Monday, 19 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
DWZI - Michelin Star Lunch
This week I had the pleasure of going to a Michelin star restaurant for lunch.
The food was beautiful.
The ambiance was serene.
The company was great.
What a lovely way to end a really long week.
Thank you Jen Estalilla for the lovely photo!
Happy weekend everyone.
You can find more 'Deze Week Zag Ik' participants here.
Dunkin' Donuts
Unfortunately we don't have a Dunkin' Donuts in the Netherlands.
(Maybe that should be fortunately)
But in Germany they do!
While walking around Dusseldorf's Christmas Markets we walked past the Dunkin' Donuts and of course Heidi noticed and insisted we stop and buy some.
I secretly hoped that the donuts would taste bad, but no such luck, they were very fresh and very good.
Ironically it is not their taste that I like best, but their beauty.
The bright colours, the sprinkles on top, the shiny icing...
Yes, it really is a good thing we have to drive to another country to buy some!
(Maybe that should be fortunately)
But in Germany they do!
While walking around Dusseldorf's Christmas Markets we walked past the Dunkin' Donuts and of course Heidi noticed and insisted we stop and buy some.
I secretly hoped that the donuts would taste bad, but no such luck, they were very fresh and very good.
Ironically it is not their taste that I like best, but their beauty.
The bright colours, the sprinkles on top, the shiny icing...
Yes, it really is a good thing we have to drive to another country to buy some!
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Dusseldorf Christmas Market
At the spur of the moment we decided to drive to Dusseldorf for lunch.
We were going to skip the Christmas Markets this year, but we just couldn't resist a quick outing. It is only a two hour drive to Germany after all...
Bratwurst, bock worst, mushrooms, hot chocolate with cream, eggnog, gluhwein and even poffertjes.
Yummy yummy yummy.
We were going to skip the Christmas Markets this year, but we just couldn't resist a quick outing. It is only a two hour drive to Germany after all...
Bratwurst, bock worst, mushrooms, hot chocolate with cream, eggnog, gluhwein and even poffertjes.
Yummy yummy yummy.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Glorious Haloumi
Haloumi cheese is very salty.
Salty and delicious.
Grill it on both sides until warm and slightly scored, then serve in a salad.
Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
My salad of choice was couscous with roasted pumpkin and courgette.
A glorious combination.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Friday, 9 December 2011
DWZI Early Morning Lights
I get up pretty early in the morning and drop the kids off at their gastouder.
Since winter is upon us, it is dark outside when I drop them off and when I pick them up.
This past week I had a beautiful view of the early morning city lights.
I know my phone camera doesn't do them justice.
It's something you have to see for yourself.
So for now you can trust me, the early morning city lights are simply breathtakingly beautiful.
Happy weekend!
'Deze week zag ik' is iedere vrijdag een blik op de afgelopen week.
'Deze week zag ik' is geinspireerd door Jill's today i saw
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Frozen Broccoli Soup
For the first time in my life I decided to make something with the sole purpose to freeze it.
I am just not a big fan of frozen food but I find myself getting home later and later in the evening. That means that we sometimes end up eating very late, especially late for the kids.
Broccoli soup is my first experiment with freezing soup.
The soup is a basic vegetable soup with onion, carrots, broccoli, vegetable stock and a can of butter beans. Bring to the boil and then let it simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and ready to be blended.
I used a hand blender to get it to a nice smooth consistency.
Then it has to cool down completely. Once it is room temperature you can pour it into the freezer container of your choice. I used a freezer bag since I don't have a very big freezer compartment.
Now all I have to do is take it out of the freezer first thing in the morning and heat it up in the evening when I get home.
Sounds easy enough so let's hope it works!
I am just not a big fan of frozen food but I find myself getting home later and later in the evening. That means that we sometimes end up eating very late, especially late for the kids.
Broccoli soup is my first experiment with freezing soup.
The soup is a basic vegetable soup with onion, carrots, broccoli, vegetable stock and a can of butter beans. Bring to the boil and then let it simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and ready to be blended.
I used a hand blender to get it to a nice smooth consistency.
Then it has to cool down completely. Once it is room temperature you can pour it into the freezer container of your choice. I used a freezer bag since I don't have a very big freezer compartment.
Now all I have to do is take it out of the freezer first thing in the morning and heat it up in the evening when I get home.
Sounds easy enough so let's hope it works!
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Vegetarian Burritos!
I have a weakness for Mexican food.
Tortillas, tacos, burritos, nachos, guacamole, salsa... I say more more more!
We made some delicious burritos last week.
The basic ingredients came in a box, and all I had to do was add the fresh ingredients. Easy.
To give it a bit of spice, I used vegetarian mince and added a tin of three bean chilli.
Luckily the avocado I bought was ripe. Green and soft and simply perfect.
Probably not quite authentic Mexican food, but a easy and tasty dinner!
Tortillas, tacos, burritos, nachos, guacamole, salsa... I say more more more!
We made some delicious burritos last week.
The basic ingredients came in a box, and all I had to do was add the fresh ingredients. Easy.
To give it a bit of spice, I used vegetarian mince and added a tin of three bean chilli.
Luckily the avocado I bought was ripe. Green and soft and simply perfect.
Probably not quite authentic Mexican food, but a easy and tasty dinner!
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Asian Tower in Nieuwegein
If you feel like enjoying some Asian and Japanese food then you can certainly give the Asian Tower in Nieuwegein a visit.
The Japanese restaurant is downstairs and we sat in the Asian part of the restaurant upstairs. It is a revolving restaurant!! I kid you not! The restaurant moves!
Besides the novelty of a revolving restaurant, we were very happy with the food and service. My husband had a surprise menu and he really enjoyed his choice. The dishes were beautifully presented and very tasty. His menu even included kangaroo steak... strange but delicious.
