City Life Congestion – A List of Links & Thoughts

- You can’t get candy corn in Germany. Last year, I tried out this recipe for making my own without much luck. My fingers are crossed for this candy corn recipe later this month. Sometimes a piece of home makes all the difference on cool and dark evenings in a different place.
- Just when we might start thinking those bratwursts look a little tempting, the NYTimes writes up pieces like this one to remind us of the meat industry and why we’re sticking to our veggies.
- My German is coming, but it isn’t always easy. I was trying to figure out which contact solution was right for me yesterday evening. The store had four options. So when I turned to the clerk for help, all of my questions resulted in only one answer once she finished reading the entire label of the one in my hand. She told me in German, “This is contact solution.” Oh. I took a guess at which one I should get and just took it home, hopeful that Martin would tell me it was the right one. (It was.)
- Trying to keep up with everything gets a little overwhelming in our lives. I know I don’t have to tell you that! But I like this suggestion called “10 Minutes“.
- It doesn’t matter where we are. If a small airplane is flying overhead, Martin stops to watch it. That’s nothing new. It’s just that now I stop and watch it, too, and we become nostalgic for flying.
- Once a week, I pick out a new vegetable that we wouldn’t normally eat and try to figure out what to do with it. So far, it’s been easy because I am picking vegetables I recognize. (We’ve had eggplant and red cabbage.) But one day soon, I’ll either need to bring a dictionary to the grocery store or bring home the root vegetables I don’t recognize and figure out what they are. Any “weird” vegetables you’d suggest we bring home?
(Image by Martin for Making This Home)
Care to Comment?
October 14th, 2009 at 6:11 am
If you are in Germany I would suggest KOHLRABI or SCHWARZ WURZEL (which in the US is known as oyster plant).
Otherwise, grab some parsnips (delicious in red pepper soup!) or a turnip or 2. Veggies are so inexpensive in Europe that you shouldn’t feel intimidated.
Good Luck!
October 14th, 2009 at 6:36 am
The candy corn recipe for this year doesn’t contain temperatures for cooking the candy. I don’t think that it needs it though because you boil it for just a short period of time and then reduce the temperature. Please let us know how it turns out, Katie!
Also, I really liked the link for how to accomplish things in only 10 minutes.
Hmmm… I wonder what kind of vegetable Katie will bring home today! I made eggplant parmesan the other night and red cabbage a few days before!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Thanks for the link to the NYT article. Horrifying.
I had parsnip fries the other day. They were tasty. I like to peel beets, chop into small cubes, then toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast uncovered in an oven for 20 minutes or until they’re soft when pierced with a knife. You can eat them alone, or with steamed spinach or swiss chard. Also good with goat cheese.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I have some nice, out-of-the-ordinary veggie recipes from my recipe email group. Each one includes how-to-buy and how-to-prepare info. I’d be happy to forward you a couple if you are interested. I can send them to you as Word (rather large file) or PDF, whichever works best for you. Love to share recipes!
Best,
Cathryn
October 14th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I don’t know what vegetables you’ve tried and what you haven’t, but I wouldn’t recommend fennel unless you like a definite licorice flavor. I would recommend celeriac, but that’s mainly because I’ve never tried it, and all I can think about is what a lovely greenish soup it would make.
Also, that link to the meat article doesn’t seem to be working for me. :(
October 14th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Cathryn – yes! I would love to receive some of your recipes. What a cool idea.
Christine – my only guess would be that for the link to work, maybe you have to have to be a registered user at the NYTimes. It’s super easy (and free) to set up. They have some of the best articles I’ve ever seen about food, so I’d recommend it for general browsing if you want to sign up. Hope it helps.
Katie
October 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
My German mother was visiting and she bought celeriac at our Farmers market, she made a delicious salad with it after boiling it forever! She also cooked Kohlrabi I had growing in the garden. And if you find white baby turnips, they’re yummy. Just boil them, drain the h2o, add S&P and a little butter.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Have you ever tried jicima? It’s slightly sweet, fibrous and starchy. The best way to describe it would be a cross between a crisp apple and a potato.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I’ll be happy to send you candy corns – email me your address! (and be sure to read my blog soon!)
Great list and I love that you BOTH stop to look at planes now. Makes me smile!
October 14th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
What prevents you both from flying in Germany?
October 14th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I can send candy corn! :)
thanks for the link!!
October 15th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Will grab the veggie recipes to send to you. Please email me your address and they will be on their way!
October 15th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Sprout,
Here’s a post explaining all the sadness of why we can’t fly in Germany:
http://www.makingthishome.com/2009/09/09/flying-qa/
It should give you just what you’re looking for.
Katie
October 15th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Hmmm – vegetables? candycorn? I don’t know what you all have me craving more now!
-k