by Krista | Mar 9, 2010 | Autumn
Our alarm clocks went off far too early the morning my friend Amy and I were to depart Paris for Amsterdam last October. But up we got, dressed warmly and happily found a taxi just steps outside my brother Ryan’s apartment.
Off we went through the darkened streets to the train station, Gare du Nord, unloaded our bags, and found a spot by a bright pink heater that gave us huddled travelers a distinctive fuschia hue. We were an hour early, but we didn’t mind. Better safe than sorry. Besides, it gave us ample time for people watching, fashion observing and getting the lay of the land. We were intrigued by the number of people wearing Hammer Pants, those voluminous, mid-shin atrocities in bright colors, as well as the military posted around the building, AK-47’s at the ready as they strode through the station, eyes roving the crowd for miscreants.
Our train was delayed several times, but finally it was ready. We joined the milling passengers on the platform as frosty winds tossed skirts and hair. We found our First Class cabin and I couldn’t help but grin to myself in a pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming sort of way. For as long as I can remember, back when I first became enamored with the idea of train travel through black and white movies and Agatha Christie books, I have longed to travel First Class on a train. I know it’s a silly thing nowadays when such things are easily accessible to all travelers, but for me it was special. We had plush, comfy seats with oodles of legroom and places for all our luggage to fit comfortably. Free Wi-Fi enabled us to upload pictures and Facebook Notes while we hurtled along through the French, Belgian and Dutch countryside. A young African man in an immaculate gray uniform with red trim served us breakfast – lovely creamy cheeses, peppered ham, croissant, fresh ruby red grapefruit and figs with coffee for me, an assortment of sweet cakes with tea for Amy. Deeelicious!
He followed shortly with another basket of croissants for the truly famished. An hour or so later a different man brought us lunch – pasta parcels with white wine from South Africa for me, a cheese sandwich and red wine for Amy. It was such a peaceful, happy way to travel. No stress, no worries, no screaming children or rowdy teenagers or drunk Germans.
We arrived in Amsterdam to brilliant sunshine and oh-so-blustery winds, and made our way to Ryan’s wonderful apartment on the Prinsengracht Straat.
We got ourselves situated then headed out for some afternoon exploring, wending our way along bumpy, cobbled streets over canals and down twisting side streets. Since Amsterdam was not on our initial itinerary we had no maps or guidebooks to chart our path, but we managed to find a Tourist Information booth and Amy secured a map and vague directions to the Rijksmuseum. Sunshine shone coldly down through the still-leafy trees, lending an illusion of warmth but much beauty. The museum was smaller than we’d imagined, but well worth the price of admission. I’ve long been a fan of the Dutch masters, loving their ability to capture exquisite details of feature, attire and expression. I am not so entranced by baubles and knickknacks, but the paintings were fantastic.
After the museum we emerged to the rare combination of being rained on with the sun shining, but we braved the weather and happily wandered charming alleys, squares and streets.
If I can’t have a Hobbit House of my own one day, I want this door, please. 🙂
We stopped in at a bakery and loaded up on amazing bread and pastries. I’m so glad they’re starting to get bread like this around here! 🙂
Content with our initial explorations, we headed back to Ry’s place for a relaxing evening of pjs, popcorn, pastries and old movies like Laura. It was a splendid first day in Amsterdam. 🙂
by Krista | Mar 9, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
It’s been a dizzying yet wonderful weekend and I am smiling but oh so ready for a nap. 🙂
Thanks to the hustle of my lovely rellies – parents, aunt and uncle – I am officially out of the old apartment and into the new. 🙂 It felt so good to close the door for the last time, content with happy memories and hope for healing and renewal.
Saturday dawned brilliantly sunny and gorgeous, and my aunt and uncle treated us all to breakfast at The Rusty Wagon. 🙂 Doesn’t that just sound like the perfect place for scrambled eggs, sizzling bacon and pancakes drenched in syrup? 🙂
Thus fortified we drove into town to track down the necessities I needed for my new place. Things like a broom, potato peeler, toilet paper and pepper. We had such fun scouring our favorite best deal places and finding nearly everything on the list. Hooray! 🙂
By early afternoon we were ravenous, so I treated my fabulous helpers to coffee and goodies at the local Dutch bakery. There’s something so splendid about sitting down in a bustling bakery, drinking coffee out of sturdy chipped mugs, visiting amiably whilst nibbling on Nanaimo Bars, Latte Mocha Bars and chewy Mocha-filled Florentines dipped in dark chocolate.
