I will be honest Baumholder does not have the best weather. Even in August when we first arrived we often had days in the 50s. We only had a few days that hit 70s. Already in October most of our days don't get much above 40. Which makes me worry about the winter a little bit, not to mention all the rain that we have seen since we arrived. I know here within a matter of weeks if not days it is going to turn into snow. In many ways I cannot wait for our first snow storm and all of the comforts of being in a nice, warm home while it is so cold outside. I dream of Nathan and I being snuggled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate, the dog and a good movie. Something else that makes me want the coming months to be here soon is all the talk about the European Christmas markets and festivals. I have already started to plan trips to the various markets and festivals with friends. We are planning on a different market every weekend from the week before Thanksgiving through Christmas, except the week of Thanksgiving. We found an article about the markets and it had a list of the top 15 markets, our goal is in the next 3 years is to go to each of them. I have seen pictures, but I cannot wait to experience the magic for myself. I feel like a kid that has been dreaming of Disney World and just found out she gets to go. Christmas is most definitely my favorite holiday, not because of the gifts but because of the feeling I get. I love being close to family and friends, incredible food, beautiful decorations, the warm comfort inside each house, elegant carols, etc. I know it is 2 months away but already I am excited! Hopefully I can find some cool stuff at the markets to send back to the states.
For those waiting for me to write about my next trip I do have to say this. Nathan comes back within the week, I do have several trips planned in the next couple of months. I am getting super excited, I haven't even told Nathan about one of them yet. Shhh!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Happy Birthday Dad!
Today is my dad's birthday, I want to wish him the happiest birthday in the world. I wish I was home to say it in person. I have so many incredible memories of my dad growing up and him always being there for me. I have learned so much from him, I cannot ever thank him enough. I love you dad. Happy Birthday!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Goulash recipe
A friend has helped me out and provided me with a copy of the recipe. I have done some researching to find an alternative to one of the key ingredients and I think I have come up with it, no promises. Also, if you do not like the red bell pepper and so much onion you can substitute them. I have made this a couple of times now and last time instead of the pepper I used mushrooms and still all of the onion, still very tasty. I recommend trying it at least once with the pepper.
Last week I realized that people were leaving comments on my blog, which I have found to be amusing and supportive. I love them all, thank you. I also received some emails full of support and advice. I was having one of those weeks where nothing seemed to be going right and was feeling pretty down in the dumps, but those emails and comments have shown your support for me. I really appreciate all of the love and support I have felt this past week, thank you.
Here is a picture of the Hokaido pumpkin for yesterday's recipe:
Here is the goulash recipe:
1 Knorr goulash mix*
1-2 lbs cubed beef, I have just been using stew beef
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 small bread & butter pickles, sliced into small pieces
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp paprika
1 garlic glove
Pepper
Egg noodles or mashed potatoes to serve goulash over
*I am not sure if Knorr has a goulash packet available in the states so I did some research for some alternatives here is what I came up with:
1 Tbsp mixed dry herbs like rosemary, thyme & marjoram
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 Tbsp flour
Either one can of tomato sauce, one can of peeled tomatoes, or one can of tomato paste, I would think it would work better with either the peeled tomatoes or the paste, the tomato sauce just sounds like too much liquid to me.
Then 1-3 Cups of either water or dry red wine, you want just enough liquid to cover the beef, onion and pepper mixture
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in skillet. Add garlic, onion, red bell pepper, pickle and beef. You do not need to cook everything all the way through, just cook until the edges brown slightly. When almost done add paprika and black pepper.
2. Stir in goulash mix and water, here is where if the mix is unavailable use the alternative that I provided above.
3. Bring to a boil for one minute, cover, simmer for 60-90 minutes or until beef is tender.
4. When the goulash is almost done prepare the egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Last week I realized that people were leaving comments on my blog, which I have found to be amusing and supportive. I love them all, thank you. I also received some emails full of support and advice. I was having one of those weeks where nothing seemed to be going right and was feeling pretty down in the dumps, but those emails and comments have shown your support for me. I really appreciate all of the love and support I have felt this past week, thank you.
Here is a picture of the Hokaido pumpkin for yesterday's recipe:
Here is the goulash recipe:
1 Knorr goulash mix*
1-2 lbs cubed beef, I have just been using stew beef
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 small bread & butter pickles, sliced into small pieces
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp paprika
1 garlic glove
Pepper
Egg noodles or mashed potatoes to serve goulash over
*I am not sure if Knorr has a goulash packet available in the states so I did some research for some alternatives here is what I came up with:
1 Tbsp mixed dry herbs like rosemary, thyme & marjoram
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 Tbsp flour
Either one can of tomato sauce, one can of peeled tomatoes, or one can of tomato paste, I would think it would work better with either the peeled tomatoes or the paste, the tomato sauce just sounds like too much liquid to me.
Then 1-3 Cups of either water or dry red wine, you want just enough liquid to cover the beef, onion and pepper mixture
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in skillet. Add garlic, onion, red bell pepper, pickle and beef. You do not need to cook everything all the way through, just cook until the edges brown slightly. When almost done add paprika and black pepper.
