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| Thursday, 2-Jul-2009 12:26 |
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Bibliotheek Wassenaar
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 The new library in Wassenaar was officially opened by Prinses Maxima.
Elsa giving a recital at the newly built ultra-modern multimedia theater in the Wassenaar library.
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| Wednesday, 1-Jul-2009 10:06 |
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Low-fat Brownies
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Low-fat Brownies
recipe from GoodHousekeeping Institute
50ml sunflower oil, plus extra to grease
9oz good-quality dark chocolate with at least 50% cocoa solids
4 medium eggs
5oz light muscovado sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
3oz flour
¼ tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan oven. Grease and line a 8in square tin with greaseproof paper.
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Make sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Take the bowl off the pan and put to one side to cool slightly.
Put the eggs into a clean bowl, add the sunflower oil, sugar and vanilla extract and whisk together until pale and thick.
Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the bowl, then carefully pour in the chocolate. Using a large metal spoon, gently fold all the ingredients together.
Carefully pour the brownie mixture into the lined tin and bake for 20min - when cooked, the brownies should still be fudgy in the middle and the top should be cracked and crispy.
Cut into squares immediately, then leave them to cool in the tin.
Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy.
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| Sunday, 28-Jun-2009 17:53 |
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Windmills of Your Mind
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From 1366 to 1369, two canals were dug between Alblasserwaard to Kinderdijk. They were designed to discharge water into river Lek.
When the canals were no longer sufficient to cope with rising water level, windmills were constructed. Eight were built in 1738 and a further eight in 1740 to protect the surrounding land from flooding.
The mills work by draining the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea-level - after which the water is sluiced into the river Lek (the Rijn). The powerful mill sails serve to transmit the force of the wind on to large paddle-wheels which scoop up the water. Nowadays power-driven pumping engines do the job, including one of the largest water screw pumping-stations in Western Europe.
Today, Kinderdijk has no less than nineteen windmills.
This site remains almost unchanged from its original state.
In 1997 the mills of Kinderdijk were put on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
The foundation "Wereld Erfgoed Kinderdijk" maintains and preserves the windmills in Kinderdijk.
The preservation is not limited to the windmills themselves, but also covers the area in which the windmills are situated.
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| Saturday, 27-Jun-2009 15:39 |
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Maple Pecan Danish
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Maple Pecan Danish
1 pkg. of frozen puff pastry thawed
3/4 cup (6oz) cream cheese softened
1/4 cup icing sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla
5 tbsp. flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Ingredients for Glaze
1/4 cup (2oz) cream cheese
3/4 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. maple syrup
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Pre heat oven to 220 C.
Separate pastry squares. Roll each square to a 12x9 inch rectangle. Place on baking sheets.
Beat cream cheese, icing sugar, egg, vanilla, maple syrup and flour until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans. Spread mixture down center of pastries leaving 3 inches of dough on each side.
Make 2 inch long cuts at 1 inch intervals on long side of pastry. Crisscross strips over the filling.
Bake for 15 minutes at 220 C, turn down oven to 180 C bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer until golden brown. Remove to racks to cool.
Beat glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over pastries and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of chopped pecans.
| Quote: | The Difference between Jam, Jelly, Conserve and Marmalade
Jam is a thick mixture of fruit, pectin, and sugar that is boiled gently but quickly until the fruit is soft and has an organic shape, yet is still thick enough that it spreads easily and can form a blob. In addition to being a spread, jams are also good for fillings.
Jelly is made from sugar, pectin, acid, and fruit juice and is a clear spread that is firm enough to hold its shape. Jellies can also be made from ingredients other than fruit, such as herbs, tea, wine, liqueurs, flowers, and vegetables.
Fruit butter is a smooth and creamy spread that is created by slow-cooking fruit and sugar until it reaches the right consistency; these types of spreads are not always translucent and are often opaque. Fruit butters are best used as a spread and a filling.
Preserves are spreads that have chunks of fruit surrounded by jelly.
Conserves are made with dried fruits and nuts and are cooked. They have a very thick and chunky texture. Conserves work very well as a spread and as a condiment for meats and cheeses.
Marmalade is a citrus spread made from the peel and pulp of the fruit. Marmalades are cooked for a long time and have no pectin, and are used as spreads and glazes.
