Prepping the chicken and yams
Vegetable platter with hummus dip for appetizer
Making the stuffing
Stuffing the chicken
Chicken, stuffing and baked sweet potatoe
Reggie, our kitty, even got his own treat.
Our Thanksgiving Chicken
Tag Live Bands in germany
Breakfast for Dinner
Pancakes a plenty, raisin, chocolate and regular-plain Pancakes
Thomas, German Friends and I eating breakfast for dinner.
We had an ‘American’ style breakfast of pancakes, apple cinnamon compte, bacon, farmers omellete, juice, coffee, and an egg assortment (over medium, scrambled with cheese, sunny side up, and more!)
For the last several weeks, we (my german lady friends) and I have been for coffee, conversation, and culture—well, mostly just to talk in English as both desire to improve their English communication skills–and had asked me to meet with them more often for practice–always a fun way to learn and I really enjoy spending more time with my ladies.
Thus, every week we meet…and the laugther follows. Last week, the topic of favorite foods and cusine from our own cultures incorporated itself into the evening, as we ate (naturally, what is better than food with friends?)
The ladies, being both German, eat German breakfast–but have never tasted the delights of an American or ‘farmers’ breakfast so this week, as planned, they drove over for our weekly conversation and I made ‘brinner’ (breakfast for dinner)–a favorite of mine.
The menu included:
An Assortment of Pancakes-cinnamon raisin syrup–Apple Walnut compote
An assort of eggs cooked in a variety of ways
A Farmers omellete (large), topped with melted cheese
and Bacon (what breakfast is complete without bacon?)
Coffee, Juice
Adventures in the kitchen—
Baked chicken, sweet potatoes, zuchinni, and onion, a one dish wonder
Texas style taco salad
turkey sausage, mushroom gravy over green beans (instead of pasta)
Sliced Gala apples with Nutella
Clover and Raisin Oatmeal, toast and banana
Crispy Bacon, 2 over easy eggs, and toast (with orange Marmelade)
Open face Tuna Salad with tomatoe slices and red bell pepper spears
A Fusion blend salad of greek and italian salad with a hummus dressing and a slice of hearty bread
Baked sweet potatoe (with butter and cinnamon) chicken stir fry with marinated, roasted bell pepper
Crossiant (not homemade), clementine slices, scrambled eggs and brie wedges
Furit, onions, and other staples
Peanut Butter Porridge with raisins
Farmers Omellete with fresh cheese-bell pepper on pumpernickel and plum breakfast
Tuna and Feta Salad–a super easy meal
Vegetable platter salad with pickle and homemade balsamic dressing
Eggcellent Lunch
Step 1–Peel hard boiled eggs
Step 2 Add diced red bell peppers, green olives, mayonaise, sliced hard boiled eggs, and a pinch of salt
Step Three, mix it all together
Step Four: Put egg salad mixture between two slices of bread, add a leaf or two of lettuce, put sliced vegetables and fruit on the plate to make an whole meal
Another version-option of using hard boiled eggs in a lunch-dinner
A whole Latte of Love
I admit it, i am guilty of coffee adventures and food sampling and i can not help myself!! While all the photography is mine, none of the wonderful food or concotions contained in this post 
are of my creation. But, wow, are they delicous!! Sampled from all over the region, coffee and snack adventures are delightful!!!
Black Forrest National Forrest and a Village
15 kilometers in one day makes a very happy woman, and very tired feet!!!
The adventure began with a tram ride to the North, and disembarking in Raumümzach–which only has one stop for the village (which also boasts a lovely place called ‘Hotel Waterfall’).
I packed my lunch, grabbed my rucksack and off I went exploring, the visual experience was stunning this autumn season but nothing compared to the scent filled fresh air that prevailed itself upon my senses.
I ate my brown bag lunch, overlooking the Murg River near Erbersbronn and a house in the country had chickens as i heard the rooster crow in midday.
Walking leisurely through the hills and valleys (both minor) of the area provided an over abundant wealth of beauty and excitement and a day filled with much peach, quiet and joy.
Directions Post, Erbersbronn, Germany
Black Forrest National Park
The Murg River, near Erbersbronn, Germany
The Black Forrest National Park
The Water Fall Hotel, Raumünzach
Raumünzach, a village in the Black Forrest
Reggie, The curious kitty
Reggie is a fuzzy furry welcome—a neighbors Mommy kitty bore a cute litter and once weaned, needed new homes and thus, Reggie came into our lives.
Reggie arrived about a month ago and what a joy!!! Reggie brings much love and excitement, entertainment and laughter to our house with his antics, playful behaviors, and has even started ‘talking’, which cracks me up.
Reggie is kind of small but growing well–he even likes to share his meals with us by eating scrambled eggs and sweet potoatoes in addtion to his normal kitty kibble, being the gluten he is–when he is not perching here or there or bounching all over the house.
Reggie loves Thomas Best.
