Hi everyone!  It’s ZenBitch from Who Stole My Zen!?. I am filling in today for the illustrious DutchBitch. Yes, I know you’d rather have her here, but you’re stuck with me today. Deal with it.

I thought I would use my platform here at Casa de Dutchy to highlight some of my favourite “Dutch things”.   Having had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time in Dutchyland, I’ve developed  a fondness for a number of things that are traditionally Dutch…and unfortunately, most of which I cannot get in the U.S.   I have adapted though.  I have learned to cook the Dutch foods I love and I utilize my own private Import specialist Dutchy for the things I cannot get!  So here are my favorites about Dutchyland.

These are bitterballen.  I love them.  I can eat them by the plate full.      They’re a bit difficult to describe.  They’re an appetizer, deep fried, served piping hot, usually with mustard (I like them with frite sauce).  It’s minced meat mixed with a roux, formed in a ball and fried.  It’s a bit of a weird texture.  The inside is a bit mushy (ok, it’s a lot mushy) but the flavours are fantastic.  Like I said, very difficult to put into words but nevertheless, they’re delicious!  I’ve started making these on my own and seriously, I could make a batch and eat them all on my own, but I do share.  A bit.  Sometimes.  Come to think of it, I’m about due to make a batch.  Mmmmmm

Ahh, Cup a Soup.  I know what you’re thinking.  We have Cup a Soup here in the U.S.  Yeah, we do, and a sorry excuse for it.  Cup a Soup in the Netherlands (as well as other parts of Europe is quite different.  There’s a vast variety of flavours such as Curry, Asparagus, Leek, Wild Mushrooms with Mascarpone, Split Pea, Chinese Tomato…I could go on and on.  Lipton could take a lesson from the Europeans and give us some decent Cup a Soup here in the U.S.  Thankfully my Import Specialist keeps me stocked!

Blof!  My most favourite Dutch band.  Well really my most favourite band period.  I love them.  You should watch/listen!  You probably won’t be able to understand them anymore than I can but it’s alright.  Some things you just don’t need to understand.  However my Import Specialist also does translation services for me.  Be jealous!

Oliebollen!  Dutch doughnuts!  They’re typically served on New Years Day  but you can buy them at stands throughout the cities during the Winter/Holiday season.  They’re so yummy.  Fattening, but yummy.  Big balls of dough which are sometimes filled with raisins or other fillings and then deep fried.  They’re dusted with powdered sugar and then you get a paper bag of them and the paper bag starts to soak up the grease and it’s just a hot bag of wonderfulness.  I have learned to make these at home and I have to say, I don’t do half bad.

This is Apple Pie.  But it’s different than American Apple Pie.  It’s better.  And it’s not what we typically know here at Dutch Apple Pie.  Putting a crumbly mixture of something on top doesn’t make it Dutch.  Or good.  Dutch Apple Pie is more like cake I think.  It’s not overly sweet and sugary but just sweet enough.  It’s best with some whipped cream on top and a cup of good Dutch coffee.  I haven’t tried making this at home yet but I’ll be getting the recipe from my Import Specialist soon and giving it a whirl!

Speaking of good Dutch coffee.  I cannot live without my Koffie Pads.  I have a Senseo machine.  I can get Senseo coffee pads here but truthfully, they suck.  The Dutch ones are far superior in taste to what I can get here.  Even the store brand of coffee pads over there are delicious.  They’re so full of flavour and the dark roast pads are the best.  I have a very hard time keeping people out of my private stash that I try to keep hidden away.  Even my 10 year old niece has developed quite the fondness for Dutch coffee.  She knows how to operate the Senseo machine and she makes me a cup every morning and occasionally sneaks herself a cup.  What can I say, the kid knows good stuff when she tastes it!  As far as I’m concerned, American coffee doesn’t hold a candle to coffee from Europe.  Never has, never will.

Gouda Cheese!  Love it!  Love it!  Love it!  It’s in every market and honestly, it’s a fraction of the price there that it is here in the U.S.  Guess there’s something to be said for not having to import good European cheese in when you actually live in Europe.   It’s my all-time most favourite cheese and whether it’s on a sandwich or a cracker or melted in an omelet … it’s da best!

I can’t have a love of all things Dutch and forget about Tulips.  They’ve been my favourite flower long before I ever placed foot on Dutch soil.  They’re just beautiful to look at and if any man ever wants to win his way into my heart, a bouquet of tulips will do it every time.

Last but not least, my favourite on the list of all things wonderful from Dutchland… Dutchy herself!  She’s my confidant, Import Specialist, Recipe Trading, Man Trouble Story Sharing, Blog Manager and my best friend.  I think any of you who have met her will agree that she’s a kick-ass woman and personally, I’m very lucky to have her in my life!

So there you have it.  My list of all things Wonderfully Dutch.  Make mental note.  Write them down.  Find some recipes (or ask me for mine) and most of all, realize that while it may be small in size, Dutchyland is a country packed with  fabuloscity!