Almond flour/Hazelnut flour chocolate chip cookies

It’s been a while since I’ve done any interesting cooking or baking, so I decided to use some of the unique flours I have and freeze some cookies for upcoming road trips. I know that in general, you can substitute part of the regular flour called for in recipes with specialty flours, but I searched on-line for hazelnut flour recipes, and discovered feastie.com with tons of gorgeous choices! 

I had toasted hazelnut flour and toasted almond flour, so I made two batches, one with each type of specialty flour and chocolate. Regrettably (?), I had stocked up on a variety of chocolate chips, so I had plenty of half-bags to choose from (Mr. Spice’s doing!). The adapted the recipe is as follows:

Brown 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) by heating it over medium heat in a small pot until it’s a golden brown color. Stir in ¾ cup maple sugar*. Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. 

In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup whole wheat flour, ¾ cup toasted almond flour , ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon baking powder and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon. Fold into liquid ingredients. Add 2 tablespoons skim milk or a bit more if the dough is quite firm. Fold in ¾ cup white chocolate chips. 

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 9-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks. *I’ve been getting maple sugar from my co-op, which sources it from Square Deal Farm in Vermont.

For thin bars, press into 9x13 pan, or for thicker bars, use a square baking dish. I forgot to time the bars, but used the touch test to check for done-ness (press very gently and when it feels mostly firm to the touch, they're done). Please note, these are deliciously healthier cookies, with a special nutty flavor. They are not your average fluffy cooky, but I'm glad about that. Just a head's up that they are a bit denser and unique!

Off the Beaten Path: Hamburg, Germany

Some of my previous travel posts have barely scratched the surface of the location, and I’d like to start sharing more in-depth photos and tips. May tourists travel to Bavaria, and though I don’t have anything against Octoberfest, and really like Neuschwanstein (the famous castle), here is a city that is in a great location, depending on what you are looking for. 

If you love organ music, or any classical arts (ballet, opera, museums), Hamburg is a phenomenal place. This is the first photo I’ve ever hesitated over putting the blog name on! You can also climb some church spires for wonderful views, but the photos are marred by bars/fencing over the openings.

I especially enjoy dining outdoors in Europe, and am amazed at where café tables are fit in…how about on a bridge over a canal? If you’ve never tried Apfelshorle before, it’s very flavorful apple juice pre-mixed with a delicate carbonation. It may sound weird, but it tastes wonderful. My favorite remains Bitter Lemon (preferably by Schweppes); too bad I can only consume so many of those each day, as the versions sold in the US are not the same.

Hamburg restaurants and harbor-side snack bars serve excellent seafood, though I couldn’t get a nice photo of my mini-shrimp sandwich, called “Krabben-salat”. The mayonnaise yielded a gloppy look, but I always have one wherever I can, even at the airport! Instead, here is a photo of a walking path along a brook, with evidence of the ubiquitous bicycle riders in Europe.

Finally, many residents love their gardens. I’ve never seen a market before with bins of bulbs! You decide how many of which variety, buying them individually or at a discount for 10 of the same. Hamburg has great public transportation, urban activities, and suburban room to breathe. 

How growing up as a third culture kid changed my life for the better

Have you ever hear the term “third culture kid” before? I’ve lived in three countries so far, and am grateful for learning about the world at a young age. From www.tckid.com  You know you’re a Third Culture Kid when the question “Where are you from?” has more than one reasonable answer. From www.worldweave.com  You may feel like a global nomad because you live in one culture, and you feel a sense of belonging where you live now and where you grew up. Elements from both cultures are blended, resulting in the third culture. 

I lived in Germany as a child because my father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. We lived off base and I attended German schools and made friends with German children. My experience was that it is easy to learn a second language as a child.

In high school, I took French. The French Club went to Montreal and Quebec, so I worked at Burger King to earn half the fare, while my parents matched me dollar for dollar! Here is one of the Jr. Spice cats “helping” me to prepare for a trip to France (and more), years later.

I studied during junior year of college in Vienna. I’m still amazed that my parents trusted my judgment and waited for postcards as I travelled to 10 countries that year, including Russia using a Eurail pass and a shaky Aeroflot plane. I didn’t feel especially brave, but tried to use common sense and travel with friends. 