My choices were way more predictable. Spring rolls as a starter, chicken in a sweet and sour sauce as a main. Predictable but tasty nonetheless.
Heidi had a children's meal and Stella ate most of it. Heidi was more interested in the ice cream dessert, and she was not disappointed.
Next time we will try the Japanese restaurant, without the kids though.
The Japanese restaurant is downstairs and we sat in the Asian part of the restaurant upstairs. It is a revolving restaurant!! I kid you not! The restaurant moves!
Besides the novelty of a revolving restaurant, we were very happy with the food and service. My husband had a surprise menu and he really enjoyed his choice. The dishes were beautifully presented and very tasty. His menu even included kangaroo steak... strange but delicious.
My choices were way more predictable. Spring rolls as a starter, chicken in a sweet and sour sauce as a main. Predictable but tasty nonetheless.
Heidi had a children's meal and Stella ate most of it. Heidi was more interested in the ice cream dessert, and she was not disappointed.
Next time we will try the Japanese restaurant, without the kids though.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Friday, 2 December 2011
DWZI - Traffic
Being stuck in traffic is one of my pet peeves.
Let me rephrase: I hate traffic jams.
This week I spent a lot of time in my car.
I guess that I just have to accept the fact that there are some things that I cannot change. And make sure I have lots of good music to distract me!
Happy weekend!!
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
Geinspireerd door Jill's today i saw , een tekening,
foto, gedicht, knip&plak werkje, iets over wat je deze
week gezien hebt.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
A Quick Red Thai Curry
A busy life calls for quick and easy dinners.
That is when a curry can be a lifesaver.
Ready made curry paste, coconut milk, pork (already cut neatly into bite size pieces), a big carrot (sliced), one courgette (sliced), basmati rice and you should be able to have a meal on the table in 30 minutes.
Start by making the rice as per the instructions on the packet.
Then heat up a little bit of oil and add a few tablespoons of red curry paste to the pan. The more you add, the hotter it will be!
Now add the pork and stir fry for a few minutes, then add the vegetables and stir fry for about 5 minutes until they are tender. Now add the coconut milk and leave everything to simmer for about 5 more minutes.
Easy, easy, easy.
That is when a curry can be a lifesaver.
Ready made curry paste, coconut milk, pork (already cut neatly into bite size pieces), a big carrot (sliced), one courgette (sliced), basmati rice and you should be able to have a meal on the table in 30 minutes.
Start by making the rice as per the instructions on the packet.
Then heat up a little bit of oil and add a few tablespoons of red curry paste to the pan. The more you add, the hotter it will be!
Now add the pork and stir fry for a few minutes, then add the vegetables and stir fry for about 5 minutes until they are tender. Now add the coconut milk and leave everything to simmer for about 5 more minutes.
Easy, easy, easy.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Pretty Farewell Cakes
A few weeks ago we said farewell and happy birthday to a colleague.
She bought some beautiful cakes for the occasion.
I especially love the fruit decorations :-)
She bought some beautiful cakes for the occasion.
I especially love the fruit decorations :-)
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
French Onion Soup
I bought a big bag of onions for less than a euro.
The first thing that came to mind was onion soup.
Not that I've ever made it before, but I've always been good at ordering it in restaurants.
So I searched the Internet for French Onion Soup recipes and found many, too many.
Luckily I came across this recipe from Nigel Slater.
What I like about it was the short list of ingredients and the clear instructions.
It worked like a charm.
Here is a copy of the recipe, I followed it step by step, except I found that I had to cook the onions for about an hour which is slightly longer than suggested in the recipe. I also used Parmesan cheese instead of the cheeses below.
The first thing that came to mind was onion soup.
Not that I've ever made it before, but I've always been good at ordering it in restaurants.
So I searched the Internet for French Onion Soup recipes and found many, too many.
Luckily I came across this recipe from Nigel Slater.
What I like about it was the short list of ingredients and the clear instructions.
It worked like a charm.
Here is a copy of the recipe, I followed it step by step, except I found that I had to cook the onions for about an hour which is slightly longer than suggested in the recipe. I also used Parmesan cheese instead of the cheeses below.
Serves 4-6
700g onions
40g butter
2 tbsp flour
1.75 litres beef stock
1 glass of white wine
Baguette to toast
Gruyère or Emmenthal
40g butter
2 tbsp flour
1.75 litres beef stock
1 glass of white wine
Baguette to toast
Gruyère or Emmenthal
Peel and thinly slice 700g onions, then leave them to soften in 40g butter and a small glug of olive oil over a low to medium heat. Stir them regularly. They are ready when they are soft, sticky, sweet and deep gold in colour. Some add a pinch of sugar at this point to help the onions caramelise. Stir in a couple of tablespoons of flour, cook for 3 or 4 minutes, then pour in 1.75 litres of boiling beef stock and a glass of white wine. Partially cover with a lid and leave to simmer for a good 45 minutes.
Season, ladle into deep, heatproof bowls, place several thin slices of toasted baguette on to each, then cover with thinly sliced Gruyère or Emmenthal. Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes or grill until the bread is toasted and the cheese has melted but not browned.
The magic
The trick to getting this soup right is that the onions caramelize – they must cook for at least 35-40 minutes over a low to moderate heat. Only when the onions are soft enough to crush easily between finger and thumb can you add the flour and stock.
The twist
Contemporary versions can involve roasting the onions in the oven to give a more concentrated sweetness. Red onions produce the sweetest version of all, so you might like to add thyme and bay as a balance. Parmesan in place of Gruyère produces a less fatty but just as tasty crust.
Thank you Nigel Slater!!
Monday, 28 November 2011
Friday, 25 November 2011
DWZI - Crazy Mist
It feels like the whole country was covered in a thick blanket of mist this week.
Although it was kind of magical, it was also very scary.
Driving in mist is quite the challenge it turns out.
