Hagel...WHAT?

Recently I posted about Chocolate Hagel on my personal blog, and I thought it would be perfect to share with my readers here!

About 8 months ago I was sitting on the couch, reading over our friends blog, when I read her post about Chocolate Hagel....she was dealing with a lot of morning sickness with her 2nd son and thought---"hey why not try some hagel---it's my favorite!" Ok, so keep in mind, I was one of the "non-Dutchies" that she mentions that had no clue what this chocolate hagel was. (I married into a large Dutch family.) So I mention the post to my husband and oh my goodness.....I don't think I've seen this man get so excited reminiscing about his childhood....."HAGEL??? Oh man, mom use to put that in our lunches all the time. " he says to me. REALLY????!!!!!!
So I posted something about chocolate hagel on my Facebook account and holy cow...i don't think I've gotten so much Dutch Feedback EVER!!!




Ok---to all those "non-Dutchies" here's the break down: Chocolate Hagel ---- White bread, buttered, covered in these chocolatey sprinkles.......

Really??? This was packed in lunches???? And then!!! And then -- I'm finding out that some of my nieces and nephews eat it AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK for breakfast!!! I find it so hilarious the feedback I get whenever I post something Dutch related on Facebook --- according to my family and friends out there, chocolate hagel is NOT just a snack (which is what I consider it) but an actual meal (totally disagree..hahahaa)



A little history for you...according to Wikipedia: Dutch hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) was first invented in 1936 by Gerard de Vries for Venz, a Dutch company made popular by said treat. Hagelslag is used on bread, most of the time butter is spread out so the hagelslag does not fall off. Several letters to Venz from a five-year-old boy, H. Bakker, asking for a chocolate bread topping, inspired and prompted de Vries' development of sprinkles. After much research and venture, de Vries and Venz created the first machine to produce the tiny cylindrical treats. They were named "Hagelslag" after their resemblance to a weather phenomenon prominent in the Netherlands, hail. Only hagelslag with a cacao percentage of more than 35 can bear the name chocolat hagelslag. If the percentage is under the 35%, it has to be called cacao fantasy hagelslag.

Interesting right?

Well, back in October when I first read about this, chocolate TREAT...I decided I would purchase these sprinkles from a Dutch Bakery for my hubby for Christmas. Buuut we dont have any Dutch bakeries here in Phoenix that I could find, so I ordered them from a bakery in Michigan.

It then took me 4 months to purchase a 99 cent loaf of white bread. (I'm so against white bread in the house...lol)....So as a family we all tried out the Chocolate Hagel.....................................

.............................and well I hate to admit it, but it was actually pretty tasty!! I split an extra slice with my daughter. I'm thinking I would most compare the taste to a light and fluffy yeast doughnut.

This Dutch TREAT will probably be making a few more appearances in this Douma household...right after we fill up on our nutrients in our actual meal. hahaha



(on a sort of side note....have you ever eaten Toast with Butter sprinkled with Cinnamon & Sugar? ---ya well I think I would consider this the *American* version of Hagel - so no more making fun of the Dutch Hagel I guess?)

Homemade French Fries & Patty Melts

I absolutely LOVE homemade french fries. I mean...how couldn't you? Seasoned to perfection-crispy delicious wedges dipped in your favorite sauce....come on? So wonderful. Oh and you don't get all the greasiness that weighs you down after a large order of fries at a restaurant.

OK -- I have to admit. When I made these the last time my count of *Almost Burning The House Down* went from 3 times to 4 times! Here's the deal -- we have a REALLY OLD oven that came with the house and it probably hasn't been cleaned in ages. Add that to a 500 degree oven temperature and olive oil dripping down....umm, ya.....a few flames and screaming for my hubby became absolutely necessary! BUT ---- BUT --- not to worry, through the smoke and flames our homemade fries still came out absolutely amazing!

Then I prepared a yummy patty melt for my hubby and a veggie patty melt for myself (which my husband cringed about--and said I was really missing out!) hah.

