Happy 4th of July...

Happy Independence Day everybody...the quint-essential all American experience. I hope everybody is having a fun day with lots of BBQ, games, etc. We are certainly looking forward to a fun day with our German friends. I am making a Flag Cake as has become a tradition. So fun, and so good. The recipe is on my other blog, here is the link http://galactopdx.blogspot.com/2008/07/4th-of-july-flag-cake.html

Have a great day, everybody!!!

Snow & Gluehwein

My shopping adventure was great. Snow everywhere, very few cars, and buses still did run. I just read that Multnomah County (PDX County) declared a state of Emergency today. Look at the new video from KATU news http://www.katu.com/news/36269429.html click on Video...

I have to say that I like this weather. The girls played out in the snow, and Ron walked down to Hawthorne. People were out on cross country skies, snow shoes, etc. - This weather calls for Gluehwein. I just made my very first batch. I confess, that I never made it myself before. We have a fire going, the tree looks beautiful and the Gluehwein...well it just smells delicious :) Here is how I made it

1 bottle red wine
2 cinnamon sticks
Juice of 1 orange
Peel off one orange
1/4 cup of sugar (or a little more to taste)
a few cloves

- Put it all together on the stove and let simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes.

Enjoy on a cold winter night :)

Weihnachtsplaetzchen - Christmas Cookies

This winter weather is having me long for some nice Weihnachtsplaetzchen. I already made some earlier this week, but I already have to remake some...Are you looking for a Christmas Cookie recipe? I did put some recipes up on my other blog http://galactopdx.blogspot.com/. The titles for all of them is "cookies". FYI - you can of course swap out the Margarine with butter, and the Soy Milk with regular cow's milk.

Schwaebischer Kartoffelsalat - Swabian Potato Salad

My entire family loves Kartoffelsalat (Potato Salad) this is also a great crowd pleaser, and everyone loved it at the B-day Party yesterday. Here is my recipe - sorry units are metric:-

1 kg Potato's - I generally use Russets
1 large onion
250 ml vegetable, or beef broth
1 bunch Parsley - this is not an absolute must...
5 TBL Oil - I think I usually use a little less oil
5 TBL Vinegar - I like white wine vinegar

1. Boil potatoes in their skins until soft
2. Peel and chop onion into fine squares
3. Drain potatoes, once they have cooled off peel, and slice thinly
4. If using, chop parsley fine
5. Put onions, sliced potatoes, and parsley into a bow
6. Heat up the broth, and pour hot broth over onions, potatoes, and parsley
7. Cover and leave for at least an hour (the longer you leave it the better it gets)
8. Add oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. I like my potato salad more on the vinegary side...

Enjoy everyone....Let me know if you like the recipe.