This weekend my children showered on me a wonderful Mother's day. Besides being wonderful children themselves, I was presented with a beautiful poem, a tasty cake and an elegant tea party.
Wils' elfchen (an eleven word poem)
Liebe
die Freude
ich mag dich
ich lieb dich Mutter
Mutterstag
beautiful tea set by SAM
Shy bakers cook great cakes!
Bärlauch is a garlicky leek tasting plant that is a sure sign of spring in Germany. In the States it is called by the name of Ramps or wild leeks.
When gathering from the wild here in Germany it is better to pick before the Lily of the Valleys spring up as the leaves look about the same. The Lily is poisonous and the other is not; although one must also pick the Bärlauch before its flowers start to bloom as they become poisonous then also. So your window to enjoy this great spring delicacy is not long. and you need to know what you are doing or buy it in the store.
A couple of Fridays ago we were by a friends home and they happened to have a patch of Bärlauch and she cut a large bunch. I happily went home and created the following new favorite of mine Bärlauch Pesto.
gind up nuts and cheese with a stickmixer,
drizzle in some of the Olive Oil,
start to add the Bärlauchs/Ramps
add more of the Olive oil as needed to keep it moist,
finish mixing to your desired texture, smooth or more smooth,
serve over pasta, season with pepper and salt and enjoy!
Since I had more than 50grams of Bärlauch/Ramps, I made a large batch and froze most to have for later after the plants are out of season.
I also use the same recipe with Rucola (Arugula) to make a pesto as a change from the normal Basil.
Links of interest:
dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/ramping-up-for-spring/
On Saturday, Wils reminded us that he needed a Füller for school on Monday. Thank goodness he said something on Saturday, as all shops are closed on Sunday.
So off we go to Müller's, a local general store, that has a great school supply department, to buy a left handed fountain pen. At the store there are many choices, but the lefties are harder to find so we ask for help. Now asking for help in most US general stores, is tantamount to asking "just show me where the stuff I'm looking for is located" and getting a reply to that request:"over here". Well, in this store, it is not the case. When we asked for help, the saleslady, came over asking if this Wils' first Füller and then slides out a glass table top from the sales rack and precedes to gather several pens for Wils to try. I am snapping pictures of this poor lady to document this cultural exchange, while I know she is thinking we are the craziest Americans she knows.
Wils got his first Füller and is up and off today, after a nice Easter break to give it a try on school work.
This is what Wils and I were greeted with this frosty morning, March 18, 2009. I have rarely seen anything so beautiful as what met our eyes. Enjoy God's gift to us.
I wish I could have the music of the Frost Fairies from Fantasia playing for you.
(click for closer view)
Spring has sprung, which means it's time once again for that usually shy and secretive mammal the rabbit to endure a brief, yet intense period in the spotlight. Rabbits have since ancient times been considered symbols of hope, life, and renewal, particularly during springtime when fertility levels are highest. Then along came Easter and with it a whole new level of responsibility for the rabbit.
It was actually a European hare, or brown hare, that held the impressive credentials of being the original Easter Bunny, according to a Germanic legend dating back to the 1500s. The ritual of children preparing nests and eagerly anticipating the arrival of Oster Haas (Easter hare), who delivers brightly colored eggs on Easter morning, has taken place in German-speaking countries for centuries. In the United States the cottontail rabbit has been designated as the official deliverer of Easter treats. This is easily evidenced by the lyrics in popular holiday tunes such as "Peter Cottontail," and the presence of that signature fluffy white behind in every commercial rendition of the Easter Rabbit imaginable.
