december

'sinterklaas has left'. well, almost, pigging out on 'pepernoten' as i write. i went to holland twice in the last month, so i had all the time to get the sweets we need to celebrate sinterklaas. i was in holland just the days before our number 1 celebration, and i was sad to see that they was hardly any decoration, there was no sinterklaas in any of the big departmentstores to receive children. a big change from a couple of years ago. my sons sat often in sinterklaas' lap to tell him what they would like to get. i saw only 4 zwarte pieten, the old guy's helpers. it was really a downer. people do celebrate the event on the evening of the 5th still in a big way, bigger than christmas. when i flew back to switzerland, my big sons for the evening 'believed' again. they will do anything to get a gift. i recall the times that we celebrated it with another dutch family and other nights just my little family. so much excitement, frightened children hearing zwarte piet knock on the door. but now sinterklaas is out of the door and we are getting ready for xmas. in holland it is usually not celebrated with gifts. it is a day for love and world peace. having a german mom, i was a lucky girl that i got gifts twice in december. we also do xmas for our family, but not in such a lavish way as sinterklaas. my sons know that. people will ask me what dutch people eat traditionally on the 25th. i haven't got a clue.....rabbit? my mother always did 'chicken fondue' with broth on the 24th, very easy always does it;) decorations are up now. the next thing we will do is starting to think about dinner. for a couple of years we did nothing. 3 days of pj's, xmas movies and leftovers. heaven! this year i thought it would be nice to have the inlaws over(for them, they are getting old)....i might regret it...not because of this extended family, but because i hate having to do to much. a lot of work for what? my dinner would be a bottle of wine accompanied by a piece of cheese. i am also born with the dna easy does it. but no it will not be like that:(  hubby dear and his mother have been talking. i had to bring 'gerookte paling'(smoked eel) from the fish guy on the 'albert cuyp' market in amsterdam. they blabbered on about in what way he should cook the shrimp. cold or warm shrimp, that is still the question. we have to have something not fish based for the boys who do little fish. i am famous for my pies.....so you can imagine what i have to do. i will be glad when that night is over. and then we will live up to the 31st. 'oliebollen', tradional  dutch sweet grease balls(yes we do have a dutch cuisine), delicious, i might think about it to make them. and what we will be doing that evening.....i am famous for going to bed at 10. i don't give a d... about that evening. new year...same sh.. that is my motto. why should i wait up for that? anyway, i wish all of you happy holidays. a big 'smack' to you from dutchwomanabroad