I arrived home in time to bask in the setting sun streaming through the trees in my back yard. I still can’t believe I get to live here. 🙂 I feel like I’m on vacation in a cabin somewhere. I can’t stop looking out my windows at the gigantic cedars and tangled blackberry vines, across the creek to the trees covered in moss and bright green buds. When I open my windows I hear the sighing of the wind in the branches and the cheerful gurgle of the creek. There are some darling black squirrels that frolic about, their feathery charcoal tails twitching nervously as they nibble on various treasures. I love it here. 🙂
After all my rellies departed, I got down to business, hauling boxes, sorting, arranging, organizing, until I collapsed into bed sometime after 11 p.m. As usual, I overdid it, and Sunday morning I was hobbling about like an old woman. 🙂 I decided then and there that I was taking a holiday, so I did. 🙂
It was a glorious Sunday, stormy, rainy, blustery and cold, perfect for resting achy bodies and disappearing into good books and movies. As the storm raged I read “Mossflower” by Brian Jacques and “A Sunburned Country” by Bill Bryson, sipped Vanilla Caramel tea and nibbled Thin Mints, frozen York mint patties and a German Chocolate cookie. 🙂 It was wonderful. 🙂
I also found the cookbook I was looking for, so I can finally share a picture AND the recipe for the Chickpea Stew with Kale, Tomatoes and Green Chilies I mentioned on Friday. 🙂
It was a good weekend. 🙂
Chickpea Stew with Kale, Tomatoes and Green Chilies
Ingredients:
1 large bunch kale, stems removed, leaves chopped
3 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 15 oz cans, rinsed
6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
Salt
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1.5 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 can roasted, mild green chilies, chopped
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 small dried red chili
4 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced or 1-2 cans diced tomatoes
1 Preserved lemon, skin only, diced into 1/4 inch pieces (I didn’t have this, so I didn’t use it)
Directions:
- Boil or steam greens until wilted, then chop coarsely and set aside.
- Cover chickpeas with cold water and gently rub between hands to loosen skins. Tip bowl so skins flow off. Drain.
- Pound garlic in a mortar with 1/2 tsp salt until smooth, or mince with knife. Add dried spices, 1 tsp oil and 2 Tbsp each of cilantro and parsley. Pound until rough paste is formed. (I threw the whole lot in food processor and blended until smooth.)
- Heat remaining oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, chilies, thyme and dried chili. Cook for 7 minutes then stir in garlic paste, chickpeas and 1/2 cup water or broth.
- When onion is soft, add tomatoes, greens, 1/2 tsp salt and another 1/2 cup broth. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and lemon and serve.
by Krista | Mar 5, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
In the midst of some rather frantic packing this past week, I had some beloved rellies come to town for a visit. They were a welcome respite from all the hustle and bustle and after a fabulous roast chicken dinner by Mums, we donned jackets and scarves and headed out into the glorious sunshine for a trek over the hills. I thought you might like to join us. 🙂
In anticipation of much packing, cleaning, sorting and very little cooking, I made large batches of things such as
Cauliflower Gratin with Tomatoes and Feta, and Chickpea Stew with Kale, Tomatoes and Green Chilies to see me through the week. They were unfamiliar dishes with odd but intriguing ingredients, so I figured they’d keep from getting foodily bored whilst I moved. They were just the ticket! Tasty, interesting and healthy as all get out. 🙂
Alas, I can’t give you the recipe at this time, only the location, because in spite of diligent searching of boxes, I can’t for the life of me find the cookbook. 🙂 Grrr. I will try to have it for you next week. 🙂
I wish you a lovely weekend. 🙂
Chickpea Stew with Kale, Tomatoes and Green Chilies
by Krista | Mar 4, 2010 | Plucky Thursday
Tonight is my first night in my new apartment! I’m surrounded by boxes and cockeyed furniture and piles of pillows and I’m happy as can be. 🙂
Mums and I organized my kitchen on my lunch break, then she and Pa surprised me by working like troopers this afternoon hauling load after load from one place to other while I was at work. I couldn’t believe it!! There’s still much to be done but wow, they eased my burden tremendously. Then my friend Jon brought his truck around to cart over the way-too-heavy-for-me things – yay! Mid-packing Pa brought us burgers and that gave us the burst of energy we needed to accomplish our top three goals for this evening:
- Assemble the bed.
- Find my clothes. 🙂
- Clear one counter.
Now everyone is gone and the house is quiet save for the ticking of the clock. I’m back at my old place, clearing out my fridge and freezer, collecting toiletries and writing to you dear folks. 🙂
I’m afraid I have no lovely recipes to share, but I do have some pictures from around my new place. 🙂 I hope they delight you. 🙂
The view from my bedroom.