People do strange things... bicycles appear from nowhere.
I must admit that I am quite relieved that the crazy mist finally seemed to have disappeared.
Now I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with Sinterklaas activities :-)
Happy weekend!
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
(inspired by DezeWeekZagIk on the blogs by Daan en Roos)
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Yakimono in Houten
We met up with some friends in a restaurant called Yakimono in Houten.
It is yet another big wok Asian style restaurant.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated, modern and has a great view of the A27 motorway.
We were 4 adults and 3 children and there was something to eat in every one's taste. They had soups, salads, ready made sate in peanut sauce, a teppanyaki grill, a wok area and lots of ice cream.
I must admit that I find it hard to be overly excited about this restaurant. It does exactly what it says on the label. The wok is definitely the best choice out of all the dishes. The sushi was downright shameful. At least they had really nice ice cream as an end to the meal.
They have baby seats and they have a children's play area. However, the play area is not particularly safe and it would be wise to supervise your children if you allow them to play there.
All in all we had a good evening out - the food was all right, the company was excellent.
It is yet another big wok Asian style restaurant.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated, modern and has a great view of the A27 motorway.
We were 4 adults and 3 children and there was something to eat in every one's taste. They had soups, salads, ready made sate in peanut sauce, a teppanyaki grill, a wok area and lots of ice cream.
I must admit that I find it hard to be overly excited about this restaurant. It does exactly what it says on the label. The wok is definitely the best choice out of all the dishes. The sushi was downright shameful. At least they had really nice ice cream as an end to the meal.
They have baby seats and they have a children's play area. However, the play area is not particularly safe and it would be wise to supervise your children if you allow them to play there.
All in all we had a good evening out - the food was all right, the company was excellent.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Creamy Vegan Pasta Sauce
Yes, you can enjoy a delicious creamy pasta sauce even if you are eating like a Vegan!
The trick is to use a soy cream. I found a product called Alpro Soya Cuisine in my supermarket and it works like a charm.
I used it in my pasta sauce by mixing it into the sauce right before serving it. Just long enough to heat it through. No need to bring it to boiling point.
This was a very easy pasta dinner, with more than enough for lunch a couple of days later.
Ingredients:
500gram Packet of spaghetti (I used a pasta which is egg free)
One tablespoon sunflower oil
One big onion, finely chopped
One clove of garlic, crushed
Quorn vegetarian mince (one container, I think it was 275 grams or something like that)
Two hands full of mushrooms, sliced
One jar of tomato and basil ready made vegetarian pasta sauce
One courgette, grated
100ml Alpro soya cuisine
Seasoning
Method:
Heat up the oil and add the chopped onion. Saute until the onion becomes translucent and then add crushed garlic. Saute for a minute and then add the mince. Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the rest of the basic sauce ingredients (mushrooms, tomato sauce, courgette). Mix together, season as per your taste and let it simmer on a low heat for approximately 10 minutes. You might want to add a little hot water to the sauce, depending on how wet you like the sauce to be.
Now cook the pasta as per the instructions on the packet - in my case it took 10 minutes to be al dente. Drain and set aside.
The final step to the pasta sauce is to add the soy cream. Stir it in and mix well. Just keep it on the heat for about 2 minutes.
The deep red pasta sauce should turn into a creamy, almost salmon coloured sauce.
Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve.
Notes:
- Add any vegetables of your choice to the pasta sauce e.g. peppers (paprika), chillies, broccoli, etc.
- Make this a vegetarian dish by using real dairy instead of soy and adding some Parmesan cheese.
The trick is to use a soy cream. I found a product called Alpro Soya Cuisine in my supermarket and it works like a charm.
I used it in my pasta sauce by mixing it into the sauce right before serving it. Just long enough to heat it through. No need to bring it to boiling point.
This was a very easy pasta dinner, with more than enough for lunch a couple of days later.
500gram Packet of spaghetti (I used a pasta which is egg free)
One tablespoon sunflower oil
One big onion, finely chopped
One clove of garlic, crushed
Quorn vegetarian mince (one container, I think it was 275 grams or something like that)
Two hands full of mushrooms, sliced
One jar of tomato and basil ready made vegetarian pasta sauce
One courgette, grated
100ml Alpro soya cuisine
Seasoning
Method:
Heat up the oil and add the chopped onion. Saute until the onion becomes translucent and then add crushed garlic. Saute for a minute and then add the mince. Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the rest of the basic sauce ingredients (mushrooms, tomato sauce, courgette). Mix together, season as per your taste and let it simmer on a low heat for approximately 10 minutes. You might want to add a little hot water to the sauce, depending on how wet you like the sauce to be.
Now cook the pasta as per the instructions on the packet - in my case it took 10 minutes to be al dente. Drain and set aside.
The final step to the pasta sauce is to add the soy cream. Stir it in and mix well. Just keep it on the heat for about 2 minutes.
The deep red pasta sauce should turn into a creamy, almost salmon coloured sauce.
Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve.
Notes:
- Add any vegetables of your choice to the pasta sauce e.g. peppers (paprika), chillies, broccoli, etc.
- Make this a vegetarian dish by using real dairy instead of soy and adding some Parmesan cheese.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Lapjesmarkt
If you need any material or sewing supplies then the best place to go is to the Lapjesmarkt in Utrecht.
It is on every Saturday morning.
But you have to go early, unless you feel like wrestling little old ladies for the attention of the vendor. It gets pretty busy.
I took a brisk walk this morning to search for a few bargains, which I found.
Unfortunately my talents do not extend to needlework or sewing. Luckily I have quite a few friends with some good skills in this area.
Hopefully one of them will let me use their sewing machine :-)
It is on every Saturday morning.
But you have to go early, unless you feel like wrestling little old ladies for the attention of the vendor. It gets pretty busy.
