I still try to cook traditional Dutch meals sometimes. I love Erwtensoep (thick pea soup with sausage, bacon and pig knuckle), Spekpannekoek met Stroop (pancakes and bacon, covered in syrup), Jachtschotel (a cassarole (sp?) with meat and potatoes), Stamppot (a dish with potatoes and smoked sausage) and even though it isn't necessarily Dutch, I also love to cook Gebakken Kip (fried chicken)!
I noticed someone mentioned "gezellig" in an earlier message. Grandpa always called it gezelligheid. He taught me about that too! To me, the word gezellig simply means cozy. It is a friendly, cozy, happy feeling between good friends and family. I have always thought of gezellig as when you go to the home of a close friend and you bring a bottle of wine or some freshly baked cookies with you, the tv is turned off, and everyone enjoys each other's company for a few hours.Gezellig (to me anyway) is opening up your home to the ones you love, being hospitable and REALLY enjoying each other's company. It is hard to put it into words, isn't it? I guess it is one of those Dutch words that is difficult to translate into English. I just think of it as meaning cozy or hospitable!
Holland. What a country! It conjures up so many emotions, memories and feelings I have a hard time even putting it all into words. I guess all I can really say is this...
Ik Hou Van Nederland!
Your post is SO great!!! IK HOU OOK VAN NEDERLAND!!!!!!!
I live here, I'm half Dutch half British and live in a small town near Rotterdam.
You've explained the word
gezellig perfectly. It's used so often here in Holland
Oh god, I looove erwtensoep!! Yum!
And have you ever had poffertjes?? Small round thick little pancakes eaten with sugar and butter mostly. Deeelicious! I had a friend of mine over from England the other day and she really loved them.
And what about patat - dutch french fries?
I used to go camping every holiday when I was growing up. It IS the Dutch thing to do. Every summer especially France is crawling with Dutch cars with caravans
And yes, every Dutch child grows up with Sinterklaas. It's wonderful. It's celebrated on the 5th of December and thousands of people go out to welcome him when he arrives from Spain on his boot with his
Zwarte Pieten