Another bedroom view.
The wild and wonderful creek.
Another view of the creek. I can’t wait to sit on the bank on sunny afternoons writing, reading, just looking.
Not to be outdone, my old apartment said farewell with a gorgeous sunset on my last night.
by Krista | Mar 3, 2010 | Compatriot Wednesday
Merciful heavens, am I ever tired. 🙂 Between physical therapy, moving and working two jobs, I am tuckered out! Thank goodness I’m not alone in this crazy life of mine or I’d be an absolute wreck. 🙂 Tonight Mums, my pal Deborah and I started moving, getting as many lighter things transferred before the menfolk arrive to haul the big stuff. Phew. It feels so good to get this process started. 🙂
Now I’m resting on the couch, icing my back, letting a glass of Riesling relax my aching self while I nibble on warm banana bread slathered with butter. 🙂 It’s so lovely to be sitting down! 🙂
Monday night I signed my lease papers and arrived at CEC with a shiny new key and a merry heart. 🙂
It was so great to see everyone, and we had a laugh at our crazy menu – the result of half the group thinking it was Soup Night and the other thinking it was Date Night. 🙂 Everything was cockeyed and any hope of proper courses was thrown to the wind. We didn’t mind a bit though, because we got to start with dessert first! 🙂
Selwyn made Chocolate Pecan Date Balls rolled in toasted coconut and we scarfed them down while the rest of the food was prepared.
Next up was my appetizer, Bacon-Wrapped Medjool Dates Stuffed with Blue Cheese. They were great, but next time I don’t care if the recipe calls for only half a slice of bacon per date, I’m going for a WHOLE! 🙂
Darren made crunchy, chewy Gluten-Free Parmesan Bread Sticks to go with the soups that weren’t quite ready, so we ate them with our wine instead and that worked out just dandy.
Mike brewed up creamy Tomato Soup with Colby Cheese – just perfect for dipping the breadsticks in.
Kat made a delicate Wonton Soup topped with sprouts and fresh basil.
Then we dug into Deb’s sprightly Moroccan Carrot Salad with Oranges and Medjool Dates.
We rounded out our feast with Toby’s piping hot Gluten-Free Cornbread Muffins.
Toby’s Cornbread Muffins
(From Recipe Zaar)
Ingredients:
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray or line with paper muffin cups.
- Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Stir well.
- Combine beaten egg, milk and melted butter (if using normal butter add less salt).
- Stir into the dry mixture and combine just until blended.
- Chopped jalapenos (from a tin) can also be added, as can chopped red pepper and/or tinned corn kernels.
- Scoop batter into prepared muffin pans.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of muffins before baking if desired.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes .
Krista’s Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates Stuffed with Blue Cheese
(From All Recipes)
Ingredients:
1 pound sliced bacon, cut in half
1 pound pitted dates
4 ounces blue cheese
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Slice dates in half, and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese, and place them into the center of the dates. Close the halves of the dates, and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick.
- Arrange in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with sides to catch any grease.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp. Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.
Deborah’s Moroccan Carrot Salad with Oranges and Medjool Dates
(From Food and Wine)
Ingredients:
4 navel oranges, 1 orange zested and juiced
1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
1 pound carrots, cut into 3-inch matchsticks
1/2 pound Medjool dates, pitted and thinly sliced lengthwise
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk the orange and lemon juice with the zests, sugar, cinnamon, cumin and cayenne. Gradually whisk in the olive oil and season the dressing with salt.
- In a large bowl, toss the carrots with all but 2 tablespoons of the dressing and let stand at room temperature for 40 minutes.
- Using a very sharp knife, peel the remaining 3 oranges, carefully removing all of the bitter white pith. Cut in between the membranes, releasing the orange sections into the bowl with the remaining dressing. Add the dates and toss.
- Arrange the carrot salad on a platter, spoon the oranges and dates around it and serve.
Selwyn’s Chocolate Pecan Date Balls
Ingredients:
2 cups pecans
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
6 Tbsp Special Dark Cocoa Powder
1/2 cup to 1 cup toasted coconut
Directions:
- Put pecans in a food processor and chop until fine and almost powdery.
- Add Medjool Dates and cocoa.
- Process until it is well blended in and sticking/clumping.
- Form into roughly tsp size balls and then coat in coconut.
Darren’s Gluten Free Bread Sticks with Parmesan
Make the Boule Recipe for dough, then flatten the bread, bake, top with parmesan and bake until cheese is toasted.
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