I took a brisk walk this morning to search for a few bargains, which I found.
Unfortunately my talents do not extend to needlework or sewing. Luckily I have quite a few friends with some good skills in this area.
Hopefully one of them will let me use their sewing machine :-)
Friday, 18 November 2011
DWZI - Cake!
We have a longstanding tradition at the project that if you have a birthday, you have to bring a treat.
This week one of my Filipino colleagues celebrated her birthday and she just happens to be a master baker.
She showed up on Tuesday morning with:
- Red Velvet Cake
- Chocolate Cake
- Cheesecake
- Vanilla Cream Cake
and an assortment of cupcakes.
Everyone on the project floor descended on her desk with sweet anticipation of the home baked cakes. We were not disappointed.
Now this is the kind of baking I aspire to do!
This week one of my Filipino colleagues celebrated her birthday and she just happens to be a master baker.
She showed up on Tuesday morning with:
- Red Velvet Cake
- Chocolate Cake
- Cheesecake
- Vanilla Cream Cake
and an assortment of cupcakes.
Everyone on the project floor descended on her desk with sweet anticipation of the home baked cakes. We were not disappointed.
Now this is the kind of baking I aspire to do!
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
(inspired by DezeWeekZagIk on the blogs by Daan en Roos)
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Soy Creamed Spinach
My husband is a really good cook. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before.
As a side dish to our dinner, he made creamed spinach.
He used onions, garlic, fresh spinach (washed and the stems trimmed) and soy cream.
The exact method is a secret because I walked into the door and dinner was ready.
Lucky me :-)
As a side dish to our dinner, he made creamed spinach.
He used onions, garlic, fresh spinach (washed and the stems trimmed) and soy cream.
The exact method is a secret because I walked into the door and dinner was ready.
Lucky me :-)
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Wagamama!
One of my favourite restaurants is Wagamama.
I used to work in Amsterdam Zuid and there is a Wagamama's right by the WTC, the perfect stop for a quick lunch.
Yummy.
We decided to treat ourselves and off to Amsterdam Zuid we went on a cold Sunday evening.
The restaurant is modern and the food is Asian inspired.
I always eat something with chicken and rice here... simply because I really like chicken and rice. But they have glorious soups, tasty noodles and freshly squeezed juices too.
My chicken, courgette, mushroom and rice dish was delicious. Drenched in a warm, slightly salty broth it was perfect for a cold evening. My husband enjoyed a seafood noodle dish. We also had dumplings and some grilled asparagus spears. They have a kids menu so Heidi was catered for too... crumbed chicken breast (not quite chicken nuggets, in her words, but definitely a more healthy and tasty substitute!). Luckily there were some other kids running around the restaurant and Heidi soon joined them, leaving Stella behind to finish the food.
We left the restaurant feeling satisfied. Happy me and happy family.
I used to work in Amsterdam Zuid and there is a Wagamama's right by the WTC, the perfect stop for a quick lunch.
Yummy.
We decided to treat ourselves and off to Amsterdam Zuid we went on a cold Sunday evening.
The restaurant is modern and the food is Asian inspired.
I always eat something with chicken and rice here... simply because I really like chicken and rice. But they have glorious soups, tasty noodles and freshly squeezed juices too.
My chicken, courgette, mushroom and rice dish was delicious. Drenched in a warm, slightly salty broth it was perfect for a cold evening. My husband enjoyed a seafood noodle dish. We also had dumplings and some grilled asparagus spears. They have a kids menu so Heidi was catered for too... crumbed chicken breast (not quite chicken nuggets, in her words, but definitely a more healthy and tasty substitute!). Luckily there were some other kids running around the restaurant and Heidi soon joined them, leaving Stella behind to finish the food.
We left the restaurant feeling satisfied. Happy me and happy family.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Butternut Curry
I finally decided to use the butternut patiently waiting in the vegetable drawer.
First I thought of making a butternut soup but then as I walked to the kitchen a curry seemed like a great idea... except that I didn't really have all the required ingredients.
But I like to improvise, how wrong could it go?
Not at all as it turned out!
So, the big problem was that I had no curry paste. I've seen lots of cooking shows where they whip up a curry so I decided to just make it up. Yes, just make it up!
I heated up a tablespoon of vegetable oil and added two cloves minced garlic. To this I then added a tablespoon curry powder, a dash of dried ginger, some cayenne pepper, salt, a tablespoon sugar and some cumin. As the ingredients were heating up, a lovely spicy smell filled the kitchen. I kept stirring and a paste formed within a couple of minutes.
I added some hot water to the pan and let it simmer. Then it was time to pour in the coconut milk. I had a little 250ml box of Thai coconut milk and into the mixture it went, smooth and creamy. I left it to simmer while I prepared the rest of the ingredients. (note to reader - I suggest you use preprepared curry paste!)
The butternut had to be peeled and diced, then I sliced a courgette and an onion. Prep work done.
Next I heated up a tablespoon of vegetable oil in my wok. I added the vegetables and stir fried them for 5 minutes. Then I poured in the curry sauce and let it all simmer for about 20 minutes. This was enough to cook the butternut.
Of course you mustn't forget about the rice! Once the vegetables were simmering away, I cooked my basmati rice as per the package instructions. It was going to take 18 minutes in total. Seemed like perfect timing to me.
At the last minute I decided to serve some vegetarian fillets with the curry - I quickly pan fried them and just piled them on top of the curry.
It was a surprisingly delicious curry, and one I will definitely make again.
First I thought of making a butternut soup but then as I walked to the kitchen a curry seemed like a great idea... except that I didn't really have all the required ingredients.
But I like to improvise, how wrong could it go?
Not at all as it turned out!
So, the big problem was that I had no curry paste. I've seen lots of cooking shows where they whip up a curry so I decided to just make it up. Yes, just make it up!