2. Stir in goulash mix and water, here is where if the mix is unavailable use the alternative that I provided above.
3. Bring to a boil for one minute, cover, simmer for 60-90 minutes or until beef is tender.
4. When the goulash is almost done prepare the egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Guten Appetit!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Recipes
After a couple of reminders this week I realized that I never put the goulash recipe up. I cannot find the recipe at this moment, keep in mind that we just received all of our household stuff last week. I have been to another German cooking class though in the meantime, so I am going to post that recipe now and the goulash one as soon as I find it.
I also wanted to clarify for a couple of people, Nathan is not deployed yet, he is only away in eastern Germany for training. I am not really sure where he is, all I know is he is in the eastern part. We are on the west side near the Luxembourg and France borders. I have done well so far while he has been gone in staying busy between Scouts, FRG meetings, and many meals with all of the wonderful women that I have met here. I am starting to make some friends that I honestly feel I can rely on to help me through being alone in a foreign country while Nathan is deployed. I have joined the community spouse club. Each month in the club we have either a luncheon or a dinner and about one to two trips a month. Friday night was this month's dinner, its theme was Arabian nights. We had an amazing meal of Eastern Mediterranean recipes. We also had a belly dancer, the woman who performed also teaches classes at the gym on post, I might just have to try it out. Another group I have joined is called AWOLs, adults without little ones. We meet once a month for a potluck, talk about places to visit and travel tips. We are going to start planning group trips soon.
So my recipe for today is for Kurbis Suppe (Pumpkin Soup)
Ingredients:
1 Hokaido pumpkin, I am not sure if you can find the exact pumpkin or not in the states, it is not a huge pumpkin and you use everything except the seeds including the skin in the recipe.
2 medium onions
6-8 ounces smoked ham cubes
2/3 C heavy cream, you can decrease or increase this depending on the size of your pumpkin and the consistency of your soup
1 Tbsp. vegetable broth powder
Olive oil
Pepper, salt, water
Pumpkin seed oil for decoration
A good bread, I like using crusty french bread
Preparation:
1. Cut the pumpkin into quarters, remove the seeds, cut into 1" cubes.
2. Chop the onion.
3. Using a large pot, heat olive oil, add onion, pumpkin, and ham. Brown evenly.
4. When the pumpkin is just starting to brown add cold water mixed with the broth just until it reaches the top of the pumpkin.
5. Simmer for 20-30 min, until pumpkin is soft. Use a handheld blender or mixer and blend the mixture until smooth.
6. Add heavy cream and boil for 1 minute.
7. Decorate with pumpkin seed oil. Serve with bread.
I also wanted to clarify for a couple of people, Nathan is not deployed yet, he is only away in eastern Germany for training. I am not really sure where he is, all I know is he is in the eastern part. We are on the west side near the Luxembourg and France borders. I have done well so far while he has been gone in staying busy between Scouts, FRG meetings, and many meals with all of the wonderful women that I have met here. I am starting to make some friends that I honestly feel I can rely on to help me through being alone in a foreign country while Nathan is deployed. I have joined the community spouse club. Each month in the club we have either a luncheon or a dinner and about one to two trips a month. Friday night was this month's dinner, its theme was Arabian nights. We had an amazing meal of Eastern Mediterranean recipes. We also had a belly dancer, the woman who performed also teaches classes at the gym on post, I might just have to try it out. Another group I have joined is called AWOLs, adults without little ones. We meet once a month for a potluck, talk about places to visit and travel tips. We are going to start planning group trips soon.
So my recipe for today is for Kurbis Suppe (Pumpkin Soup)
Ingredients:
1 Hokaido pumpkin, I am not sure if you can find the exact pumpkin or not in the states, it is not a huge pumpkin and you use everything except the seeds including the skin in the recipe.
2 medium onions
6-8 ounces smoked ham cubes
2/3 C heavy cream, you can decrease or increase this depending on the size of your pumpkin and the consistency of your soup
1 Tbsp. vegetable broth powder
Olive oil
Pepper, salt, water
Pumpkin seed oil for decoration
A good bread, I like using crusty french bread
Preparation:
1. Cut the pumpkin into quarters, remove the seeds, cut into 1" cubes.
2. Chop the onion.
3. Using a large pot, heat olive oil, add onion, pumpkin, and ham. Brown evenly.
4. When the pumpkin is just starting to brown add cold water mixed with the broth just until it reaches the top of the pumpkin.
