Here is a simple real Dutch recipe that is the perfect combination of salty and sweet!
It is called Hete bliksem. It is made with potatoes, apples, honey and bacon.
Step 1: Make mashed potatoes
Step 2: Place cubed apples in a pan and cook until tender. Drizzle with honey.
Step 3: Cook bacon
Place mashed potatoes on a plate, pour apples over the top and place bacon strip on top of apples. Drizzle honey over the top. Done!
The weather has been beautiful here! Kees finally got to play at the park by our house. The last time we tried to go to the park it was covered in snow!
Kees loves slides!
A few weeks ago I asked Kees what he will name our kitten when we get one and he said, "soup!" We thought that was pretty funny! Well, today I was with my Dutch speaking partner and I told her the story of Kees wanting to name our kitten soup. She laughed then told me that there are a lot of people in the Netherlands that name their cats soup because the Dutch word for soup spelled backwards is cat in Dutch! Is that not crazy!
This is Kees and his good friend Rieuwerd from church. Rieuwerd's parents lead worship so Rieuwerd likes to play on the stage after the service. Steve and I had a meeting with the pastor after service today so Kees joined his buddy on the stage. They were so cute playing with each other. Kees was saying, "Dance!" Kees and Rieuwerd had a great time dancing together on stage.
My baby is growing up and no longer needs his diaper bag (still needs the diapers just not the bag). He enjoys toting his own things now. The toddler backpack essentials: sippy cup, diaper wipes, afternoon snack, and a good book.
We went to Ikea this past week to get a bookshelf for the office while we were there I saw the neatest kids kitchen. The only problem was it was 100 euro. After we got home I was looking at the size of the box that the bookshelf came in and I thought it would be perfect for a kitchen!
Every morning Kees sees Steve and I with our cups of coffee. He was wanting to try some and said, "I want coffee!" Papa made Kees a cup of hot chocolate. Kees thought he was pretty grown up sitting at the table next to papa having a cup of morning "coffee."
We heard recently from a reliable source that there was American food items available at the local Chinese store. This sounded strange but we were going to see if the legend was true. To our surprise a small shelf existed full of American goodness. We could not believe our eyes! Steve found a cream soda in the cooler and let out a actual scream! I think everyone in the store thought we were crazy. The next rumor in town is that a grocery store in the town of Leiden carries Reese's butter cups... we must go soon on our next adventure to find if the Reese's legend is also true! :)
Today we went for the afternoon to the coastal town of Noordwijk. It was a chilly day at the coast but the sun came out for a moment and it was beautiful. We live about 45 minutes from Noordwijk. Kees kept warm in his raccoon hat!
We had pannenkoeken at a local cafe. Kees was enjoying having a spoonful of whipped cream from Papa's hot chocolate.
Steve and Kees hand in hand walking on the path to the North Sea. Kees calls the sea the "water."
Beautiful!