I heated up a tablespoon of vegetable oil and added two cloves minced garlic. To this I then added a tablespoon curry powder, a dash of dried ginger, some cayenne pepper, salt, a tablespoon sugar and some cumin. As the ingredients were heating up, a lovely spicy smell filled the kitchen. I kept stirring and a paste formed within a couple of minutes.
I added some hot water to the pan and let it simmer. Then it was time to pour in the coconut milk. I had a little 250ml box of Thai coconut milk and into the mixture it went, smooth and creamy. I left it to simmer while I prepared the rest of the ingredients. (note to reader - I suggest you use preprepared curry paste!)
The butternut had to be peeled and diced, then I sliced a courgette and an onion. Prep work done.
Next I heated up a tablespoon of vegetable oil in my wok. I added the vegetables and stir fried them for 5 minutes. Then I poured in the curry sauce and let it all simmer for about 20 minutes. This was enough to cook the butternut.
Of course you mustn't forget about the rice! Once the vegetables were simmering away, I cooked my basmati rice as per the package instructions. It was going to take 18 minutes in total. Seemed like perfect timing to me.
At the last minute I decided to serve some vegetarian fillets with the curry - I quickly pan fried them and just piled them on top of the curry.
It was a surprisingly delicious curry, and one I will definitely make again.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Friday, 11 November 2011
DWZI - Dancing in front of the Dom
We had to go to town with the car and found parking in Springweg. From the parking spot we had a wonderful view of the Dom Church.
The gray skies and cold weather did not stop Heidi from dancing on a rooftop.
My little dancer.
Happy weekend!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Spicy Chicken Wraps
My husband showed up with a grocery bag full of ingredients to make chicken wraps.
Tortilla wraps, diced chicken breasts, chicken spices, mild wrap salsa, tomatoes, onions, garlic and lettuce.
Well, I guess we were having wraps for dinner.
It's pretty easy to make. Just saute the chicken, add the spices and serve with above mentioned ingredients.
It turns out that 'mild' isn't really mild at all. At least, not my interpretation of mild!
After a couple of bites my mouth was on fire!! Not just mine, but my husband's too. We poured ourselves a some milk and read the label on the jar of salsa. The list of hot chillies, jalapeno peppers, chilli powder, etc. confirmed our suspicion that this was indeed not a mild salsa.
We still enjoyed our wraps, just with a little less salsa... In fact, if you have some sour cream then this would be the perfect addition to the wrap to balance out the hot salsa :-)
Tortilla wraps, diced chicken breasts, chicken spices, mild wrap salsa, tomatoes, onions, garlic and lettuce.
Well, I guess we were having wraps for dinner.
It's pretty easy to make. Just saute the chicken, add the spices and serve with above mentioned ingredients.
It turns out that 'mild' isn't really mild at all. At least, not my interpretation of mild!
After a couple of bites my mouth was on fire!! Not just mine, but my husband's too. We poured ourselves a some milk and read the label on the jar of salsa. The list of hot chillies, jalapeno peppers, chilli powder, etc. confirmed our suspicion that this was indeed not a mild salsa.
We still enjoyed our wraps, just with a little less salsa... In fact, if you have some sour cream then this would be the perfect addition to the wrap to balance out the hot salsa :-)
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Baking Cookies
Heidi loves baking.
She is my little helper in the kitchen and as a treat I decided to bake some cookies with her. One of her playgroup friends came for a visit and it turned out to be quite a fun activity for the kids on a Friday afternoon.
Of course I made my life very easy by using a cookie mix from 'de Tafel van 18', and I even had ready made icing too... (yes, you can buy anything ready made these days!). I bought the icing from Pipoos. It came in a tube and had a piping nozzle.
All I had to do was add some butter and water to the cookie mix, beat it until it formed a dough, roll it out and let the kids have their fun with my cookie cutters. Pop the cookies in the oven for 10 minutes, then let them cool down before icing them. Easy peasy and very happy children.
She is my little helper in the kitchen and as a treat I decided to bake some cookies with her. One of her playgroup friends came for a visit and it turned out to be quite a fun activity for the kids on a Friday afternoon.
Of course I made my life very easy by using a cookie mix from 'de Tafel van 18', and I even had ready made icing too... (yes, you can buy anything ready made these days!). I bought the icing from Pipoos. It came in a tube and had a piping nozzle.
All I had to do was add some butter and water to the cookie mix, beat it until it formed a dough, roll it out and let the kids have their fun with my cookie cutters. Pop the cookies in the oven for 10 minutes, then let them cool down before icing them. Easy peasy and very happy children.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Friday, 4 November 2011
DWZI - KreaDoe!
This week I managed to stop by the Utrecht Jaarbeurs to have a quick stroll through the KreaDoe.
It was crazy busy and I only had an hour so you can imagine I was in a bit of a rush.
So many stalls with so many hobby suppliers and so much to see...
I tell you, this is heaven for the hobbyist.
The best thing about the beurs was running into an old colleague of mine who started a business called Hoooked. It is crocheting with a really cool product called zpagetti made from recycled materials.
She even gave me her first book which is filled with ideas and techniques. I can definitely recommend this to anyone who likes to crochet - go on, get some zpagetti!!
So, all in all my whirlwind of a trip through the KreaDoe was very successful :-)
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
It was crazy busy and I only had an hour so you can imagine I was in a bit of a rush.
So many stalls with so many hobby suppliers and so much to see...
I tell you, this is heaven for the hobbyist.
The best thing about the beurs was running into an old colleague of mine who started a business called Hoooked. It is crocheting with a really cool product called zpagetti made from recycled materials.
She even gave me her first book which is filled with ideas and techniques. I can definitely recommend this to anyone who likes to crochet - go on, get some zpagetti!!
So, all in all my whirlwind of a trip through the KreaDoe was very successful :-)
Happy weekend everybody!
