Step Away from the Kruidnoten
Happy Halloween to my American friends! While there’s not much in the way of trick-or-treating in Amsterdam, October does mean something a little dangerous around here.
While you might be snacking on Halloween candy, I’m trying to avoid all the pre-holiday treats for Sinterklaas Dag. Sinterklaas Dag isn’t until December 6, but already the stores are full of things like kriudnoten. Kruidnoten are dangerously small ginger cookies that are a holiday tradition in the Netherlands. I say they are “dangerously small” because you can eat a handful without even thinking about it.
See this bowl? Yesterday (actually, last night) it was full of kruidnoten, You can tell what has happened since then. Now, combine this with bakeries smelling of speculaas and those chocolate initials and it’s time for a trip to the gym. And the dentist.
(Martha, just let me know if you’d like me to mail some kruidnoten to you in Australia. Of course, I’d probably buy a bag for you and a bag for me and my bowl would be half-empty by the next day. Again.)
And even worse (or better)…Keith told me he saw an oliebollen stand in our neighborhood. I love oliebollen! These are doughnut-like pastries served warm and with powdered sugar and on a crisp, cold day there’s just really no way one can resist the lure of the oliebollen stand. Heaven help me.
On another (non-food topic): For Nancy, who posted to ask how I was going to use those tags on my work table. Yes, the buttons at the top make them pretty lumpy…a bit too lumpy for my scrapbook pages. I often use tags as card focals or simply to tie onto a gift package. Another thing you can do is apply magnetic tape on the back (top and bottom) and use them as fridge magnets—which becomes a great gift. The background of the tags is made with the unlikely combination of baby wipes and Distress inkpads…we’ll have a webisode on it this winter!
‘Til next week…enjoy your Halloween treats!
Comments (4)
Hi Sarah,
Thank you very much for your kind offer for the kruidnoten, but my sister is stocking up big on those and the chocolate letters, M for me and T for my son Tim, I cannot wait till we arrive in holland on December 8 to taste all those yummie things again, unfortunately I too may have to think about going on a diet when I get back, and I'm sure my son will too.
Thanks again, you made my day, just by mentioning my name!! I feel like I have met a superstar!! LOL
Posted by Martha | November 5, 2008 3:05 AM
Posted on November 5, 2008 03:05
Hi Sara, it's me again, I forgot to mention those oliebollen, I love them and i'm sooo looking forward to eating them this new year, I just hope my sister can manage to buy some, because last year all the stalls had sold out.
My dad use to bake them, 2 buckets full, and he would store them in a room with no heating so they would stay really cold and they would last for a long time.
Have you tried appelflappen?? they are similar to the oliebollen only flatter and with sliced apple inside, delicious!!
Posted by Martha | November 5, 2008 3:21 AM
Posted on November 5, 2008 03:21
Hi Martha, LOL like I need to be told about another Dutch treat (appelflappen). I haven't tried them yet but you can be sure I will! My dentist is thanking you and I will have to do another lap around the block.
Enjoy your trip to NL in December and if you're in Amsterdam there's an olliebollen stand on the Leidesplein...it's right next to the waffle stand and I can say that both of them are very good!
Sara
Posted by sara | November 7, 2008 1:01 PM
Posted on November 7, 2008 13:01
I'm having trouble with avoiding those delicious december things myself... Chocoladeletters, kruidnoten en oliebollen mjummie! And marsepein is another one of my favorites..., so be sure to try that also. The best marsepein is the expensive stuff you can buy at the bakery (banketbakker of warme bakker). They make marsepein with real almonds. The more cheap marsepein is made of a beanylike substance, still good, but not as good as the real stuff. It is very very sweet, so make another dentist appointment before trying. LOL...
By the way, did the kids in your neighbourhood Sint Maarten yesterday evening? It's tradition on 11 november, but not in every province. I know some cities in Noord Holland they do have Sint Maarten, but I don't know Amsterdam is one of them...
Loved your post, Martine
Posted by Martine | November 12, 2008 2:24 PM
Posted on November 12, 2008 14:24