Friday, June 6, 2008

Baked Stuffed Red Peppers with Cherry Tomatoes, Feta and Thyme











On July, 28th 2007 Nik decided to cook and picked the receipe "Baked Stuffed Red Peppers with Cherry Tomatoes, Feta and Thyme" out of a Martha Stewart Living Magazine. He has cooked it regulary every since. He asked me to put it in the blog so when he visits his grandparents this summer he can cook it for them.

You need: 2 small red bell peppers, halved lengthwise through stem, seeds and ribs removed, 1 heaping cup cherry tomatoes, 1 1/2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled, 1 teaspoon coarsely chopped fresh thyme, 8 basil leaves, torn into pieces, freshly ground pepper, 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit, with rack in top third. Place bell pepper halves, cut sides up, in a baking dish. Toss together tomatoes, feta, thyme, and basil in a medium bowl; season with black pepper. Fill each pepper with tomato and feta mixture, dividing evenly. Dizzle each with oil.
Bake stuffed peppers, covered with aluminum foil, until they begin to soften, about 30 minutes. Remove foil; continue to bake until tomatoes begin to burst and cheese turns light brown, 13 - 15 minutes more. Remove stuffed peppers from oven, and serve warm.  

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Moving






Well, it looks like we are moving. It is an apartment, just around the corner but very different from what we live in now. For one, it is smaller, a lot smaller and it is under the roof. But it also has a beautiful view, we love the neighborhood and it fits to us! It is a very cosy, cute loft! In which our furniture won't fit... the good news is that I get to pick new stuff!!! We have 3 months to get ready, but I have already found the perfect couch! (The day I was walking around Cologne, wishing I could attend the Bon Jovi concert, I came upon the most perfect store...) And finally, I have a good reason to drive to Munich and check out "the Livingroom". I could have some tea and scones first, some homemade cucumber salad next and then shop! I will probably have to rent a van. 

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Green, Greener, Greenest




Along the Neckar River, Nik, his buddy and Bella


A couple of weeks ago we went on a Sunday morning walk. It was one of those spring mornings when the grass is the perfect green, the sun is shining and you know that summer is just around the corner. I will try to remember those days come November and February when grey is the only color I will be seeing outside.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

BON JOVI



Richie Sambora



Nik, seconds before Richie Sambora handed him a guitar pick












11pm on a school night







One day last week, while I was in Cologne, my husband and a friend of his went to see Bon Jovi in concert. Somehow he not only got more tickets but "Side Stage Experience" wrist bands (which allow you to stand right next to the band while they are playing a few songs) and VIP passes. He had access to all areas and got to meet a lot of very nice, very interesting people. Up until now, I was the big Bon Jovi fan, but that has changed!!! I still can't believe that while I was sitting in a boring hotel room, husband, Nik and our friends were dancing next to Richie Sambora... 

Saturday, May 24, 2008

A Long Hike along the Donau


Two days ago I went for a long walk/climb along the Donau with my most adventurous friend. We took our kids and actually made them walk 12 miles. At one point we got lost and had to make our own path up a steep mountain, through the forest (the kids thought that was the best part of the whole day!). A visit to Monastery Beuron was our half way point.  It was a beautiful day, the landscape was breathtaking and I would like to go again...
In the picture you can see the Donau, with a giant sized wooden table and two chairs in it. The Donau is a large river, but those huge pieces of furniture make it look tiny like a puddle. Does anybody know the story behind the table? I couldn't find anything on the internet. 

Paris in May





moi, shopping...


picnic break


Eiffel tower ... always impressive!




Daughter had never seen the Eiffel tower before so we flew to Paris. She was duly impressed by the city and its "boulangeries" but said it would be even nicer if there were some farms where one could pet animals...bien entendu!
Paris in May is already packed with tourists which made it hard to find some spots where you could sit down and have a picnic or just relax but we did have some magical "Paris moments". I can not even imagine being there in June or July during main tourist season.


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Daughter's Birthday











Daughter always lucks out on her birthday! It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday, she got great gifts AND we took her to a farm where she could pet the animals and feed the chickens. Late at night when I brought her to bed and tucked her in she asked me to sing "Happy Birthday" to her again. And then she told me she wasn't done celebrating yet and if it was possible to continue the next day. Of course it is!