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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?

 

Moonsbronn Church

Anna--The Adventurer

Moosbronn, Germany

Moosbronn, Germany

moonsbronn2 moonsbronn3

According to the legend Moosalb was located
in the vicinity of the source in the village Moosbronn
at a mighty old linden wood was painted a Madonna image .
A farmhand , which broke the chain brake  his on vehicle while planting  on a steep mountain slope ,in 1680, called tothe
Virgin Mary with Mary to help and the wagon stopped .
In gratitude he founded in 1683 a small wooden chapel ,
which amoonsbronn5ttracted pilgrims soon. 1749 present Baroque
pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf was inaugurated .

 

 

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.

A Brazilian Portugese Lullaby for a New Baby Boy!

Anna--The Adventurer

acacia

My dearest friend delivered a beautiful baby boy, Eli ‘Peanut’ C. has arrived!! Mommy and baby are doing well.

I am a new Auntie today!! What a blessing!!!

When I received the news, I shrieked with joy and the street musicians kindly played a special lullaby for the new baby.

 

 

 

 

The Porcelain Palace–

Anna--The Adventurer

Amazing day!! The chapel is not normally open to tourists-visitors but today, with special perimissin, Thomas and I not only got a tour of the private chapel on estate grounds but I also was given the opprotunity to cross something off my bucket list–our guide ENCOURAGED me, with full permission (without me even asking) to ring the bell in the chapel–all after an amazing, personal tour of the estate–including the private chambers of the Margravine Franziska Sibylla Augusta of Sachsen-Lauenburg.

A week after touring the estate, Thomas and I were invited to attend a classical concert at the estate–an amazing evening where the musicians dressed in period correct costumes.  Champagne and delights were served during intermission and oh, what fun!!!

History Courtesy Wik.

Schloss Favorite is a castle on the outskirts of Rastatt-Förch in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Built by Johann Michael Ludwig Rohrer between 1710 and 1730, it was a pleasure and hunting palace (French: Maison de plaisance) used by Margravine Franziska Sibylla Augusta of Sachsen-Lauenburg, widow of Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden (‘Türkenlouis’). It is the oldest of the German so-called ‘Porcelain Palaces’ and the only to survive intact to this day. The castle was only used for several weeks a year as a summer residence.

The castle houses a large collection of Chinese porcelain, black lacquerwork and Schwartz Porcelain.

Address: Am Schloß Favorite 5, 76437 Rastatt, Germany

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.

Game Night at Home

Anna--The Adventurer

Hot tea, Apples and Nutella

Hot tea, Apples and Nutella

Homemade1

Yogurt Dip and vegetables as snack

game-night

Thomas and I are playing dominoes

A lovely evening of playing games with my sweetheart. neither of us have played dominoes in years. We had to read the directions on the box and make a practice game or two before getting the hang of it.

Thomas has also ‘discovered’ that he likes apple slices and Nutella (the wonderful chocolate hazelnut creme spread)- I enjoyed this delightful snack before in the U.S.A but Thomas had never heard of the combo before–I think he is now hooked!!!

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’

 

Leaving on a jet plane

Anna--The Adventurer

moving-day

Packing up the house, putting things in boxes

Wow, so many things have occured over the past week so so.

Moving is always such a large chore but when moving across the ocean, it is even more challenging.  Last week,  I packed up a few tubs of things I chose to keep but would not be moving with me–and put them in storage (a.k.a. the garage of a family member) and cleaned out the rest of what was in the house I was renting–yes, there were things left over even after the giant yard sale that was hosted last autumn.

My mother came over and helped me host one last hoorah of an indoor yard sale and everything had to go–and it did!!! Now, I am living out of 2 large suitcases–everything in which I am taking to Germany with me fits in those two suitcases–it is kind of scary and liberating at the same time.

I would not consider myself a person whom owned or collected a lot of things but when dumping and shedding the entire contents of your home to move, it is a lot!! Everything from my bed to music cds to pots and pans got sold on the last yard sale–even my coffee pot (and I am a caffeine junkie!!)

The few tubs (like what one would store christmas decorations in) hold photo albums and memorabilia, simple things that are worthless to others but are priceless to me, things I could not bear parting with or replace.  Thankfully, I won’t have to pay storage fees or fret about the quality of the safety of the storage as it is with family–blessings come in many forms.

This past week, I spent time with friends and family, which has been super lovely–and then I sold my pickup, my only mode of personal transportation (with no public transporation available.) Why?? Well, I could not pack it, I did not want to store it and some extra money to start my new life is a good idea, right? Rosie, my little red 1996 Ford Ranger, drove me all over the United States and we had many adventures together…

Friday evening, my family hosted a going away party for me, which is always fun. I am going to miss the sound of the laughter of family and friends…alas, there is a bit of sorrow in leaving as well.

Yesterday, I spent the day with family from near and far, for a sad occasion as we all gathered for a funeral–my grandmother passed and the services were held–a time of loss is never easy.

I hitched a ride to Denver with my sister, loading up my 2 suitcases and bookbag into her SUV, feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that has occured this week.

My best friends baby shower–she is expecting her first child in June–and life has come full circle and her adventures as a new mommy are soon to arrive–so much to do and we did it all.

My sister and brother will be taking me to the airport tomorrow morning…so with my ticket in hand and a repacked suitcase (with insistance from my best friend and siblings that I had not packed it correctly).

Thomas is awaiting for my arrival on the other end…here I go.