by Krista | Oct 11, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
I’ve now been sick for a week with a ghastly cold/flu combo that’s hanging on for dear life. Grrr. 🙂
So I’m taking a deep breath, sipping umpteen cups of tea, and dreaming of happier moments in sun-drenched Mexico. Care to join me? I’ll get the fruity drinks, you grab the towels and I’ll meet you on the beach. 🙂
Perhaps mid-afternoon we could dust the sand off our feet, don a fetching cover-up of some sort, and pop into the beach side cafe for dessert. Would you rather have the Mango Strawberry Tart or the Chocolate Brownie?
Thanks for taking a little vicarious trip with me. I feel better already! 🙂
If you could be whisked off on vacation anywhere today, where would you go?
(If you’d like to know more about this lovely spot in Cancun, it is the Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand. I spent four days there last month courtesy of Royal Holiday.)
by Krista | Oct 8, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Last week I was delighted beyond measure to be invited on a 4-day trip to Cancun with four other bloggers courtesy of Royal Holiday. They were truly lovely people, bending over backwards to make sure we were safe and happy during our stay at their beautiful Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand all-inclusive resort.
It was my first trip to Cancun and I loved it. The weather was hot and mostly sunny with a few tropical rain showers to keep things interesting. I can’t wait to tell you about the delicious food, Mayan ruins, and the underground river I swam, but they will have to wait for another day.
Today I have two things to tell you about. Here on my blog I’m sharing a few photos of the exquisite flowers I saw on my journey, and if you click here, you can see my article on The Travel Belles where you’ll find pictures of the exquisite beaches and gorgeous turquoise ocean. I hope you enjoy them! 🙂
What is your favorite flower?
by Krista | Oct 7, 2010 | Plucky Thursday
Good morning, dear ones. 🙂 I’m writing to you sitting close to the heater, a cup of Moroccan Mint tea at hand to soothe my sore throat. I’m still fighting this flu/cold/thingamajig but have high hopes that I’m almost on the mend now. 🙂
I had such fun revisiting my trip to Amsterdam with you yesterday, that I decided to share the rest of our lovely meal with you today. 🙂
When I thought of European food growing up, especially in the colder northern countries like Holland, Germany, etc, I mostly thought of potatoes, wild game, thick stews, hearty noodle dishes, and lots of seafood. I did not, however, think of salads, organic produce, healthy whole grain sandwiches. How wrong I was!
It is in Paris, Amsterdam and Denmark that I have had the most scrumptious salads piled high with luscious ingredients, divine sandwiches layered atop the best bread I’ve ever tasted, and vibrant produce straight from the garden. Our Amsterdam lunch was no exception.
I was so inspired and have been tracking down the best breads, cheeses and fresh veggies I can find to replicate these amazing yet simple lunches.
It was the perfect start to our exploration of a new city: Haarlem.
Have you been surprised by foods you’ve encountered on your travels?
by Krista | Oct 6, 2010 | Compatriot Wednesday
It was a bright and briskly cold October day in Amsterdam as my brother Ryan, his girlfriend Melissa, my friend Amy and I donned warm sweaters and woolly scarves and headed out for lunch and a stroll.
The streets of Amsterdam are endlessly fascinating to me. I love the tall, narrow canal houses with their gabled tops and pert little windows, the cobbled streets lined with elegant pastry shops, haute couture, and bicycles everywhere.
Ry and Melissa led us to one of their favorite spots perched on the edge of a canal. We found seats outside in a sunny patch and ordered foamy coffee to warm our fingers and tummies. I think it’s splendid when my coffee arrives with a little extra something like these teensy chocolate chip cookies.
We had such fun soaking up that rare Autumn sunshine, chatting happily about our travel adventures and plotting how we would spend that day. We were off to visit Corrie ten Boom’s house, a place I’d read about over and over as a child through her book The Hiding Place. (This week I wrote an article on it for The Travel Belles. Click here to read more about this amazing woman and her family who rescued Jews in Holland during WWII.)
At last our food arrived and ooeee, was it ever good!!! We shared steaming Dutch pea soup – amazing!! – and I had a fantastic toasted sandwich: thick fresh grainy bread topped with a thick slab of tender smoked turkey breast, fresh tomatoes and gooey circles of melted brie. It was heavenly.
It was such a beautiful start to our day: dear friends, delicious food, and the anticipation of a new adventure.
What is your favorite lunch on a cold day?
This is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday. Click here to view more foods from around the world.
by Krista | Oct 4, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones!! 🙂 It’s SO good to be back home, back to sleep in my own cozy bed, cooking in my little kitchen, tucked up in my armchair writing to you.
After feeling right as rain for my entire trip to Cancun, I arrived home in time to get a whopping cold, start losing my voice, and generally feel like death. 🙂 Isn’t life funny like that?
Just before my trip I went on a marvelous hike to the beach at Point Defiance, Washington with my friend Stacey. It was a gently overcast day, bits of rain now and then, but mostly mild and peaceful. We meandered through the almost tropical rain forest before clambering down a staircase of tree roots onto a deserted beach.
We happily wandered the shore admiring unique bits of driftwood, a beached jellyfish in vivid russet, and a snakey tangle of kelp and seaweed. We read messages carved into the clay walls of a cliff, listened to the gulls shriek and collected smooth white stones.
It was a wonderfully rejuvenating day with my dear Texan friend.
That week I also made delicious Maple Ginger Roasted Broccoli. It’s simple as can be, simply toss broccoli florets with the marinade below, roast 10-20 minutes until edges begin to brown and serve. Mmm. 🙂
How was your weekend, dear friends? What is your favorite memory?
This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays. Click here to see more delicious vegetarian dishes.
Maple Ginger Roasted Broccoli
Ingredients:
2 heads broccoli, cut into florets
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
4″ piece ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
6 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
1-2 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
1-2 Tbsp Maple syrup
ground pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 F.
- Place broccoli in bowl, set aside.
- In blender add remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth.
- Pour over broccoli and toss to coat (Add a bit at a time, you don’t want it too wet or the marinade will be too strong.)
- Spread broccoli in baking pan and roast for 10-20 minutes, stirring once, until tender and tips are browned.
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