Category Cuisine and Beverages

Coffee with Old and New Friends, Waldbronn, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

Jenny and I wrote text messages back and forth over the past few weeks–and she has come down this weekend  see friends, myself included, as we all live in close proximity.

Jenny’s friends, whom she knew from travels and summers working abroad in Spain,  are hosting Jenny and her lovely girls and boyfriend this weekend, which is awesome, as we all got to meet this evening.

Ute and Heinrick, Jenny’s Waldbronn friends, invited Thomas and I over drinks this evening–what a treat. Ute and Heinrick have a beautiful home and are wonderful, nice people–I am so glad we all were able to get together!!!

Ute, Heinrick and the other guest asked how Jenny and I knew each other, which brought tears of laughter to our eyes as we reminisced about all the adventures and fun we had together when Jenny was an exchange student with my family in Colorado.

Leoni and Sara, Jenny’s teenage daughters, learned ‘interesting’ things about their mother when she was younger–and Marcel, Ute, and Heinrick laughed at the antics we once pulled in our youth together–a side of Jenny and I no one else experienced before as we had known each other the longest amongst the friends at the table.

Tomorrow is going to a great day as Ute and Heinrick are attending a wedding–and Thomas and I will be spending the whole day with Jenny, Sara, Leoni, and Marcel….and let the adventures continue.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

 

A cool summer meal

Anna--The Adventurer

Cooking is like snow skiing: If you don’t fall at least 10 times, then you’re not skiing hard enough.

Guy Fieri

Summer Pasta Salad

Summer Pasta Salad

Summer Pasta Salad..My Recipe

1 pkg spirally pasta–cooked accordingly to the package directions–drained and cooled

2 small ripe tomatoes, chunked

1 can of sliced, pitted black olives

Sunflower Oil

6 large basil leaves, minced

1 small clove garlic, minced

the lemon juice of 1 large lemon (with pulp)

Pepper Jack Cheese, sliced into thin strips, small pieces

I mixed all ingredients with the pasta, and let chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator–absolutely delicious—and my cooking adventures continue.

Check Out My eBay!!!

The Best Coffee–DLounge, Kronenplatz, Karlsruhe

Anna--The Adventurer

dlounge1

Missing the little things from back home is pretty normal, by most standards but one thing I really jonesed for was a good coffee shop that was relaxing yet fun, upbeat but comfy–and at last I found a ‘home’ coffee shop here in my area. And no, I am not doing a paid ‘pitch’ for the Dlounge, I have seriously been hunting for a good spot to relax and write in my journal….

A journal is something I keep in my bag along with several ink pens. Why?? One never knows where adventures might take me and honestly, I do not want to forget a moment of it–so if I am waiting for a friend, taking a coffee break, or about to head to a German class, a coffee is essentail and my journal is a must.

The DLounge, located on Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe, is the perfect coffee shop venue for me. The seating is comfortable, the music is always good, the coffee is hot and fresh, and the best feature…the baristas are super nice and speak English. What more could a girl ask for when getting her daily buzz?

Cafe Crema

Cafe Crema

Adventures in Cooking–2 course meal

Anna--The Adventurer

I do not stick to rules when cooking. I rely on my

Salad and Entree

Salad and Entree

imagination.

Akshay Kumar

Working on the dream list of cooking more often is becomign quite fun…groceries in Germany are relatively inexpensive, especially compared to American grocery costs.

Thomas, thankfully, is pretty open to trying new things, even when it is me that is cooking.  Spending time in the kitchen is well worth the while when there is someone to feed.

This evenings meal was a two-part evening–salad as a appetizer and then the entree. I have not quite learned or mastered the art of pairing wine or an adult beverage with food yet but one step at a time…

Salad:

Baby spinach—chopped walnuts–cranberries–crumbled goat Feta cheese–diced roma tomatoes–oil and vinegar dressing

Entree:

Steamed Green beens with salt, topped with sauted red bell pepper spears

Pork loins..seasoned with black pepper, garlic salt, and paprika and lightly fried on low heat in Sunflower oil.

I think food always tastes better when it is arranged in a pretty way—edible art?

 

A Cool Meal

Anna--The Adventurer

Summer Pasta Salad

Summer Pasta Salad

A light, easy meal for a hot summer evening–easily feeds 4.

1 Box of spiraly Pasta, Cooked al-dente (easily done if directions on box are followed)

1 large can of sliced black olives

6 fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp coarse ground salt

1 cup of Feta Cheese Crumbles

1 tsp Lemon Juice

1 large tomatoe, diced

A dash of Pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a large, glass bowl. Cover and let stand (in refridgearador) for 30 minutes.

Stir and serve. It is excellent, cool, and super yummy.

Tasty

Anna--The Adventurer 1 Comment

Creative Meal

Creative Meal

Okay, so I have not been in Germany long and the difference in measuring things, i.e. grams and milliliters verses cups and teaspoons has tripped me up…alas, I winged it today. I made a weird version of an open face sandwhich–mixing German and American??

Style:

Pumpernickel Bread

Carrot Sticks

Brown Gravy

Scrambled Eggs with Onions

Tillster Cheese

I srambled some eggs with chopped onions, putting it on pumpernickel bread

Sliced Tillster cheese ontop of the eggs, cover it all with brown gravy

Garnish with carrot sticks.

Result?? An ugly dish that tastes really, really good.

An Simple Breakfast

Anna--The Adventurer

Home Made Breakfast

Home Made Breakfast

An easy breakfast to dish up–takes under 12 minutes from start to finish.

2 Cups of Old Fashioned Oatmeal

3 cups of cold tap water

a pinch of salt

1/2 Cup of Dried Raisins ( I like to use the purple-dark raisins)

1 TSP of ground Cinnamon

Mix everything together in a pot–cook on medium low heat for 7-9 minutes, if the mix is too thick for you, add a bit more water.

Divide up into bowls, topping with a swirl-drizzle of honey. It is so good and easily made with very common ingredients–can easily be double or tripled or quadrupled for large groups and holiday guests.

I served it with a half slice of toast and half banana this morning for a little extra ‘boost’

 

AJ’s, Orchard, Colorado

Anna--The Adventurer

Annas Potthoffs 144

Family Night having Dinner at AJ

AJs, Orchard, Colorado

Enjoying Colorado Raised beef, Prime Rib

Prime rib is always a good idea!!!

Haake and I knew about this place for a while but we discovered recently that it has  Prime Rib specials on Friday evenings–and dinner is always more enjoyable with good company.

Annas Potthoffs 079

M. Haake and I love the Prime Rib Fridays at AJ’s In Orchard, Colorado

 

 

  • AJ’s Corner Tavern
    24213 Hwy 39
    Weldona, CO 80653
  • Phone number 1 (970) 645-9881