Reggie likes to perch near the heater
Comfy time
Reggie loves to snuggle
Giving a Schwarzwald tour
Woohoo!! My Grandfather came to visit me….and I marked off another item on my dream-list. I gave a family member a tour!!! Yes, it is true and I found it fun and exciting.
My Grandfather visited from Sunday through Tuesday evening here in Southwest Germany and willingly adventured with me around the area. We had so much fun!! I enjoyed being a tour guide more than I had anticipated. Grandfather was a great companion and we had so much fun together–I found it super nice and enjoyable to experience new coffee places as well with him–while going to some of my favorite places.
We went to the Monastary Ruins in Bad Herrenalb, the Kloster ruins in Frauenalb, the Schloss in Karlruhe and Ratstatt, and enjoyed the lovel art and architecture in St. Alexanders on Marktplatz in Ratstatt. A lovely fountain, bridge, and river tour in Ettlingen also had taken place, with coffee and lunches intermixed in our ventures–we used the tram and sometimes the car, making transportation very versatitle and easy.
All the places we went to gave us the beautiful sites and scenes of the Black Forrest, also being able to see the changing of the leaves this autumn–all in all, quite an event.
Want to check out some of the hot places we dined and enjoyed coffee?? The links and references are below.
Golden Mann Cafe Am Schloss Ratstatt
Schwarzwald Stub (Restaurant) Bad Herrenalb, Germany (no website) Kurpromenade 5, 76332 Bad Herrenalb, Germany
DLounge (Coffee shop), Karlsruhe, Germany
Täglich (Restaurant), Ettlingen, Germany
Drinking from a fountain, Karlsruhes Downtown
The River Alb, Running through downtown Ettlingen
Schloss Karlsruhe Statue Tours
The River Alb, Frauenalb Germany
We stopped at a local Bakery for snacks and coffee, a German classic
Taking a break from touring the Black Forrest at the DLounge, Kronenplatz, Karlsruhe, Germany
1000 year old ruins at Frrauenalb, Germany, in the heart of the Black Forrest
My grandfather in Frauenalb, standing next to a very old, established trees by the ruins.
Grandfather and I riding the trams to adventure together
The Verranda on Schloss Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe,
The Crest of the Markgraf Wilhelm von Baden Baden, primary resident of the Schloss Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Baden Wurtemburg Germany
Exquisite Cappucinos at the Cafe Am Schloss, Ratstatt, Germany http://www.goldener-mann-rastatt.de/kontakt/
the Tour guide (me) outside of St. Martins Church, Ettlingen, Germany
Grandfather crossings the Lockets of Love Bridge, Ettlingen, Germany
The flood water marker on St. Alexanders Cathedral, Marktplatz, Ratstatt, Germany
Wooden Pews and grandfather, St. Martins Church, Kirch platz, Ettlingen, Germany
Roman Ruins, Bad Herrenalb, Germany
Grandfather and I, Kloster Ruins, Bad Herrenalb, Germany
Dropping postcards in the post for loved ones back in the States
Roman Ruins near the Protestant Church (1650) Bad Herrenalb, Germany
A tradtional German lunch at Schwarzwald Stub, Bad Herrenalb, Germany
Date Night at the Irish Pub
Thomas and I on our date night
Thomas
Date nights are always fun!!
Thomas and I ventured to downtown Ettlingen to the Irish Pub on the Alb River!!!
The barkeep speaks very good English, which is always a big perk for me.
The good news?? We had a lovely date night but i also found a place that serves a pretty good Grog, which is always welcome when the weather starts to get cold and chilly.
I found Grog!!!
Grog is awesome!!!
Brunch
An Eggy Brunch
Ingredients
6 eggs
1 Bell Pepper (your choice of color), chopped
1/2 small onion (purple or yellow), chopped
2 medium tomatoes, slices in half moons
4 tablespoons salsa
2 bananas
4 pieces of sliced bread (white, wheat, rye, sourdough, your choice)
honey
Salt and Pepper
2 large sliced of real, natural cheese (cheddar, Tillister, gouda, your choice)
Method:
Omelette: Lighlty saute the bell pepper, onions, salt and pepper with Sunflower oil (or your favorite oil) in a medium sized skillet, remove half and set aside.
Crack three eggs into to skillet (with half the vegetable mix), stir to mix everything-breaking the yolks on medium/ medium low heat.
Once the eggs start firming up on the bottom, flip entire egg-veggie mixture over (like a flap jack), place half a slice of cheese on the cooked side of the egg mixture.
Once the second side has fully cooked (the eggs are not runny nor crispy-burned) fold the omelette in half over the slice of cheese and remove from the pan (cut this in half to create 2 omelettes)
Repeat these steps with the last 3 eggs and remaining half of bell pepper-onion mix (for 2 more omelletes.)
On eachof four plates: Half of each omellette (topped with salsa), half a banana, half a sliced tomatoe, and a piece of toast (with honey drizzeled on top and cut in half)
My Travels 