So I finally get around to trying out this recipe for homemade coffee syrup that I found online long ago. So easy...... 

1. you boil one cup water and one cup sugar. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. 

2. for the carmel version, you add 1/2 cup carmel sauce once the water-sugar mixture has reached a

 boil.Simmer for 15-20 minutes .

3. Let cool and then fill into your favorite bottle.

ENJOY.

Please forgive, no picture of the final product....still have to make the pretty label and all. I promise to do that asap and then post it also. This coffee syrup will also make a great gift.

Grandma Jean´s Potato Salad

It´s midnight here in Berlin.....the jet lag is doing its job very well and I am wide awake! So, I thought I would take advantage of the time and share with all of you a new recipe... While I was visiting my sister in Chicago, her Mother in Law...aka Grandma Jean taught us to make her...

World Famous Potato Salad

1.  You take 4 pounds of red potatoes....

2. Place in pan with enough water to cover the potatoes...

3. add some sea salt and cook for app. 40 minutes...

5. The potatoes are done when a knife goes through easily.

6. Peel the potatoes immediately after they have been cooked. 

7. Slice and Cube the potatoes

8. Boil 6- 8 eggs

9. Peel and Slice the eggs with a egg slicer

10. Slice and Cube(very small) 6 large celery stalks

11. Slice one half of a very large sweet onion(app. 1 cup)

12. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and sprinkle with sea salt

Now the potato salad is ready for the  "gravy". Grandma Jean says it is best to make the sauce while the potatoes and eggs are boiling. This way it is ready when the potatoes are done.

13. In a mixing bowl, mix 1 1/3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup skim milk, and 1 1/4 cup miracle whip

14. Add then 2 Tablespoons Grey Poupon and salt and pepper to taste. We added about 2-3 Tablespoons of sugar.

15. Mix untill the "gravy" has the consistency of pudding

16. Pour over the Veggie/Egg mixture and combine

And there you go......a delicious, beautiful potato salad...thanks to Grandma Jean!

Now it is your turn... come share with us a new recipe that you have tried out or been taught recently!

31st Avon Women´s Run_10 May 2014

Today is the day. I am participating in the Avon Women´s Run in Berlin....well I am nordic walking 5K! REally can not see myself running that far, but the walking I can do. The picture I am posting to Pink Saturday today is of my t-shirt, how fitting that it is pink!

This 5K Nordic Walk is for all the women in my life who have fought their own cancer fight. Here´s to:

• Carol, Michele´s Mom who bravely batteled ovarian cancer. I miss her and think of her often.
• Martina, who fought brain cancer with all her might till the very end. She guided me through my travel agency training years in Cloppenburg.
• Kim, who batteled breast cancer and won!
• Sabine, who did not let breast cancer surgery stop her from celebrating thanksgiving with us last year(she convinced the surgeon to let her leave the hospital for a few hours(drainage bags and all!) I look forward to many more thanksgivings with her!
• Tante Anneliese(my aunt), who did not let breast cancer surgery stop her from traveling to germany to spend time with us. She too is a survivor.
• Martha, a survior and 10K power walker today
• Lily....a little girl that thanks to social media has become a part of my life. She is now 300 days cancer free! You can follow her miracle story  at http://teamlillybumpus.com/

THis day is for all of you! You are all in my heart today and every day  and even though the weather is far from perfect, this will be a good day!

Posting to Pink Saturday

A "Table" full of Easter"Scapes"

Once again I must report that I have been M.I.A.. I am still figuring out how to juggle my job, my home-life and my many, many hobbies! Spring has arrived in Germany and we are so enjoying the awesome weather the Good Lord has blessed us with. Gosh, I hope it stays that way!


Holidays bring out the best of family traditions and one of our favorites seems to be painting! For the second year in a row, my nephew-in-law came to paint. Last year the kitchen and hallway got a much needed makeover, this year the living room! Oh wow, is all I can say. The living room looks great and I am already looking forward to next year, when the gang comes back. My sister and her boyfriend also were here, so needless to say the house was full! The weather was great, the food even better and of course....some wonderful tablescapes came together.

Since my husband did such a good job, making my christmas letters, I had him make some for EAster. This time, though in german! And those eggs-candles, well those came from Nanu Nana. 

Easter Sunday Brunch

Easter Saturday "HAM DINNER ".. Oh so good

Good Friday......grilled salmon

The tablerunner was made my niece´s grandmother. I love that I have something of hers. 

Happy Days Everyone. I look forward to spending time with all of you again.



Posting this week to:

Tablescape THursday
The Tablescaper

Run for Respect.......Virtual Run.....

Pontiac Township High School, Pontiac Illinois USA......Berlin Germany 

Virtual Run for Respect 2014

11 April 

Ready to walk 5K for the Virtual Run for Respect

The starting point....

...and she is off! Walking on the Strasse des 17 Juni

...walking towards the Siegessäule(Victory Column)

"Run for Respect" walker sited at the Victory Column(located in Berlin, the capital of Germany

The park is amazing.....we are lucky in so many ways

here is a map, showing just a part of this large park which is located in the middle of the city

 

...nordic walking is serious stuff

The Brandenburg Gate
(view from the west)

This shows where the city was divided for so long. This path runs along the entire way where the WALL used to stand

Sucessfully walked 5 K for the Virtual Run for Respect

The United States Embassy ( I was lucky enough to get to work there)

The Siegessäule....the victory Column.  We insiders call her the Chick on the Stick!
Here is hoping that the Run for Respect was a a complete success. Congratulations to everyone for taking part.

Awesome time!

Mike, my son and photographer. He got up  on his first day of easter  break to be my own personal photographer. How lucky am I?