Finally, upon graduation, I started a social work job where many employees and clients spoke Spanish, so I took a continuing education class and can get by in Spanish. This gave me increased confidence to vacation in Spain, Panama (more) and Ecuador (more).

Living in numerous countries and getting to know people who are different from me but equal to me has taught me that the world is a small place. I believe that all people and nations have rights to individuality and to contribute to the wellbeing of our planet.

I encourage you to read “Military Brats” by Mary Edwards Wersch for more information. Children who move are able to make friends and adjust to new situations for the rest of their lives more quickly than others. There may be mixed feelings about relocating, but with a sense of adventure and some fun, it can be a positive situation.

Cooking and nature videos- your opinion, please!

I’ve taken so many classes this spring that I can’t remember which one suggested that blog viewers like videos. I had taken a 42 second video of cranberries popping while making this recipe, but thought I might be kind of nuts to do so. If you viewed the original post, would you like to view and hear this video? 

The local (seasonal) swans nearby are curious about people, though I never bring any bread for them. They eat plants in the pond, but this video does not include any cute swan antics, just peace and birdsong. Is 50 seconds too long or slightly boring?

 It never occurred to me to record a waterfall…I must be a luddite. I’ve always loved hanging out in nature, and was annoyed when Mr. Spice stood around for a long time fiddling with camera settings. He was trying to figure out how to record the waterfall on his DSLR, so I said “well, the iphones can do that!”

In a future travel post, would you like to see a panoramic video of the location? Is 46 seconds too long, too short, or just right for a nature scene like this? More cooking videos? Thanks for any feedback!

Arizona (Part II)

After a few days in Sedona, we drove via scenic roads to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. The majestic beauty was awe-inspiring. I’ve been in the mountains where you start by looking up and can climb towards the tops of the mountains, but it’s very different to start at the top and gaze downwards past centuries of erosion.

We didn’t stay right at the canyon, but would like to do so during a future trip. We learned about the history of the canyon, and watched the sunset turn the sky and the rocks glorious colors.

As our vacation drew to a close, we returned to Phoenix and cement-laden civilization. I’ll never forget the pine-scented air in northern Arizona. Mr. Spice spotted a scrapbooking store and pulled into the parking lot without a word! I think he just wanted to check his e-mail while I was in the store, but it netted some fun papers and stickers. Since that trip, I’ve begun traveling with a small cardboard tube for the possible purchase of scrapbooking papers!

Who knew a pizza restaurant in Phoenix would have a phenomenal organ? We laughed and sang along to tunes of all varieties, from movie themes to classics! A fun ending to a wonderful trip.

Arizona, Part I (Sedona area)

Upon starting a new job, I calculated the accrual time for vacation, and booked airline tickets for the day after I had 40 hours saved up! We flew to Phoenix, Arizona and hopped into the rental car, goggling at the temperature gauge, which showed over 100 degrees in the afternoon heat. Of course, that number comes as no surprise to locals, but what a pleasant change it was from chilly New England!

We drove to Sedona, enjoying a slice of pie along the way at Rock Springs Café. The cooler air smelled so fresh along the road north, and the amazing rock formations captured our attention as the sun began to set. We walked and hiked for a couple of days before heading up to the Grand Canyon (stay tuned for the next post).

We enjoyed the arts and handicrafts scene, both in Sedona and in the Jerome/Prescott areas. We’d also recommend the Montezuma National Monument at Camp Verde, along with Fort Verde State Park.

Stockholm, Part II

We received conflicting advice about a day trip to Uppsala. Some folks said sure, take a look around, see some countryside. Others felt it to be just another university town with no significant features of interest. Of course, the tourist guidebooks raved about what a fantastic destination it is! We decided to go for it, and agreed that it was well worth the train ride. We enjoy cathedrals, and this one is spectacular.

Lunch at the café next to the Cathedral in Uppsala was excellent- I had to stop myself from photographing every meal we had in Sweden! We also enjoyed a harbor tour in Stockholm, with scenic views, such as this one of “Skansen” Park.

A side alley gives a sense of the hills and architecture of Stockholm. We had cocoa and cake in a basement bakery, and were amazed at the number of souvenirs packed into tiny shops in old town. We’d recommend Stockholm and environs, and look forward to seeing more of the country on a future trip.