making old traditions new

This year we thought we'd give Sinterklaas and his trusty steed a break from deliveries at our house and opted for a "Dutch Dinner" event instead of the usual shoes-by-the-fireplace.

I'd love to say this move was inspired by a united desire for healthier eating (Sint brings a lot of sweets and treats), but I also have to admit that the liberal amounts of butter, frying, and, quite frankly, the sheer volume of food involved made for more festive indulgence than virtuous consumption. Ah well, tis the season and the Dutch certainly know how to spread the festivities (and indulgences) out over the entire month of December!

Here's what was on the menu:

marinated cucumbers

Oma’s beets

buttered leeks

stamppot

farmer’s sausage

vegetable croquettes

pork sautes, mushroom sautes

peanut sauce

fried bananas

nasi goring

kroepoek

Indonesian vegetable salad

and for dessert...

stroop waffles

(because the pofertjes were a disaster)

And, in the spirit of turning traditions on their head and changing things up, the littlest son declared after it all that next year we should do a Dutch breakfast to mark the occasion! Brilliance abounds!