Both these recipes can be found in my cookbook: Our First Year

The Corn Bread Lady

I have recently been informed that I am referred to as the Corn Bread Lady! Over a year ago, oh wait, has it been two years? No, I believe it was last years Super Bowl (when the AZ Cardinals went?) we were invited to a friends Super Bowl party. My girlfriend was hosting the party and serving up Chili while everyone else brought a passing dish. I told her that I would bring the cornbread, along with another appetizer. (Bacon wrapped weiners--gotta check them out in my cookbook.)



We didn't know but one other couple at the party, but everyone raved about the cornbread and said it was the best they had ever had! My hubby is apparently spoiled, because this is all I'll ever serve him!

Last summer we went to a pool party with our same friends, and someone that was at the super bowl party was also there, in which he greeted me by saying, "Aren't you that corn bread lady?!" I laughed it off and didn't think much of it; then spoiled him with some of my cake balls that I had just made that morning! (I can still remember him having the tupperware of my extra's wrapped in his arms)

So my most recent encounter was at a House Warming party for our friends (the same that hosted the Super Bowl Party) and one of their friends, that we hadn't seen since the football game, said, "Oh my goodness, you're the Corn Bread Lady --- I have been craving that corn bread ever since." His wife agreed and said that he mentions it on numerous occasions!

I had to laugh...this just made my day!

Well ladies and gentlemen! The Corn Bread Lady is SHARING HER RECIPE!!!!!
(but you honestly didn't think I'd do it on my blog right??? It'll be in this years cookbook, that will be released hopefully early fall 2011!! You'll have to check it out there!)

Homemade Deliciousness!

Do you ever get into those moods, where you crave that hearty, home cookin! You know, the meal that makes you want to cuddle up near a fire, put on your comfy clothes and over-indulge in its buttery richness? I love these kinds of moods! Mmmmm.....especially when I find the perfect recipe to satisfy that craving!

This meal is one of those and let me tell ya, it'll satisfy any craving for a meal that is sure to trigger a heart attack!




Chicken & Stuffing Casserole
Cookbook: Country Elegance - Treasures from Ann's Kitchen

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 slices of Swiss Cheese (although I think I used 6)
1 can cream of chicken soup (I used cream of celery)
1 large pkg. Stove Top stuffing mix (I used the Savory Herb flavor)
1/2 cup butter
1 can chicken broth

Cut up chicken breasts into cubes and place in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover the chicken with sliced Swiss cheese. Spread cream of chicken soup slightly watered down with chicken broth over the cheese and chicken. In large saucepan, boil butter with remaining chicken broth. Add stuffing mix and combine. Cover and turn off heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork and sprinkle stuffing mix over the chicken mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until chicken is done.


Potatoes:

I made some mashed potatoes, by boiling the skinned russet potatoes until soft. Then I played around and made my own gravy out of some butter, flour and milk...then added in my favorite seasonings: garlic, oregano, seasoning salt, etc.


Yummy Delicious Carrots:

I used the little baby carrots and boiled them in water until soft. Then I mixed together some salt, butter and brown sugar creating a sweet candied sauce and drizzled that over my steaming carrots. SO YUMMY.

Native New Yorker

My hubby is a HUGE sports fan.....we've got the Chargers during football season, Laker's for basketball, UCLA for college basketball & football, Angels for baseball, Nascar all year around, and if nothing's on, we'll be watching golf, hockey or tennis! (Can you tell we grew up in Southern California?)

Well, occasionally we'll go out for the game at one of the many sports bars nearby to enjoy some appetizers, a few drinks and the camaraderie of fellow sports fans. It's difficult sometimes though to find a place that we both like....he of course is there for the big screens and discount drafts.....where I am there for the FOOD!

Last football season we fell in love with Native New Yorker!
(some are a bit small/dirty....but the one near our home is perfect!)

Anyways, they have a wide variety of menu items to choose from - burgers, appetizers, salads, potatoes, pizzas and hot wings! But my true love is the Buffalo Style Chips! Homemade potato chips, topped with bleu cheese crumbles, creamy bleu cheese dressing and scallions. Pair that with a blended margarita and LET THE GAME'S BEGIN!