The Adventurer

Make me an offer!!!

impressionismart

$700 or best offer, 20% of sale price benefits Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Colorado Click on image or link to purchase

Making a good impression …with beautiful, original art.

As seen in a January post I wrote,  I dream of selling an art piece of my very own, an adventure in eBay sales for sure!!!

The price is currently at $700–but this is negotiable for sure, so make me an offer!!

Van Gogh inspired, original  impressionistic oil painting of dreams and blooms during a raging storm. Original, signed 16×20 inch framed on stretched canvas, ready to hang. Oil painting, vivid brush strokes.

While this is a dream of mine to sell a piece of my artwork, 20% of the sale price also benefits the Human Society of Boulder Valley (located in beautiful, colorful Colorado)