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
(inspired by DezeWeekZagIk on the blogs by Daan en Roos)
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Ginger Carrots a la Naomi!
My friend Naomi made her son's favourite side dish while they were visiting us.
It is called ginger carrots.
The dish is very easy to make and a winner with the kids!
Take three large carrots, peel and slice diagonally.
Heat up two or three tablespoons of butter and add the carrots.
Sauté the carrots for a few minutes then add some ground ginger, a table spoon of brown sugar and mix well.
Sauté for another 5 minutes at most, just until the carrots are tender but not soft.
Serve up as a side dish and enjoy!
It is called ginger carrots.
The dish is very easy to make and a winner with the kids!
Take three large carrots, peel and slice diagonally.
Heat up two or three tablespoons of butter and add the carrots.
Sauté the carrots for a few minutes then add some ground ginger, a table spoon of brown sugar and mix well.
Sauté for another 5 minutes at most, just until the carrots are tender but not soft.
Serve up as a side dish and enjoy!
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts.
Not really my favourite vegetable... but my husband really likes them and whenever I open the fridge I tend to find a bag full of brussels sprouts which I don't recall buying.
Now, you can do a lot of things with brussels sprouts but I like stir frying them in some vegetable oil. Just clean them up a bit, heat up about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and add the brussels sprouts. Stir fry for about 10 minutes or until they get a slight brown colour on the outside and are still nice and green inside.
Season with salt and pepper and serve as a side dish.
Not really my favourite vegetable... but my husband really likes them and whenever I open the fridge I tend to find a bag full of brussels sprouts which I don't recall buying.
Now, you can do a lot of things with brussels sprouts but I like stir frying them in some vegetable oil. Just clean them up a bit, heat up about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and add the brussels sprouts. Stir fry for about 10 minutes or until they get a slight brown colour on the outside and are still nice and green inside.
Season with salt and pepper and serve as a side dish.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Wizards and Witches at Kasteel de Haar
It's hard to believe that barely a week ago my good friend Naomi was here with her beautiful son, Luke.
We took the kids to Kasteel de Haar where they had a 'wizards and witches' afternoon full of activities for the kids.
Heidi refused to be a witch and instead decided that she is princess Doornrosie, Luke named himself wizard James.
The kids activities were so much fun and included making brooms, green drinks with spiders floating around, amulet making, story telling, and more.
We enjoyed some sun even though it was a chilly autumn afternoon. The kids ran around and managed to get rid of all their excess energy. They were fast asleep in the car the moment the wheels started turning.
Thank you Naomi and Luke - we had a wonderful time!
We took the kids to Kasteel de Haar where they had a 'wizards and witches' afternoon full of activities for the kids.
Heidi refused to be a witch and instead decided that she is princess Doornrosie, Luke named himself wizard James.
The kids activities were so much fun and included making brooms, green drinks with spiders floating around, amulet making, story telling, and more.
We enjoyed some sun even though it was a chilly autumn afternoon. The kids ran around and managed to get rid of all their excess energy. They were fast asleep in the car the moment the wheels started turning.
Thank you Naomi and Luke - we had a wonderful time!
Saturday, 29 October 2011
The Comfort of Homemade Banana Bread
I had three very ripe bananas, waiting patiently to be used. So I mustered up the energy to bake a banana bread.
Having a bad cold doesn't really make me fun to be around. And I needed something comforting. A banana bread seemed like a good idea. I used my Mom's recipe and it made me feel closer to home.
Heidi, Stella and I enjoyed a slice of banana loaf with a little bit of margarine spread on top.
Probably not exactly a healthy breakfast, but definitely one that made me feel just a little better.
Having a bad cold doesn't really make me fun to be around. And I needed something comforting. A banana bread seemed like a good idea. I used my Mom's recipe and it made me feel closer to home.
Heidi, Stella and I enjoyed a slice of banana loaf with a little bit of margarine spread on top.
Probably not exactly a healthy breakfast, but definitely one that made me feel just a little better.
Friday, 28 October 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Asia Restaurant in Apeldoorn
A couple of weeks ago we had a team event which ended at a Vietnamese restaurant in Apeldoorn called Asia.
The restaurant is surprisingly big once you go inside. We were a group of about 50 colleagues and it easily accommodated all of us with about half the restaurant to spare.
There is a big grill area where you can select your meat or fish and it is cooked right there in front of you. It is grilled to perfection. I had the chicken skewers, but some of my colleagues had prawns and steaks and they went for seconds and thirds.
A selection of standard Asian dishes was also available. Curries, noodles, rice, stir fried vegetables, banana fritters, fresh fruit, ice cream and more. The best part was the food from the grill, and the service with a smile.
We enjoyed our team dinner and I can happily recommend this restaurant if you happen to find yourself in Apeldoorn and in the mood for Asian cuisine!
The restaurant is surprisingly big once you go inside. We were a group of about 50 colleagues and it easily accommodated all of us with about half the restaurant to spare.
There is a big grill area where you can select your meat or fish and it is cooked right there in front of you. It is grilled to perfection. I had the chicken skewers, but some of my colleagues had prawns and steaks and they went for seconds and thirds.
A selection of standard Asian dishes was also available. Curries, noodles, rice, stir fried vegetables, banana fritters, fresh fruit, ice cream and more. The best part was the food from the grill, and the service with a smile.
We enjoyed our team dinner and I can happily recommend this restaurant if you happen to find yourself in Apeldoorn and in the mood for Asian cuisine!
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Roasted Vegetables Again
I make oven roasted vegetables ALL the time.
It's just easy and delicious and the perfect side dish to any meal.
Sometimes we even eat it as the main course!
Here is a photo of some vegetables seconds before I placed them in the oven.
Yes, it is something of everything in the vegetable department. Carrots, courgette, onion, garlic, potatoes and corn on the cob. I just tossed them all together with a drizzle of vegetable oil, seasoning and into the oven they went.