Source - thekitchn |
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| Friday, 26-Jun-2009 17:34 |
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Beef Samosas and Fresh Coriander Chutney
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Beef Samosas
2 large potatoes, peeled
1 cup peas, drained
2 tablespoons oil for frying
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 bay leaf, crushed
2 large onions, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped green chillie
oil for deep frying
1 frozen puff pastry dough, cut into squares
Bring a medium saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add in potatoes and peas. Cook until potatoes are tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, mash together and set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium high heat, heat the oil. Brown cumin seeds and bay leaf. Mix in onions and ground beef. Cook until beef is evenly brown and onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Mix in garlic, fresh ginger root. Season with black pepper, salt, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, cinnamon and cardamom. Stir in the mashed potato mixture.
Remove from heat and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until cool. Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan over high heat. Mix cilantro and green chillie into the potato and beef mixture. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture onto each puff pastry squares. Fold sheets, pressing edges together with moistened fingers.
Bake in 180C oven for about 25 minutes.
Fresh Coriander Chutney
2 bunches of fresh Coriander, finely chopped
300ml natural Yogurt
180 g desiccated Coconut, soaked in water (optional)
6-8 whole green chillies
Salt
Sugar
juice of 2 Lemons
Place the coriander, coconut, yoghurt, chillies, garlic, salt, sugar and lemon juice in a food processor.
Blend to a paste. Taste and adjust the flavouring as required, adding more lemon juice, sugar or salt if needed.
Serve as a dipping sauce.
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| Thursday, 25-Jun-2009 22:13 |
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Time to Say Goodbye
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This may well be the last time the three of us were able to get together before our imminent departure from the Netherlands, a place we called home for the last few years.
Heldy from the Phillipines, mother of two, has been residing in the Netherlands for the past fifteen years. This end of July, Heldy and family will be heading off to Canada.
Eunjin, too, will be leaving the Netherlands after being here for about three years. They will be heading towards the vibrant city life of Hong Kong..... happy shopping days, Eunjin!!!
And as for me..........
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| Wednesday, 24-Jun-2009 05:25 |
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Beautiful Homes
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The soft spoken, gorgeous and fashionable Eunjin Min from South Korea.
Mother to two beautiful and extremely talented young ladies.
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| Tuesday, 23-Jun-2009 16:41 |
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Cherry Muffins
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Cherry Muffins
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh or frozen cherries
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 large egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
Grease and flour 15 muffin cups or line with paper liners. Heat oven to 180C.
In a medium bowl, combine the salt, baking powder, flour, sugar, and cinnamon; add cherries and stir gently to blend.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, almond extract, milk and melted butter until well blended.
Stir egg and milk mixture into the dry mixture. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake cherry muffins for 20 to 25 minutes.
Makes 12 cherry muffins.
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| Sunday, 21-Jun-2009 06:19 |
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Kimchi Fried Rice
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Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made by pickling vegetable in garlic and chillies. Most common vegetables used in making kimchi are cabbages, cucumbers and radishes.
Kimchi Fried Rice
Bokumbap
Kimchi with the juice
Ground beef (or any other meat) - I'm using chopped prawns
Vegetable oil
2 Tbsp of Soya sauce
Cooked white rice
Onions, diced
Garlic, finely chopped
Sesame oil
Chili-garlic sauce
Egg
Sesame seed
Chop kimchi cabbage into smaller pieces and set aside.
Put vegetable oil on wok/pan and add the onions, garlic and ground beef.
Add in the rice,
Add kimchi and the kimchi juice.
Add the soya sauce. Stir the rice.
Add in the chili-garlic sauce and sesame seed oil. Continue to stir the rice.
Add the remaining egg, sesame seeds and scallions. Stir again and serve!
Final Vocal Concert performed by vocal students of Silvia da Silva, Oz Shasha, Liat Alkan-Heymann and Jennifer King
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| Thursday, 18-Jun-2009 07:10 |
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Pak Mat
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Pak Mat, Johor-born and bred, man of great many talent, a traditionalist and an expert in Malay culture. A trained goldsmith, Pak Mat has been abroad for the better part of his life, never forsaking his roots. His Laksa Johor is to die for, and has become something of an institution that we looked forward to during the annual Malaysian Food fair in the Hague.
But, more importantly he has been a good friend to us....
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...tapi semua guna ciput-ciput jer ya. Rajin Muna menciput sana menciput sini.... 
me......for sure balik.....
