Especially For Kids

We're starting a new blog spot called Especially For Kids, so watch for it. These are the interesting things that we see in Germany that have special appeal to the young at heart. For example in the grocery store, they not only have eggs with connected feathers that require no refrigeration and are fresher than our eggs in the US, but they also have colored eggs that are so fantastic. Check these beauties out!

These eggs are not colored. The chickens just lay them like this. They look like chocolate chip cookies!

Lonnie's Service Projects

I have a new calling over Sister's Night Out. It is for the Senior Sisters who meet once a month for a fun activity and refreshments. I am also the assistant to the director of the Frankfurt Regional Choir that is putting on an International and Interdenominational Christmas Concert on December 18. At this time, I am in charge of recruiting the choir. Today I recruited about seven people, and I'm on my way to German class today where I'll have an opportunity to recruit some more. I was asked last week by the Area Presidency to edit their European Area Slide Presentation for viewing by our Salt Lake Authorities who are coming in a couple of weeks. I have a couple other things in the works relating to helping with a film class at the Frankfurt International School and volunteering at a Kinderschulle in my neighborhood. In the meantime, I have been doing a little missionary work on my own at the park next to our apartment house where a lot of high school kids and a 23-year-old hang out in the afternoons. I spent about a half hour twice last week visiting with them and they have been helping me with my German. So I made them some cookies. They are nice kids, and this week, I plan to take my ukulele over and sing with them. They really like American music. I have been taking good care of Bob, by making him yummy meals and helping him to relax by taking him on exciting adventures on the weekends.

Our Church Service In Germany

Our dear son, John, wants to know if we do anything more than just eat great food and look at beautiful castles and villages here in Germany. We are on a mission, aren't we? So Bob wrote up this nice description of what he does every day. He works very hard and is making a big difference by being here and trying to solve legal issues every day. The Area Presidency really appreciate the work that he is doing. Here's what Bob has to say:

I am serving as the Associate Area Legal Counsel for the Europe Area for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Europe Area includes all of Western and Central Europe. It goes from Greenland and Cape Verde on the West to Moldova, Greece and Cyprus on the East. It goes from Malta, Spain and Cyprus on the South to Norway, Sweden and Finland on the North. There are three attorneys in this area, two in the Frankfurt office and one in Solihull in England. We three supervise all of the legal work for the Church in Europe. We work with local attorneys who speak the many languages and are licensed in the more than 40 countries comprising the area. This includes things like immigration matters, labor law government relations, litigation, intellectual property issues, and cleaning up legal matters which may arise from the actions of thousands of missionaries, most of whom are 19-21 year old young men, who do things without necessarily thinking through the consequences (automobile accidents, injuries, etc.) Considering the large numbers of missionaries in the area, it is amazing at how well they do, but things do occur. In addition, each country has one or more separate legal entities to take care of the secular aspects of the Church. Part of our responsibility is to make sure that all of the legal aspects of the many entities are appropriately taken care of and that as new areas are opened, the Church is registered in these areas. This is not necessarily easy. Freedom of religion here is not necessarily the same as we have grown up with and have come to expect. One gains a profound respect and appreciation for this kind of freedom and the importance of protecting it for all, not just for majority populations.

So far I have found out that I’m primarily in charge of the physical facilities and real estate matters. This includes acquisition of new property, leases, construction and related issues. I also have primary responsibility for matters in Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. New things seem to come up regularly. In the month that we have been here, I have found the learning curve is very steep. Lots of new things come up that are initially baffling and take some time to figure out how to deal with them.

This is a picture of Bob's office. However, when he is not taking the picture, you can usually find him in his chair.

This is a picture of the Frankfurt Area Office Building.

Lonnie's Rösti Potatoes

I made these yummy potatoes today as we are having our home teachers over for dinner tonight. I'm trying my hand at German cooking. I also made the mushroom dish, but with turkey added, that is pictured with the Rösti Potatoes in the blog about dining at the Sunflower. I'm serving this with my famous green beans. We're having chocolate for dessert. There is no finer chocolate than Ritter Sport Marzipan chocolate. I just had to go get a bite to remind me of how good it is!