Funnily enough I forgot to take a photo once they were cooked :-)
I assure you though that we enjoyed eating them!
It's just easy and delicious and the perfect side dish to any meal.
Sometimes we even eat it as the main course!
Here is a photo of some vegetables seconds before I placed them in the oven.
Yes, it is something of everything in the vegetable department. Carrots, courgette, onion, garlic, potatoes and corn on the cob. I just tossed them all together with a drizzle of vegetable oil, seasoning and into the oven they went.
Funnily enough I forgot to take a photo once they were cooked :-)
I assure you though that we enjoyed eating them!
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Steak and Fries
We do not eat red meat often.
In fact, I think we eat red meat once a month...
But I just felt like having a steak and fries dinner, you know?
I made the fries myself, peeling them one by one and cutting matchstick size potato pieces. Well, not quite matchstick but thin enough to my liking.
We do not own a deep fat fryer And I swore we will never get one. So I heated up some vegetable oil in a pan, about 2 cm deep and fried up my lovely little chips.
The steaks went onto the griddle pan and I made my usual green salad.
It seems to me that a meal is not quite complete without a side salad.
Steak, fries and a salad. A very satisfying combination.
In fact, I think we eat red meat once a month...
But I just felt like having a steak and fries dinner, you know?
I made the fries myself, peeling them one by one and cutting matchstick size potato pieces. Well, not quite matchstick but thin enough to my liking.
We do not own a deep fat fryer And I swore we will never get one. So I heated up some vegetable oil in a pan, about 2 cm deep and fried up my lovely little chips.
The steaks went onto the griddle pan and I made my usual green salad.
It seems to me that a meal is not quite complete without a side salad.
Steak, fries and a salad. A very satisfying combination.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Vitamins, vitamins
I've been pretty bad the last few weeks in terms of what I eat...
So out of desperation I decided to contact a woman who gives food advice and through Chinese healing methods works out a personal plan for you. Her website is http://www.persoonlijke-voeding.nl/
It's really quite interesting and I'm going to give her suggestions a try.
The first thing to do is to start taking vitamins, lots of vitamins!
So out of desperation I decided to contact a woman who gives food advice and through Chinese healing methods works out a personal plan for you. Her website is http://www.persoonlijke-voeding.nl/
It's really quite interesting and I'm going to give her suggestions a try.
The first thing to do is to start taking vitamins, lots of vitamins!
Wish me luck this week - I'm going to need it!
Saturday, 22 October 2011
One more Tori Amos photo
Here is a gorgeous photo taken by my friend Tip who joined me at the Tori Amos concert.
Classic Tori with her red hair, in front of a piano.
It really was a special evening.
I also want to wish my father a very happy birthday today :-)
Friday, 21 October 2011
DWZI - Tori Amos!
This week I saw Tori Amos at the Amsterdam Carré.
What a beautiful venue and what a great show.
I was lost in her sweet voice and transported to another world.
Happy weekend everybody :-)
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
(inspired by DezeWeekZagIk on the blogs by Daan en Roos)
Thursday, 20 October 2011
A pasta dinner made by my husband
Sometimes I just don't have the energy or the inclination to make dinner.
Then my hero steps in and saves the day.
My husband is actually quite a good cook, lucky me.
Last night he made us a lovely dinner of spaghetti with chicken and mushrooms. He even served a dessert of vanilla custard with apple pie filling. Delicious!
Then my hero steps in and saves the day.
My husband is actually quite a good cook, lucky me.
Last night he made us a lovely dinner of spaghetti with chicken and mushrooms. He even served a dessert of vanilla custard with apple pie filling. Delicious!
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
A Quick Macaroni Dish
The macaroni in the Netherlands is really, really, really tiny.
Little elbow shaped pieces of pasta.
I received a free bag of macaroni and I do like free stuff.
A simple tomato based pasta sauce with garlic, onions, mushrooms and basil smothered the cooked pasta. Then I covered it with a yellow layer of grated cheese and placed it in a hot oven to melt the cheese.
Serve it with a green salad and this quick vegetarian meal is complete.
Little elbow shaped pieces of pasta.
I received a free bag of macaroni and I do like free stuff.
A simple tomato based pasta sauce with garlic, onions, mushrooms and basil smothered the cooked pasta. Then I covered it with a yellow layer of grated cheese and placed it in a hot oven to melt the cheese.
Serve it with a green salad and this quick vegetarian meal is complete.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Melkkos
My husband simply loves Melkkos.
It is a truly South African dish, eaten either as a warm and filling breakfast or as a dessert.
This morning my husband decided to make it for us as a special treat.
The main ingredient is milk, about 1 litre which you need to bring to the boil.
In the meantime add 1.5 cups flour, 1.5 tablespoon butter, pinch of salt and two tablespoons of sugar into a big bowl. Now rub the mixture together with your hands until you have breadcrumb like consistency.
Add the flour mixture a little bit at a time to the boiling milk and stir, stir, stir.
Once you've added everything you need to let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
The consistency will be similar to that of porridge.
In a little bowl mix 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Add the cinnamon sugar to the Melkkos and mix well.
Serve and enjoy!
It is a truly South African dish, eaten either as a warm and filling breakfast or as a dessert.
This morning my husband decided to make it for us as a special treat.
The main ingredient is milk, about 1 litre which you need to bring to the boil.
In the meantime add 1.5 cups flour, 1.5 tablespoon butter, pinch of salt and two tablespoons of sugar into a big bowl. Now rub the mixture together with your hands until you have breadcrumb like consistency.
Add the flour mixture a little bit at a time to the boiling milk and stir, stir, stir.
Once you've added everything you need to let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
The consistency will be similar to that of porridge.