5. Simmer for 20-30 min, until pumpkin is soft. Use a handheld blender or mixer and blend the mixture until smooth.
6. Add heavy cream and boil for 1 minute.
7. Decorate with pumpkin seed oil. Serve with bread.
Guten Appetit!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Dilemmas
Sorry I do not have much too say that is exciting this week. I have been busy but no traveling. I have been faced with a number of dilemmas this week, I do not want my blog to become a place to write about my own self pity, but all this week I have been thinking and trying to deal everything. My first dilemma this week is in regard to one of my volunteer positions. I have decided since I do not have a job yet to fill my time with volunteering for the Girl Scouts and Red Cross and taking classes with ACS. I am leading two troops with the Girl Scouts, one for kindergartners and one for middle schoolers. My dilemma lays with my kindergarten group. I find myself with a troop full of parents that want to help for a meeting or two but no long term help except my co-leader. My dilemma comes in that I had to make a decision for my troop, I tried to contact my co-leader. I somehow ended up getting yelled at by my co-leader and other parents because my co-leader was upset that I made the decision without her and then she sent an email to the parents saying I was wrong. I want to do the best thing for the girls, and I know that if I back down that no other parent will step up. At the same time though, I do not have a daughter in the troop, I have no real investment in the troop, and I am tired of being yelled at when all I was doing was trying to keep the girls' best interest at heart. I am still deciding exactly what I am going to do about the situation, I am still hopeful that as my co-leader and I are both adults that we can work this out.
My other dilemma deals more with our apartment and our plans for the future. Nathan and I have been talking a lot about the future lately, both near and distant. When to have a wedding ceremony? How many years to wait to start a family? Should I go back to school even though I don't have a job? And so on... This week our furniture and the rest of our stuff came, and I know that I should have been excited to unpack. However, we have been talking about the possibility of investing our money and buying a house here, and then when we leave renting it out. And although I know this is going to take a while to find a house, get financing, etc. I have been reluctant to even touch a single box this week. At the same time though I do not want to move again and just want to get settled in. I know this may seem like a stupid dilemma, but it has really bothered me this week. I have even made a list of pros and cons trying to figure out the best thing to do for us. Even though I can come up with a hundred reasons to stay here in this apartment, I can't help but feel that if we stay here that we are giving up so many dreams. But then I think that we can just put those dreams off for a while, and then be closer to Nathan's work and not have to move again. When I start thinking about that I just keep going back to when I wrote about the best marriage advice I had received, in that a marriage is all about compromises. I want to make Nathan happy, but at the same time in 20 years I do not want to look back and say that I gave up or put off a lot of my dreams.
Nathan has been gone the past couple of weeks and won't be back until November some time. I miss being able to talk to him, I think it might be able to process everything if I could talk to him in person. Also, I miss being able to call the states and discuss these issues with my family and get there feedback. Nathan has the phone with international plan, so those calls will have to wait as well. I just pray that I am able to make the right decision in regards to Girl Scouts and that Nathan and I make the right decisions in regards to our future.
My other dilemma deals more with our apartment and our plans for the future. Nathan and I have been talking a lot about the future lately, both near and distant. When to have a wedding ceremony? How many years to wait to start a family? Should I go back to school even though I don't have a job? And so on... This week our furniture and the rest of our stuff came, and I know that I should have been excited to unpack. However, we have been talking about the possibility of investing our money and buying a house here, and then when we leave renting it out. And although I know this is going to take a while to find a house, get financing, etc. I have been reluctant to even touch a single box this week. At the same time though I do not want to move again and just want to get settled in. I know this may seem like a stupid dilemma, but it has really bothered me this week. I have even made a list of pros and cons trying to figure out the best thing to do for us. Even though I can come up with a hundred reasons to stay here in this apartment, I can't help but feel that if we stay here that we are giving up so many dreams. But then I think that we can just put those dreams off for a while, and then be closer to Nathan's work and not have to move again. When I start thinking about that I just keep going back to when I wrote about the best marriage advice I had received, in that a marriage is all about compromises. I want to make Nathan happy, but at the same time in 20 years I do not want to look back and say that I gave up or put off a lot of my dreams.
Nathan has been gone the past couple of weeks and won't be back until November some time. I miss being able to talk to him, I think it might be able to process everything if I could talk to him in person. Also, I miss being able to call the states and discuss these issues with my family and get there feedback. Nathan has the phone with international plan, so those calls will have to wait as well. I just pray that I am able to make the right decision in regards to Girl Scouts and that Nathan and I make the right decisions in regards to our future.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Bad Kreuznach-
I went here this week with my ACS class. The bridge over the river dates back to the 1600s
I know its been awhile!
I know its been awhile since my last blog. An update since my last blog: we know have internet! I will post pictures from the last 2 months, crazy to think that we have been here 2 months. This week I have been alone, Nathan is in the field training for a month, anyways I kept really busy this week taking classes with ACS. The class that I took this week is all about helping people feel comfortable in Germany and be able to get around. We took the bus, the train, went shopping, etc. It was a lot of fun and I made some new friends!
We are trying to figure out when to have the wedding. Part of the problem is we do not have official deployment orders, just a bunch of rumors as to when its going to happen. Right now we are thinking either July or August 2011, we will let everyone know as soon as we do. We really want to share this day with as many of our family and friends as possible.
Here are the pics, I am going to have to post them under multiple blog titles.
These pics are from Missouri when Nathan graduated from his officer course:
We are trying to figure out when to have the wedding. Part of the problem is we do not have official deployment orders, just a bunch of rumors as to when its going to happen. Right now we are thinking either July or August 2011, we will let everyone know as soon as we do. We really want to share this day with as many of our family and friends as possible.
Here are the pics, I am going to have to post them under multiple blog titles.
These pics are from Missouri when Nathan graduated from his officer course:
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