Chestnuts

Yesterday Rich and I ventured out to Fete de la Chataingne, Fully to the annual Chestnut Festival. Although the weather turned into cold, windy rain; armed with winter coats and our trusty umbrellas we made our way through the Festival. Consisting of about 270 stands of goodies to purchase including food. "almost everything was made with chestnuts" 
Some of the sights included:

Although the view was beautiful, the day was very hazy

 

 

 

of course they had the candy/gummy booth

anyone for red garlic and onions?

let us not forget the chocolate....

...and Hot Cocoa

 Will and Terri "who told us about this festival" also introduced us to their favorite

 

food vender

also a favorite in the area

one of them even tried to get Terri to take his place for the day

And the day wouldn't be complete without chestnuts roasting over open fires

    One of the best parts of the day "aside from being with good friends"...on the drive home the rain was mixed with SNOW!!!!!

Decorations and Cookies

The house is decorated for Halloween..every room. It was nice to see all my Pumpkins again, even the decorations the boys made when they were little! Takes me back to the times they were little and how excited they would get about "Trick or Treat" Good Times!! It's been a few days since I baked the cookies so, the supply is going down. Rich has been taking them to work. Still have a few brownies left but I think  it's safe to make the doughnuts soon, and perhaps some Whoopee Pies! My first time making them in Switzerland.

Here's the first batch of Fall Leaves 

A few of All Hallows Eve in the Kitchen

Christmas Bazaar

A very long day; although not as productive as I had anticipated. The Bazaar was pretty big- spread out into two buildings. I was disappointed with the choice of venders and their extremely high prices!
We are after all for all intense purposes living here in Europe, where day trips to the various "factory outlets" enable us to purchase the same things at great discounts! Although depending on the Rank of the Service member; some even find the factories expensive.  I found the situation to be in very poor taste for the young Military Families stationed in Europe, who were out "looking" for something to send their families for the Holiday season. Anyone who has walked in the steps of being a Military Family can understand where I'm coming from. "Money is very tight" While "browsing" the isles yesterday, I came across a young Private who was looking for a gift to send his Mom. He wanted to purchase a glass ornament but could not afford the price, he was trying to get the dealer to "come down" a bit on the price; dealer wouldn't budge! Enough was enough..I promptly found Rich and "left the building". I'll wait for the Christmas Markets- and just let time take care of greedy sellers; perhaps it's time they realize that it's "because" of the young troops they were invited onto the Army Base to participate in the first place!

Still October

I've had a "somewhat" productive week, unfortunately most of it was spent on a very bad migraine. It was the first in a long time! Rich returns today, I wonder if he'll be surprised by some of the "re-decorating" I've done?! Yesterday I made a double batch of my sour cream sugar cookies, the dough is in the refrigerator while awaiting to be baked! My friend Terri wants to come over and help decorate them- but if she doesn't come today she'll miss out on this batch. I'll take pictures when I'm done. I also made a pan of brownies...now all I need are people to eat this stuff. I LOVE to cook and bake..but no-way could I eat very much of it or I'd be over 200 lbs!!
Tomorrow we're going to get an early start and drive to Heidelberg Germany to attend the Holiday Bazaar, and pick up a few thing's at the Base Commissary. I think the drive will be beautiful with all the fall colors now. Well back to work for me! Marissa and Trista...it was great talking/texting with you last night!

Afterthought...

So, yesterday morning my friend Terri picked me up and we went to the US Embassy for our German class. After parking, while paying..we were approached by a Middle Eastern man. He spoke very good English and needed change for parking. Terri was able to exchange some money for him although he still needed a bit more for the three hours he requested. So I just gave him the amount he needed; "he was very appreciative" Anyway, we continued into the Embassy, found our class and after went for a nice lunch. It wasn't until last night that I remembered we have been placed on high alert for terrorist activity...after thinking back on my day- I realized that OMG...Terri and I could have been responsible for that guy being able to park outside the Embassy...and he had specifically told us he needed three hours! {for what? The car-bomb to go off?}
So my question is: How far do you go? At what point do you stop being helpful to people in need of help because they MIGHT be planning to do harm? Rich is always telling me I have to be more careful...he's going to have a grand old time with this one!! 

Memories of Grammy

 Fall is also the time of year that takes me back to Maine. I remember when my brother and I were little, my Grandmother would call us to the kitchen table in the afternoon for one of her homemade treats. In October almost everything was made with apples, the back yard was full of baskets of all different types of apples, pumpkins and squash; and nothing was better than coming into a warm kitchen to a glass of fresh apple cider and warm homemade Spiced Doughnuts! 
I also remember learning to cook from Grammy,Auntie and my Mom...every Sunday was baking day- where enough "sweets" were made for the week ahead. I was taught to cook with a vocabulary of "pinch, dash and dollop" it wouldn't be until Jr.High when I would learn to convert those words into measurements. I love making these doughnuts while remembering the warm conversations and laughter in that little Country Kitchen.
                                                                Spiced Doughnuts
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
5 tablespoons shortening, melted
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
                    Add sugar, milk and shortening to beaten eggs. Sift flour before measuring, then re-sift with baking powder, spices and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture..stir until blended. Refrigerate dough for 1/2 hour. Roll dough 1/4-inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Fry in Crisco @375 about 3 minutes, first on one side- then the other. Place on paper towels to cool. Sprinkle with sugar if you wish. Makes about 30. 
I usually double this recipe because Rich likes to take them into work and share. They also freeze well in airtight bags.

October

Wow, This time in Switzerland is going to go by quickly! It's already time to begin work on our Fisher Family Vacation..Rich has already booked all but one room at the B&B, "we're taking over". I'm already looking forward to having our Family all together under one roof.
Rich and I will be going to Edinburgh next month to spend a weekend at the B&B: to check out the area, buy the tickets for one of the activities that will be sold-out and make preparations for the Amazing Race! Now I just need to find out if the kid's are coming to Switzerland a week or two before or after Scotland.
I just received a call from Rich, seems he made it to his gate just in-time to board! "And he say's I'M slow!! But of course he'll have an excuse.