All I want for Christmas is ...

Family and Friends!

We have spent the last few weeks getting everything ready for the  Christmas holiday. Not only were we expecting a visit from Jef, the first exchange student we ever hosted, but we also received an invitation to visit friends in Lage, a town about two hours away by train. 

Jef lived with us five years ago for about seven months. He was a wonderful big brother then and still is! He was a great sport for letting us whisk him off on another train ride so soon after arriving from Berlin. The morning after his own arrival, we took off to Lage. We are incredibly lucky that friends from Norfolk happened to be in Germany at the same time as we are. Christina and Ingo are visiting his parents and were gracious enough to ask if we could come up for a few days to experience a real German Christmas.

I must add that Ingo and Christina are both historians and were able to tell us a wealth of information about the area.

Our first night we went to the little Christmas market in the town. After the larger markets in Münster, it was fun to visit a smaller one. There was definitely a more small town feel - not so many tourists and a little more camaraderie. Since the crowd was lighter, you could actually have conversations.

The next morning we visited the Weekend Market. Most cities in Germany have a market that is open on the weekends and sometimes during the middle of the week. Merchants selling just about any kind of fresh food you can think of as well as other items like plants, clothes and household goods come together in a specified location to sale their goods. Often these Markets are in the square in front of a church.  Ingo's mother needed to pick up a few items at the market, so we all tagged along.

While she was making her purchases we popped into the church (original foundation started around year 800). Ingo mentioned that the walls originally would have been covered in Frescos, but they were painted white later. Church was supposed to be religiously centered, focused on God  rather than elaborate decorations. Some churches went as far as removing the organs as even music was thought to be too elaborate. You can barely see that the top part of this Organ, the original part, was built in 1702. The bottom part was build in 1947.

As we walked home from the market, we passed this beautifully carved door. Could you imagine having this for your own?

We went on a foot tour of Lage after lunch with Ingo and Christina as our guides. Our destination was at the end of a hike that took us past an industrial area, a shopping area, a few neighborhoods and a wooded area where we passed over several foot bridges to the edge of town. There we saw a couple of  large boulders left over from the last ice age.

One part of our walk took us past this sugar manufacturing plant. Here, sugar is produced from sugar beets rather than sugar cane. It tastes just as good, but cooks a little differently. Apparently, it has been a very good year for sugar beets. They were still unloading trucks filled with sugar beets for processing even though they usually stop a two months or so earlier.

The Heidbrink  family were such gracious hosts. Knowing we were looking forward to traditional German food, they amply provided. We were treated to meats, cheeses, desserts, breads, bread toppings and decorations at every meal.

Christmas Eve meant it was time to go home. We were just a little concerned about our train ride as the news had mentioned that a group of Neo Nazis were staging a protest in Bielefeld, a neighboring town. Many students and other more tolerant people planned to stage a counter protest. Our friends were a little concerned that there could be a commotion on the train between the two groups. We certainly saw a number of people making their way to the protest, but we had a peaceful ride. The news mentioned that there were fewer than 70 Neo Nazis, while there were about 6,500 counter protesters.

Once we were home, it was time to start our own Christmas Eve meal. I planned on making Sweinehaxe, a traditional German recipe. It turned out ok, but not nearly as good as the one we had while staying with friends in Bavaria. I served it on a bed of Spätzle.

Having Pumpkin pie definitely made up for any shortcomings in the rest of the meal. I brought 2 cans of pumpkin puree with me, which is apparently called "smuggling" when you bring it in from another country.

I also made another Green Bean Casserole because I love it! If you have never made it from scratch, you are really missing out, plus it is totally easy to make yourself. I followed Alton Brown's recipe, but I substituted condensed milk for the half and half and vegetable  broth for the chicken broth.

Santa seemed to find us all the way in Germany and brought the boys a few of their favorite things. they each received two boxes of American cereal and a mix of American candy and German candy.

Then it was present time!

Christmas day also meant another Haines family tradition comes into play - Ice cream for breakfast!

Preston was thrilled to get his own model train - an ICE.

Later that day it was time to take Jef to the Train Station so he could begin the next leg of his trip. He is off to Berlin and then Paris before returning to Brasil.