In a little bowl mix 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Add the cinnamon sugar to the Melkkos and mix well.
Serve and enjoy!
Friday, 14 October 2011
DWZI - Bubble Writing
I bought the most wonderful book:
How to be the best bubble writer in the world ever by Linda Scott.
It's fun and it makes me feel young and now I find myself wanting to use bubble writing for everything. Even taking notes during a meeting!
Happy weekend everybody :-)
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
(inspired by DezeWeekZagIk on the blogs by Daan en Roos)
Deze week zag ik... this week I saw
(inspired by DezeWeekZagIk on the blogs by Daan en Roos)
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Leek and Celeriac Soup - the Very Basic Version
The rapid change in weather brought the cold and all of a sudden I found myself craving warm, comforting soup.
Soup that warms you up from the inside and makes you feel satisfied.
Leek and celeriac soup felt like just the right combination for this cold and rainy day. I decided to make a very basic version, since my ingredients were limited. It has pretty much only four ingredients: vegetable oil, leeks, celeriac and vegetable stock. That is it.
Take three large leeks, wash and trimmed, and then slice them into pretty rings. Peel and dice the celeriac. Add a dash of vegetable oil to a casserole dish (or whatever you happen to be using to make your soup in) and heat up the oil for a minute. Then place the leeks and celeriac in the dish and saute for a couple of minutes. Now add a litre or so of vegetable stock to the vegetables and season as per your personal taste.
Let is simmer for 30 - 45 minutes, stir occasionally and add water if necessary.
Once all the vegetables are nice and soft, take a hand blender and blend until you have a smooth consistency. Serve with fresh bread and enjoy.
Soup that warms you up from the inside and makes you feel satisfied.
Leek and celeriac soup felt like just the right combination for this cold and rainy day. I decided to make a very basic version, since my ingredients were limited. It has pretty much only four ingredients: vegetable oil, leeks, celeriac and vegetable stock. That is it.
Take three large leeks, wash and trimmed, and then slice them into pretty rings. Peel and dice the celeriac. Add a dash of vegetable oil to a casserole dish (or whatever you happen to be using to make your soup in) and heat up the oil for a minute. Then place the leeks and celeriac in the dish and saute for a couple of minutes. Now add a litre or so of vegetable stock to the vegetables and season as per your personal taste.
Let is simmer for 30 - 45 minutes, stir occasionally and add water if necessary.
Once all the vegetables are nice and soft, take a hand blender and blend until you have a smooth consistency. Serve with fresh bread and enjoy.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Baking an Ikea Bread
I'm sure I've mentioned before that I really like Ikea.
Not only for their furniture, but for all the accessories and food stuff too.
This week I baked a bread, a lingonberry bread, and it came out really well.
Plus it is gluten free!
I served it with leek and celeriac soup and the whole family was happy as can be.
The recipe goes something like this:
Mix the flour with the yeast. Add warm water and mix well. Knead the dough for 10 minutes and let it rest for 30 minutes to rise. Knead some more, divide in two and rest for another 30 minutes. Bake in a 200 degrees Celsius oven for 40 minutes.
Yes, it really was that simple!
Not only for their furniture, but for all the accessories and food stuff too.
This week I baked a bread, a lingonberry bread, and it came out really well.
Plus it is gluten free!
I served it with leek and celeriac soup and the whole family was happy as can be.
The recipe goes something like this:
Mix the flour with the yeast. Add warm water and mix well. Knead the dough for 10 minutes and let it rest for 30 minutes to rise. Knead some more, divide in two and rest for another 30 minutes. Bake in a 200 degrees Celsius oven for 40 minutes.
Yes, it really was that simple!
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Couscous Salad
If you want something really quick and healthy for dinner then I can suggest making a couscous salad. All the vegetables in this salad is raw and the beauty of couscous is that it is ready in 5 minutes.
This salad is served cold and is perfect for a summer evening, or pretty much any time of the year!
Ingredients:
Couscous - 250 gram or less, depending on how many mouths you have to feed. (I made enough for two adults and lunch the next day)
A hand full of green beans - cut diagonally into small pieces
2 or 3 tomatoes
Half a cucumber
Half a red onion
One small carrot - finely diced
A handful of green olives - sliced
A hand full of cashew nuts
Toasted pine nuts
A handful of raisins
Sea salt and black pepper
Dressing:
Use any dressing you like or prepare a simple vinaigrette by mixing white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard and some extra virgin olive oil - I usually just adjust the quantities to my liking.
Method:
Prepare the couscous as per the packaging.
Once it is ready, let it rest and cool down. You can also add the raisins at this point (or leave them out if you don't like them).
Dice and slice all the raw vegetables and then combine together.
Season and add the dressing to the salad. Mix well.
Combine the vegetables and couscous.
Add an additional dash of extra virgin olive oil or more dressing if your salad is a bit dry.
This salad is served cold and is perfect for a summer evening, or pretty much any time of the year!
Ingredients:
Couscous - 250 gram or less, depending on how many mouths you have to feed. (I made enough for two adults and lunch the next day)
A hand full of green beans - cut diagonally into small pieces
2 or 3 tomatoes
Half a cucumber
Half a red onion
One small carrot - finely diced
A handful of green olives - sliced
A hand full of cashew nuts
Toasted pine nuts
A handful of raisins
Sea salt and black pepper
Dressing:
Use any dressing you like or prepare a simple vinaigrette by mixing white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard and some extra virgin olive oil - I usually just adjust the quantities to my liking.
Method:
Prepare the couscous as per the packaging.
Once it is ready, let it rest and cool down. You can also add the raisins at this point (or leave them out if you don't like them).
Dice and slice all the raw vegetables and then combine together.
Season and add the dressing to the salad. Mix well.
Combine the vegetables and couscous.
Add an additional dash of extra virgin olive oil or more dressing if your salad is a bit dry.
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