Hoar Frost

Although I haven’t missed the unbelievably frigid Midwest winter weather over the past 2 years, I have missed how beautiful winter is in Illinois.

Last night the conditions were just right for hoar frost.

When we woke up this morning, everything was coated in the crystal looking frost.

Mom and I went out to photograph the gorgeous day.

We had a good time trekking through snowdrifts and playing with the most adorable dog in the world.

Then we went into the warmth and ate lunch.

Whole wheat pasta, eggplant with tomato sauce and fresh spinach.

What a great day to be home!

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Holiday Cinnamon Rolls

I made it!

Last Friday after a cancelled flight, rescheduled flights and 14 hours of travelling, I made it back home.

Since being back, I’ve spent lots of time with my family.

My youngest brother, Christopher (on the far right,) ringing the salvation army bell with the church youth group.

I’ve been busy visiting relatives and baking in my mom’s kitchen.

The view from my mom’s kitchen window.

My brother Patrick is working midnights so his sleep schedule is about as messed up as mine. This has given us early mornings to talk and laugh together.

Yesterday I woke up at 5am to the sounds of his video game. Once up, I decided to make cinnamon rolls.

I used the recipe from The Pioneer Woman’s cookbook. I doubled the recipe so had a ton of dough to work with.

Rather than rolling the dough extra long, I found that cutting it in half lengthwise  gave me the desired proportions while making it easier to roll. Oh, and I added almonds to half of the rolls.

Mmmm! Ooey, gooey, delicious cinnamon rolls!

Family approved.

Go and make some today.

I promise these cinnamon rolls will make your friends and family happy.

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Festive City Hall

Add this to my list of reasons I love Germany…

The city hall has Christmas spirit, even while under construction.

 A giant city hall gingerbread house.

Just for perspective, here is what the Rathaus looked like 3 years ago at this time.

Each of the windows usually has a number in it representing the 24 days of Advent. Every day in December, a new window light is turned on like a giant advent calendar.

 

Isn’t Germany beautiful at Christmas time?

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Medieval Christmas Market

Last night Sebastian and I had big plans to visit the Medieval Christmas Market in Siegburg, Germany.

We waited until it was dark and found our way to the tiny village. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived at 8:30, everything had been closed for half an hour. All other markets are open until 10 so we just assumed this one was as well.

The market is lit entirely by candle light.

Ironic as it was, we were still able to get a glühwein before heading back to the market in Bonn. I was determined to see this unique market this year so forced brought my friend Melanie back with me today.

Everything about this market is medieval. The tents are made out of canvas and wood, the products being sold are all handmade, the people are dressed in period clothing and they even speak in a medieval way.

I started with baklava for dessert.

The best part is obviously the food. Unlike the greasy sausages and fried potato pancakes at the normal markets, this market offers freshly bread baked in stone ovens, falafel, fresh noodles, and baked apple rings to name a few.

Spices for sale.

Several stands served their food on cabbage leaves rather than disposable plates.

Medieval is eco-friendly!

Dinner was a falafel with sesame sauce in pita bread with lettuce from this tent.

My take-away food was freshly baked bread from these working stone ovens.

  I bought a loaf of this ‘farmer’s bread’ and a sweet roll made with saffron, butter and raisons. The roll melted in my mouth. Luckily it is nearly the size of my head so I have plenty left for breakfast.

My hot loaf of bread kept me warm all the way home.

Oh Germany, I love you for your love of the medieval ages!

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Tomorrow morning my class will be baking these cookies to give as Christmas gifts to their parents.

For the last two years, I’ve used a traditional Swedish gingersnap recipe from my past assistant, I was planning on continuing the tradition this year but her recipe requires 2 days’ work and unfortunately, I had to give up share my second booking for the school kitchen.

Chocolate crinkle cookies have stepped in to save time and save our Christmas cookie day.

The ingredient list is simple- eggs, vanilla, baking powder, salt, sunflower oil, flour, coco powder and sugar.

Start by combining the sugar, oil and coco powder with an electric mixer.

Beat in one egg at a time.

Once all eggs have been beat in, add the vanilla.

Stir together the flour, baking powder and salt then add the dry ingredients to the wet.

A thick, fudgy dough will form. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or, as some reviewers suggested, freeze for 1 hour.

  Roll chilled dough into 1 inch balls. The dough is very sticky so try not to handle it with your hands.

Roll the balls in sifted powdered sugar- the more dense, the better.

Bake, cool and enjoy!

Recipe from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours. (I premade one batch of dough for the kids to roll while their dough is speed-cooling in the freezer.)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. Coat each ball in confectioners’ sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

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Spinach and Leek White Bean Soup

It has been snowing all day in Bonn. On cold and damp days like today, my hungry mind turns to one thing- soup.

I adapted the following recipe from allrecipes.com.

This is one comforting and warming soup. The combination of veggies, protein and whole grains is not only delicious, but nutritionally outstanding. This may be one of my new favorites.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 leeks, white and light green parts, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 liter vegetable broth

1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. ground rosemary

1/4 cup quiona, soaked for 10 minutes in hot water and rinsed

1/2 cup frozen spinach

4 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges (Don’t leave this out, it makes the dish!)

freshly grated parmesan cheese

 

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and garlic; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the vegetable broth, quinoa, beans, bay leaf, cumin and rosemary. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the spinach and season with salt and pepper.
3. To serve, squeeze lemon wedge over each serving. Sprinkle each bowl of soup with 1 tsp. parsley and shaved parmesan.

Serve with warm crusty bread on a cold winter’s day.

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It’s a Wrap

Looking for another use for my Vegan Walnut and Mushroom Pate?

It makes a great spread in wraps.

For lunch last week, I spread the pate on two nori sheets and wrapped up fresh arugula, red pepper slices, julienned carrots, avocado wedges and sliced tomatoes.

Delicious!

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Glühwein Inspiration

Last Tuesday I had my first glühwein of the Christmas Market season in Germany.

Maybe there was something in the glühwein besides the extra shot of rum….

perhaps it was the Christmas cheer and winter decorations…

or maybe it was just getting to spend time with this handsome guy…

but whatever it was, it made us throw our old weekend plot out the proverbial window and scheme new and wonderful plans for the first weekend in December.

Plans like renting a car for a mini road trip to the beautiful German town of Baden-Baden, crossing the border into Switzerland, exploring picturesque Konstanz and visiting Sebastian’s uncle and new born baby in Stuttgart. It was a crazy weekend but a wonderful one. We enjoyed a few beers with Santa.

We wandered charming streets in Baden-Baden.

We reveled in the beauty of snow-capped German scenery.

Zurich only made us want to return again.

 

( Patrick, I hope you’re reading this… I took this photo just for you.)

Zurich is certainly expensive but full of charm.

After Switzerland, we drove back into Germany to the town of Konstanz where we found that the hotel room we had booked was not yet finished in the hotel’s remodeling project.

Appropriately enough, we were given the African Suite.

To top it off, the hotel offered a gorgeous breakfast buffet and an even more stunning view over Lake Konstanz.

We left Konstanz around 11 and by mid-afternoon we reached Stuttgart. Just in time for coffee and cake with the proud parents and Sebastian’s youngest cousin.

We had a snowy drive back to Bonn but arrived safe and sound back home.

Overall, the weekend was full of many laughs, beautiful weather, breathtaking sights and reasons to extend our ever-growing list of travel destinations. Thank you for such a great weekend, Sebastian!

Want to have another glühwein tomorrow night and make plans for this weekend?

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