Citadelpark
My footfalls beat on the gravely asphalt. I’ve escaped my three children for a bit, leaving them in our temporary apartment with my husband. Running was a habit I picked back up after moving to Texas. In Leiden, I exhausted myself daily just biking or walking my kids around town. Once I moved back to Texas, I was determined to continue biking my kids to school. (Despite the rolling-down-of-windows-wave “Hey? Do you need a ride?” questions from other well-meaning Moms in mini-vans.) I eventually gave up once the temperatures headed into the 90s. We still played outside or went to
Speelgoed (Toy) Museum
“Ah, did you have the Fisher Price tape recorder, too?” I ask my husband, my fingers pointing at the ‘relic’ behind the glass. “Of course!” he grins back at me. The childhood memory floods my brain – “Yes, I had one of those Cozy Coupes – you know, the red car with the yellow top? The tape player fit perfectly in the slot in the back. I always listened to Michael Jackson’s Thriller tape.” and he just laughs. We’re at the Toy Museum in Mechelen, Belgium. Our daughter’s Belgian school had
Train World
Years ago, my family and I visited the Transportation Museum in London. Together we traced the progression of movement in the city from horse and carriages to red double-decker buses. We climbed aboard Downton Abby-like trains and into shiny taxi cabs. It was an experience enjoyed by the entire family. Perusing through the local guidebooks from Belgium, we came across the Train World museum in Schaerbeek, just outside of Brussels. On a chilly afternoon during the kids’ Christmas break, we thought we’d go and check it out. Nestled in the art deco neighborhood, we found the museum parking
Gravensteen Castle
Torture chambers, spears, swords, and authentic suits of armor. Enormous wooden doors laden with ancient metal hardware. Gray stone walls – impossible to penetrate, the place where prisoners met their deaths, and fantastic views of the city. It’s Gent’s own Gravensteen Castle. Our first week in Gent, we set out to explore the city. The grand castle in the middle of the city was a no-brainer on the “must visit” list. We walked up to the grand structure, flags on the top of the towers flapping in the wind. The rates for the museum were 10 Euros for adults and
Mussels
Confession: Belgians eat a lot of mussels. Like, steamed in a pot with a sauce. And there’s about 100 different sauces to choose from. Additional confession: After living here eight months, I still haven’t tried them
Benchwarmer Beer Dip
My good friend, Tess is originally from Minnesota and she gave me this recipe years ago when I got married. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made it – but Texans, Dutch, Cajuns, Belgians, Estonians, Chicagoans, Romanians, and Italians have munched on this cheezy goodness with pleasure. Of course, it took me a while to figure out a substitute for Velveeta in the Netherlands – “What IS a substitute for Velveeta?!” Tess gasped when I told her my dilemma – but once I did, I’d stock up when I found it. Preppin’ 8 oz. (180 gram) cream cheese,
Cranberry-Peach Bread
I was so excited to find Ocean Spray cranberries in the Netherlands grocery stores when we first moved overseas. The happy bag of red berries was an instant passport to memories of Thanksgivings and Christmases in Texas. If you’re lucky enough to have a freezer in Europe, grab an extra bag or two and save this recipe for when peaches are ripe next summer, cranberries freeze well! Or open up a can of peaches, drain excess liquid, and enjoy this bread with a warm cup of tea in the wintertime. Preppin’ 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour (patentbloem in Dutch)
Slutty Brownies
A few months after returning to Texas we had a housewarming party, of course! Like any good southerner would do, we invited everyone from high school to college to old co-workers, and bring your friend or two! In Texas, it’s customary to bring a contribution to the party – either an appetizer, dessert, or drink. Well, my good friend Caroline, brought these little goodies, and oh my, they were the HIT of the event. I’ve made these slutty brownies several times over using box mixes in the U.S. and from scratch in Europe, and no matter what, they aren’t a
Strawberry Bread
I have a whole slew of quick breads in my repertoire but this one is probably my all-time favorite! It’s great year-around but it’s so much fun for Valentine’s Day. Years ago, I whipped up a whole batch in mini disposable loaf pans and distributed them to my auditing co-workers for Valentine’s Day. (Yes, I was THAT kind of accountant? Weird.) Anyway, my best friend Carrie, who is as thin as a rail, sat down in her cube, grabbed a fork and ate her whole mini loaf in one go. It’s just love in a pan! This recipe makes enough
Cornbread
Before the South was ‘The South’ and the settlers were navigating pine tree forests, swamps, and battling all mess of creatures from alligators to mosquitos to racoons, the women were in charge, like they are from now until eternity, for feeding the families. Imagine the original European settlers, or mind you, the new women of the south’s frustration when they discovered they had to adapt their recipes to exclude the white European flour they had always used to bake bread. With the absence of flour in the South and an abundance of corn, these strong women created a new kind
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