On Second Weihnnachts Tag (the day after the 25th) we were again lucky enough to have a short visit with the Kellersmann family. They brought several presents and treats, and left Paulina with us for a bit so we could have a lovely chat.

We had about an hour and a half till Pauina's father returned for her. Of course they brought more gifts. One was a floor lamp to help lighten our rather dark apartment. The other was this plate of cakes Ute made. Paulina told us that her mother made three cakes for Christmas: a Walnut cake, an Apple pie (not the same but similar to the American version) and a layered cake. The layer cake was made especially for Ute's father and we are very grateful they shared it with us. We are looking forward to spending New Year Holiday with them in Ronnenberg.

All I wanted for Christmas was to be with people I love and for those people as well as all our other friends and family to know that I love them. We are so grateful for the kind and gracious friends we have here in Germany that have really helped us to feel at home here.

Christmas comes to Münster!

Frohe Weihnachten!

Christmas is just a few days away.  Even though our shopping is mostly done and the tree is trimmed I still feel as though I have so much to do. We are lucky enough to have a special visitor coming for Christmas. Jef, the first exchange student we ever hosted is coming from Brazil to visit with us over the Holiday before he heads off to Nice and Paris. We have also been  invited to spend the days just before Christmas with friends in Lage.  

A little note about  Christmas in Germany. The first day is the 24th and the holiday ends on the 26th. I have been told that the first day is spent with extended family, Christmas day with your immediate family and then extended family again on the 26th. Presents are traditionally opened on the 24th.

As I was looking for ideas to make some Ornaments to fill out our Christmas Tree, I discovered Pintrest. The picture above is a Polish Porcupine Star. I repurposed some pretty paper that wrapped some treats from the bakery around the corner. It was a little time consuming to make, but it is beautiful. Below are two other ornament designs that were simpler to make. I think the folded stars look very charming on the tree. I was not as impressed with curved ornament.

Normally, we don't have a present extravaganza for Christmas and we still didn't this year, but I wanted to make this a special experience this year. There are a few extra presents and a ton of their favorite candy, American as well as German. Today I am going to pick up a few boxes of American breakfast cereal (which they have not eaten since August). The boys have been such good sports about being thrown into an entirely new and strange life. I am proud that they are such troopers. There will be two very happy boys Christmas (25th) morning.

Wrapping up the Weihnachtsmarkt
We also went to the Weihnachtsmarkt again to find the last few treats we had yet to taste.

These are apple rings dipped in a batter and then fried. The apple parts turns soft and light, but not gooey, and is covered in a cinnamon (Zimt) dusted dough. These are reason enough to come to Germany at Christmas time.

Above is a plate of sauteed mushrooms with half a brötchen and garlic sauce.

We bough the boys something a little more kid friendly. Above is a beef sandwich with coleslaw in the bun - East Coast style! I have had my eye out for a Waffle booth and finally found one.

A few days ago, we went to the Weihnnachts Markt with a few of Russell's colleagues. One purchased these fried cauliflower pieces and we of course had to try them as well. I don't want to think about the calories I consumed that day. Almost everything is fried! And covered in a thick sauce!

What could be better than fried cauliflower smothered in garlic sauce? How about battered and fried camembert served with three sauces: berry, whipped cream and horse radish.

Someone asked me which was my favorite, but I really can't say. Each thing was so different from the others and all were delicious. If you ever have the chance to visit a Weihnnachts Markt, just try everything!

Russell and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on the 20th. I can't believe the time has gone by so fast. I am very grateful for a wonderful life.

Finally, the tree is trimmed and the presents are wrapped. We usually have a traditional dinner on Christmas Eve with family or friends. Since we are in Germany, I have decided to attempt at least some traditional German food. We will see how it goes in the next post. Until then, Have a very Merry Christmas!

It's almost Christmas

Tis the Season

The time is almost here for Santa to make his annual appearance at the Haines Household. This week we finally bought a tree, and let me tell you, it was no small undertaking. In the States, we traditionally put up our Christmas tree and decorations the day after Thanksgiving. Of course, while we are in Germany we are a little light as far as trimmings go. There was just no room in our luggage for lights, tree trimmings or the model train. We did manage to find this tree at a store about 4 kilometers away. Russell used his awesome Boy Scout knot tying skills to tie it to his gepäckträger. We could have picked a closer store, but that leads me to another issue we have had here in Germany.