Delicious Rösti Potatoes
(Lonnie’s Version-Great served with eggs for breakfast or with dinner)

Serves 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients
• 6 large russet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup very finely chopped green onions
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Sunflower oil with butter dropped in, for frying the potatoes (don’t substitute another oil, as the sunflower oil makes the difference in these potatoes)

Preparation
• Cook potatoes in large of pot of generously salted boiling water until partially cooked about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes, rinse in cold water, and drain again. Peel, cover, and chill until very cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• Coarsely grate potatoes into large bowl. Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Sauté onions until soft, about 6 minutes. Toss onions, 2 teaspoons coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with potatoes . Don’t pack down.
• In medium hot heavy frying pan, pour in sunflower oil and drop in 2 T. butter. Pick up some of potatoes and pat them into a small flat round, like a pancake. Drop into hot oil and then press with metal spatula to compact. Cook each side to a nice golden brown (like hash browns). You will need to re-oil the pan before cooking each batch.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Can reheat in the oven.
ENJOY!

First Trip Into Downtown Frankfurt

Our first weekend here, we took the u-bahn (train) downtown. Along the way, we met a man who lives north of Frankfurt in the mountains. He informed us that you need to breathe in exhaust gas before you come to Frankfurt, to prepare yourself for breathing in the air here. It is very exhaust-ing!
We went to St. Catherine's Church, filled with intricate art work and beautiful stained glass windows. At the Farmer's Market, we ate a bratwurst sandwich with Johannisbeer-Nektar (delicious blueberry juice that I'm again sipping as I write), followed by a heart shaped waffle with Johannisbeery jam. We walked down by the Main River and enjoyed watching the crewers, swans, and boats move slowly along the river. We were glad that this person who doesn't have a home at least has a dog.


. . .this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of God.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24

Almond Salad Dressing

Jeannie Davies

In a jar shake together:
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 T. white vinegar
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. almond extract
Salt and pepper to taste

Different and delicious!

The bakery displays throughout Frankfurt are a work of art. 

We have discovered a new favorite, Mandelhoernchen Cookies. They are filled with marzipan, coated with sliced almonds, and dipped in chocolate. Yum! 

Here is the recipe:

Adapted from Gesine’s recipe at Confections of a Master Baker

Makes 2 dozen

1 recipe almond paste (see above) or 1 lb commercially-prepared paste
4 oz granulated sugar
3 egg whites
AP flour
8 oz slivered almonds (I cheat and chop them with a knife because I am lazy)
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine almond paste and sugar in a medium bowl with a hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix until well-combined, about a minute.

Continue mixing as you drizzle in the egg whites. Mix until it all comes together in a uniform, slightly sticky mass.

Cover a workspace with a light dusting of flour. Turn the dough out onto your work surface and divide in two. You will need flour on your hands to prevent the dough from sticking to you (not that you will mind having to lick your fingers, because WOW, this dough is delicious). Roll each half into a 15” log and divide into 12 pieces.

Roll each piece in the chopped almonds, making them into little logs that are between 5 and 6 inches long. Bend them into little horseshoes and place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Allow to dry for approximately three hours.

Bake each sheet at 375 for 15-20 minutes. They should be golden and lovely when they are done. While the first batch is cooking, microwave the water and remaining cup of sugar in a bowl for one minute on high. Brush each horn with this simple syrup as soon as each sheet comes out of the oven.

When the horns are cool, melt the chocolate chips. You can do this in the microwave, carefully, or in a double-boiler on the stove. I don’t have a proper double-boiler; I use a small saucepan of water and set a mixing bowl in it. The idea with chocolate is that it melts with its own radiant heat, i.e. do not set them in the microwave and expect it to turn to liquid before your very eyes. This is the way you set your microwave on fire. I found that out the hard way when I was 9. When chocolate chips are getting in a melty way, they will start to get shiny. Begin stirring, and soon you’ll have your melted chocolate.

Dip the ends of your horns in the chocolate and allow to dry before serving.

German Food Is Beautiful And Delicious!

We have enjoyed the wonderful food here. One of our favorite places to eat is The Sunflower garden emporium, which features a mushroom  in cream sauce dish served with crispy fried potatoes. We also enjoy their artistic salads. In the market, the produce displays are a feast for the eyes. They also have one of the largest, most immaculate, and colorful garden nurseries that we have ever walked through. 

And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

Doctrine and Covenants 78:19