Everything is the same...but different.

Today, I wanted to do something special for Janet, for her birthday.  We started watching this thing on youtube about Mary Berry...have you heard of her?  She is a famous baker/cook from Britain who is a lovely person....and she is the judge on The great British Bake-off, and also the The Great British baking show.  (the only difference in the shows is the bake-off one is for the UK and has been going on for like 6 seasons.  The other one is for the US and has been running on PBS for the last 2 years.)  They are fantastic to watch!  If you haven't tuned in....you should!  Run don't walk to your computer....

Anyway....we were watching a thing about her life, and she started making the most fabulous bread pudding, and Janet said...."my favorite thing is a raspberry bread pudding they have at Kneaders....with a fantastic sauce on top."  The idea was planted in my brain, and off I went to the Albert Heijn.  Now that is a perfect example of what everything is like over here....Albert Heijn..or the heir of Albert...get it.....ALBERT'S SON.....A-L-B-E-R-T-S-O-N-S.

Like I said....everything is the same....but different.  I was trying to gather ingredients for my raspberry bread pudding.  I found a copy cat recipe for the Kneaders one...and was trying to find the ingredients that were specific....but written in Dutch.  Yikes....that's hard!   Shopping at the grocery store here is like putting a puzzle together....looking at packaging and trying to guess what is inside!  I found this.... what I thought was cream.  I asked a lady standing by me...."is this cream that is sweet, not sour"  she assured me that it was so I bought it...

 She was right...it was cream, but it was already whipped!  I used it anyway and just hoped for the best!

 It turned out great.....yummy, custardy, with a ribbon of raspberry running through, and a yummy sauce on the top.  Sometimes....different is even better!

 Happy Birthday Janet!

Life is good, with good friends and bread pudding.

Everything is the same...but different.

 Today, I wanted to do something special for Janet, for her birthday.  We started watching this thing on youtube about Mary Berry...have you heard of her?  She is a famous baker/cook from Britain who is a lovely person....and she is the judge on The great British Bake-off, and also the The Great British baking show.  (the only difference in the shows is the bake-off one is for the UK and has been going on for like 6 seasons.  The other one is for the US and has been running on PBS for the last 2 years.)  They are fantastic to watch!  If you haven't tuned in....you should!  Run don't walk to your computer....

Anyway....we were watching a thing about her life, and she started making the most fabulous bread pudding, and Janet said...."my favorite thing is a raspberry bread pudding they have at Kneaders....with a fantastic sauce on top."  The idea was planted in my brain, and off I went to the Albert Heijn.  Now that is a perfect example of what everything is like over here....Albert Heijn..or the heir of Albert...get it.....ALBERT'S SON.....A-L-B-E-R-T-S-O-N-S.

Like I said....everything is the same....but different.  I was trying to gather ingredients for my raspberry bread pudding.  I found a copy cat recipe for the Kneaders one...and was trying to find the ingredients that were specific....but written in Dutch.  Yikes....that's hard!   Shopping at the grocery store here is like putting a puzzle together....looking at packaging and trying to guess what is inside!  I found this.... what I thought was cream.  I asked a lady standing by me...."is this cream that is sweet, not sour"  she assured me that it was so I bought it...

 She was right...it was cream, but it was already whipped!  I used it anyway and just hoped for the best!

 It turned out great.....yummy, custardy, with a ribbon of raspberry running through, and a yummy sauce on the top.  Sometimes....different is even better!

Life is good, with good friends and bread pudding.

 Happy Birthday Janet!

A Sunny Day in Leeuwarden

We finally had the most fantastic day of sunshine today....and all the guys were off working.  So Janet and I took off and went for a bike ride.  You have to know that I havn't ridden a bike for like 40 years!  But it was just like ridin' a bike!

Janet...trying not to laugh too hard....

Come on mama!

Yay for Sunshine!

A Sunny Day in Leeuwarden

 We finally had the most fantastic day of sunshine today....and all the guys were off working.  So Janet and I took off and went for a bike ride.  You have to know that I havn't ridden a bike for like 40 years!  But it was just like....you know.... ridin' a bike!

I can't completely name what it was that sent me over the top....I have my suspicions, but let's be honest...does it really matter?

All I can say is that by the time we reached Le Mont St. Michel, I was already feeling a bit queezy.

 We did walk around the place for a bit...and it's a good thing we did it right then!

Take a good look people....this is the last picture of me before I turned into a zombie....

By midnight that night, I was in full assault from my digestive system!

Puking and pooping....pooping and puking.

At one point, I called out, "I need help"...

The DPR came to the bathroom door....opened it and said, "no."

Closed the door again.  (oh!!!  you ARE a dreadful Pirate!!!)

before we left the hotel....Rob went into the bathroom and 

left 5 euros on the counter for the maid.

In those moments when one is pooping one's guts out, and throwing up things that look, taste and feel like different colors of Barbie-doll shoes mixed with brown gravy and tomato juice....

That is the moment that all the romance of being at St. Michel, and I would say France in general, leave you.

At that moment, all I wanted to say was 

Au Revoir! 

It was everything I could do to make it off the island and to the airport the next day....

Back in Leeuwarden....I am resting.

I will probably forgive France some day.

But that day is not today.

What a way to end a trip to France

 To start off....I must discuss the food that I've eaten while in France. I dutifully took pictures of everything we ordered and ate.  That was Claire's request...."show me everything you are eating" she said.  I've tried....remember these lovelies?.....

Seared Tuna...fillet of Sole, and Risotto with Scallops...all seriously delicious!

And the desserts!  Oh they were Heavenly....

We had Creme brulee' many times....and the molten lava chocolate cake...

not to mention the teramisu!  

But somewhere on this parade of gastronomy....something went very...

VERY.....

WRONG!!!!

What a way to end a trip to France

To start off....I must discuss the food that I've eaten while in France. I dutifully took pictures of everything we ordered and ate.  That was Claire's request...."show me everything you are eating" she said.  I've tried....remember these lovelies?.....

Seared Tuna...fillet of Sole, and Risotto with Scallops...all seriously delicious!

And the desserts!  Oh they were Heavenly....

We had Creme brulee' many times....and the molten lava chocolate cake...

not to mention the teramisu!  

But somewhere on this parade of gastronomy....something went very...

VERY.....

WRONG!!!!

I can't completely name what it was that sent me over the top....I have my suspicions, but let's be honest...does it really matter?

All I can say is that by the time we reached Le Mont St. Michel, I was already feeling a bit queezy.

 We did walk around the place for a bit...and it's a good thing we did it right then!

Take a good look people....this is the last picture of me before I turned into a zombie....

By midnight that night, I was in full assault from my digestive system!

Puking and pooping....pooping and puking.

At one point, I called out, "I need help"...

The DPR came to the bathroom door....opened it and said, "no."

Closed the door again.  (oh!!!  you ARE a dreadful Pirate!!!)

before we left the hotel....Rob went into the bathroom and left 5 euros on the counter for the maid.

In those moments when one is pooping one's guts out, and throwing up things that look, taste and feel like different colors of Barbie-doll shoes mixed with brown gravy and tomato juice....

That is the moment that all the romance of being at St. Michel, and I would say France in general, leave you.

At that moment, all I wanted to say was 

Au Revoir! 

It was everything I could do to make it off the island and to the airport the next day....

Back in Leeuwarden....I am resting.

I will probably forgive France some day.

But that day is not today.