Sometimes while we are in a store we will see something that we would like to buy, but don't need to at that very moment. We wait till closer to when we want the item only to discover that it is gone by then!

For example, in OCTOBER, when the Christmas items were first put on display, I saw many varieties of Advent Calendars, and I mean many. Most were religious or child oriented, but I saw one in Woolworth that I thought my girlfriends back in Norfolk would crack up over. You got it, there in Woolworth was a Beefcake Advent calendar. The link isn't the exact one I saw, but it is close enough. So when it got to be time to mail a package to Norfolk in early November, we went back to buy one - and they were all GONE! The same thing happened to us with Lego advent calendars, and even Christmas lights.

Holiday Spirit 
Even though we did not bring any holiday items with us, we seem to have accrued a fair amount. A few things have been given to us as gifts. Our dear friends, the Kellersmann Family, surprised us with a package about a week ago. Inside we found this lovely Weihnnachts Chor candle holder.

We also got this fun Advent calendar. Each day you open up a box and take out a piece of the Manger Scene. You turn the box around and replace it in the star. Not only do we get a new wooden Manger Scene, but we get a bonus scene on the box.

I was looking on Pinterest for decoration ideas when I came across this candle made from an orange.

Finally, a friend lent us some Christmas tree ornaments a few weeks ago. Since we finally brought home a tree we were able to decorate. Charlie Brown would be proud.

I still need to find a tree skirt of some kind. I am also on the look out for some cool paper. We still need to fill out the decorations a bit. I am really trying to not be depressed by how bad this looks.

I wanted to make a few ornaments to help our sad little tree. I saw this on pinterest and thought I would give it a try. I bought a grommet tool at the same store we bought the tree. Today I bought some cool paper to make my own set. Here is one of my first attempts. It is way to big for our tiny tree, so I will have to monkey around with sizes till I find one that works.

One quick note about Christmas trees - we now put lights on our trees, but origianlly candles were used. In Germany, it is still popular to use candles, albeit the electric ones. I did see candle tree clips at Woolworth. It is hard to imagine that people would use real candles today, but I know it happens.

No tree decorating night is complete without Eggnog. I found a pretty good recipe from Alton Brown. Tonight we tried the raw version but I think we will try the cooked version tomorrow. It was pretty good. If only I could find nutmeg.

We are looking forward to a special treat next week. The first exchange student we ever hosted is coming to visit us! Five years ago, Jef stayed with us for seven months when he was 17 years old. We have kept in touch and we finally get to see him again.

So, to all our family and friends around the world - We hope you have lots of fun and celebrate whichever way makes you happy.

Weihnachtsmärkte and St. Nikolaus

During the night of September 5 a special person comes to all the children of Germany.

His name is St. Nikolaus. In the U.S., Santa and St. Nicholas are one in the same, but here in Deutschland they are separate entities. Children put out their shoes or boots the night of the 5th. If they have been good children, they will find treats and small presents brought by St. Nikolaus. If they have not behaved and were not helpful they will find a switch. Bad children may even receive a visit from Krampus, who saves the very worst children for the main course at Christmas dinner. Don't you love these Germans?


Weihnachtsmarkt


Of course if St. Nikolaus came, it also means the Weihnachtsmärkte are in full swing! Russell has been in China all week at a conference presenting two papers, so I was on my own. What better excuse is there for swinging through the Weihnachtsmärkte. Münster is a little famous for their many Christmas markets. There are seven or eight small and medium sized markets here and they are all packed full of people. Have you ever been to Times Square at Christmas time? It is that crowded, at least after about 4 PM.

We went soon after the boys came home from school, so we were able to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Hot food and drink are common commodities around the markets. Many booths sell different versions of a popular drink called Glüwein. It is similar to mulled wine, but not as sweet. Many booths sell this drink in several versions - with alcohol as well as without. It is called Kinderpunch when it is alcohol free. Most drinks cost between 1.50 euro to 3 euros. You can also buy hot chocolate (heiße Kakao) and a few other hot drinks, most with alcohol. The drinks come in a ceramic mug that you must pay a deposit for. There is an official mug each year that many people opt to keep. This year, the official mug was teal green and the people were not pleased. Paton had his heiße Kakao in a mug from a previous year.

