Tag learning how to cook

Celebrating my ’21st’ birthday abroad

Anna--The Adventurer

Annas Potthoffs 2868

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with a dinner in the backyard

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany–family and friends in Ettlingen, Germany

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Celebrating my Birthday in Germany with Fabian and his sisters

I turned 21 today, for the 13th time but who is counting??

It is truly the first time, though, that I have celebrated a birthday abroad and it has been wonderful. Thomas hosted a dinner celebration in the backyard for my special day, with family and friends attending.

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

Celebrating my Birthday in Germany

 

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.

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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

Kloster-Monastary Ruins, Fraunalb, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

Riding the tram (www.kvv.de) around the area has proven to be such a joy–it takes me to places I would have never known about before–like the quaint village of Fraunalb in Baden-Wurtämburg.  The videos show case some of the wonderful and beautiful aspects of the monastary ruins–

 

 

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

Country Roads, Rheinstetten

Anna--The Adventurer

Sunday Drives are always lovely, especially with suprises.

The Rhein, with aid from heavy rains, ran over its banks. There is a levy that blocks the road from Rheinstetten to the next town as it is unsafe to cross–being flooded.

An adventure is wonderful–with a small price of just 2 liters of gasoline in the car and natures amazing ebbs.

 

Don’t forget to check out my eBay

 

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

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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 .

 

 

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

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.