My mother immigrated from the Netherlands to the United States when she was just 5 years old. Unfortunately, in post-WWII America, more emphasis was put on cultural assimilation than preserving native traditions. So while knowing she was Dutch was a fun factoid that came in handy for school projects and random family trivia, I didn't grow up celebrating my Dutch heritage. Now that Isaac is home and he has introduced Chinese culture into the family (Isaac gave training-chopsticks to all his cousins for Christmas!), I asked Mom to help bring some Dutch traditions back into the fold. It's important to me that Isaac grows up knowing that being Chinese is exactly who God created him to be and we will always celebrate that! And that Gramma is from Holland, just like God planned and Momma is a true-blue American and that is why she gets to complain about gas prices (that's another story). So today...the first day of 2013...we made Dutch oliebollen! (Literally translated as "oil-balls" which sounds like a heart attack bomb, but thankfully we know them as doughnuts). This is a traditional food made during the new year celebrations in Holland, and one that my mom remembers her mother making which makes it more special. And when you add apples & raisins to them...they magically become healthy. :) (Take that oil-balls!)
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| Isaac getting his work space ready |
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The colander fits!
We are good to go! |
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Gramma getting her work space ready
(She wouldn't let me take a picture of the colander on her head) |
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| The OLD recipe |
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| He's got his apron & he's checking the directions |
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| Let's stir some stuff!! |
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| Yup...this looks about right, Gramma. |
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| Oil balls...I mean, apple & raisin health food. |
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| A good coating of sugar to make sure we don't taste anything healthy |
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| Oliebollen!! |
Gelukkig Nieuwajaar!
Happy New Year!
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
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