The day was pretty cold, so we headed right over to a drink stand Russell and I had already tried another day. It was one of the more popular stands because of it's good prices.

On our way through the various markets we visited that day we were amazed to see the variety of food and things you could buy. Want to buy a pelt of fur? No problem. Want some cured meat? Got it.

How about some toasted and seasoned almonds (Mandeln)? Mit Zimt (cinnamon)?

 Maybe some roasted chestnuts are more to your liking.

Of course, there are plenty of toys to keep your attention.

A few Christmas decorations could be just what you are looking for.

Come on, you know you would love to take this piglet home.

Just as we were about to leave, we noticed a booth selling hot drinks and donuts!

I think one of my favorite purchases was this incense burning Santa. The incense is hidden inside

We had so much fun roaming the various markets and practicing our German.

Thanksgiving, Weihnachtsmarkt and First Advent

 The Holidays are here!

This past week was Thanksgiving in the U.S. and the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Here in Münster, it was just a regular old day for most people.  The Christmas markets opened this week, so Holiday shopping is definitely started here as well. 

Thursday night there was a Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by the German American Alliance, but we decided not to go since it didn't even begin until 7:30. Not having a car, we would have had to ride our bikes in the dark to our destination, about 20 minutes away. We could have taken a cab I suppose, but it just seemed like a hassle - not to mention it was a school night.

Another U.S. family invited us to share a Thanksgiving with them on Saturday. There is young man in my German class that is from Idaho, so I asked him to come along also.

We met in the club house of our building. The other family provided drinks, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce (a real luxury here as they are difficult to find) and pumpkin pie while I brought green bean casserole, sweet potatoes casserole, turkey, brötchen, apple pie and chocolate cake. Notice how I put my new baking dishes to good use.

I was happy to see there were plenty of Turkeys in the stores. This little guy only set us back 12 Euros (about $15 dollars). It did taste good and we will have turkey pot pie in a few days! Not being used to this oven, my turkey tasted good, but did not look stellar.

Sadly, as I was baking my pie I had a little mishap. It was finished baking, but the top was not golden enough for my aesthetic taste. Putting it back in the oven with the broiler on, I thought I would rinse a dish and then take the pie back out of the oven with a beautifully browned top crust. Instead I found a beautifully blackened top crust.

Luckily, I decided to just lift off the burnt layer (since I had a suitably flaky crust, there was still a layer of top crust left) and sprinkled a crumble topping over it. A few carefully supervised minutes later, I had a nicely salvaged apple pie.

I always wet brine my turkey which means I generally buy my gravy. I have tried to make gravy with the drippings of brined turkeys, but it always is too salty for me. Turkey gravy is not found in grocery stores here so I HAD to attempt a giblet gravy. I have never been able bring myself to make this before because it always grossed me out.  This year I stepped up and threw myself into it.

It amazes me that something so disgusting can turn into something so delicious. I let it simmer for a whole day and ended  up with a rich, thick stock. I did add a few tablespoons of the turkey drippings to fill out the flavor even more. I could not, however, bring myself to mince the neck, heart, liver and gizzard.

I also found a store that had reasonable prices for sweet potatoes. Here they are about to be made into a delicious casserole. Not too sweet with a delectable coconut, brown sugar and ground almond topping.

Of course, these tiny European refrigerators make leftovers a little challenging to find places for.

Saturday morning, while we were picking up a few last minute items for out Thanksgiving lunch, we also picked up an Advent wreath. Sunday is first Advent and as we don't have the space for a big tree, or even medium sized tree, we are trying to add some holiday decorations.

Happy First Advent!

Our dear friend Ute gave the boys a Milka Advent calendar and we bought the boys a Star Wars Advent calendar. On each day before Christmas, starting on December 1, you open one "door" in the calendar. Inside is treat. I have seen many advent calendars that are not disposable and are refilled every year.

These aren't really decorations, but they are fun for the boys.

I can't wait to go back to the Weihnachts Markt. It is beautiful and full of such interesting things. Here is a taste of what you will see next week.

These are beautiful lamps.

This is a gigantic Christmas Pyramid.

More beautiful decorations.

Haben eine wunderbare Woche!
Have a wonderful week!