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Change of Plans

3/27/2014

4 Comments

 
Here I am sitting in the middle seat of an airplane for almost 11 hours flying to see my 91-year-old mother in Germany. Originally, I was going with my husband to Paris for week. We had rented an apartment and we were going to have fun in this beautiful city that we both love. Paris is our personal Disneyland. We go for the food, the arts, the parks—and the city. Instead of strolling through the Tuileries gardens and recovering from jet leg by soaking in the sun on a bench, I am taking  a solo trip to Germany to care of my mother who fell and is in the hospital. My heart did not allow me to do otherwise. Both my husband and I are very sad and disappointed. Could I really admire my favorite paintings and sculptures while my mom was being restrained? I could not.  Could I savor the culinary delight that Paris offers while my mom was confused and needed help? I could not.
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When I moved to the United States many years ago, I had no idea of the complications that would arise years later. I love my new home and country. It has brought many joys and a wonderful life. I am grateful and thankful for that. 
Thankfully, I have a brother who made sure my mother in Germany was well taken care of. I help, and visit as much as I can. At this point in life, my mother needs more help and support. Until now, she has survived with the help of many people she lived with on the farm where she was born—both fortunate and lucky. But now it is getting complicated. 
This year, spring has come early to northern Germany. Looking out of my mother’s hospital room, there is a huge tree covered with pink blossoms. White asparagus is being harvested and sold, which is usually a May event. When I was here last year, it snowed the entire month of April. While in Germany, I ate in the cafeteria at the clinic and rehab center my mom was . I was thankful for the often decent food. I was also lucky enough to have a Tegut grocery store  (similar to Whole Foods) on the way to the hospital. My girlfriend, Monika, not only provided me with support and help in the German medical world (which is excellent by the way), but also cooked some delicious meals for me. Bless her kind and gentle heart, a true friend.
There were no gourmet meals, but I managed to find some great cheese, bread, and of baked goods (of course). Those little bakeries in Germany are my favorite. Here are some of my favorites: 
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Gooseberry Meringue Cake
This is a crunchy pastry filled with cooked tart gooseberries topped with a meringue that was crusty on top but soft in the middle. This piece of cake is not sweet. But it hits the spot on a busy afternoon with a cup of black tea.
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Zuckerkuchen
This is a simple, but oh-so-yummy yeast cake covered with butter, sugar and almonds. It is best eaten fresh out of the oven, and it has to be done the right way—fluffy not gooey.
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Nußtorte
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Nußkuchen
I always have several of these from my favorite baker, Ralph, in Northeim. It is a light pastry filled with hazelnut cream covered with a sugary glaze topped with a hazelnut.
This is a crunchy, gooey nut bar made German-style. It is buttery filled with a jam-like layer between the nuts and the almonds—a true culinary delight.
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The last meal I prepared for my mom was white asparagus, which is in season right now and being sold at the local farmer’s market. My mom loves her asparagus with boiled potatoes, melted butter or hollandaise sauce, and ham.The local butcher shop had some great ham and packaged hollandaise sauce that was excellent. She enjoyed her meal.
Should you be so lucky and find fresh white asparagus, make sure you peel it correctly. Some people peel the asparagus twice just to make sure the woody outside is gone. So, don’t skimp on peeling away the outside. There are asparagus peelers in Germany that work beautifully. I did not peel away enough this time at is was annoying when I ate the asparagus. My blog has a recipe for white asparagus soup. 
While in Germany, I had a beautiful salad with an oil and vinegar vinaigrette, asparagus, strawberries and goat cheese.
After six weeks in Germany and a glorious trip to Marrakech, I’m back home in Santa Cruz. It feels good and I’m getting used to my normal life and enjoying it.
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My mother and my niece's hands were photographed by Anna Claement Fotografie in Göttingen, Germany.
4 Comments
Terry Walters
7/7/2014 12:49:19 am

Hello Gerlinde, Thank you for your wonderful posts that I have been enjoying immensely; I love to travel through you by reading your travel blogs - you go to all the places that I have either been or would love to go to. We share much in common; our food loves & love of travel, living in SC and my mother too is far away from where I live. Sending love and hugs, Terry

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Gerlinde
7/7/2014 01:34:36 am

Hi Terry,
Thanks for visiting my blog. Let's get together when I return to Santa Cruz.. Lots of love and say hi to all my friends at the Farmer's Market.

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Pamela link
6/21/2015 12:12:43 am

I missed this blog post a year ago. So much happens in a year, yes? I so relate to this - last week rushed on a train to visit my mom in the hospital - and now my brother and I are moving her to an independent living situation. I'll continue to make her cookies - and maybe even some white asparagus. What a beautiful picture of you and your mom. She's within you - always.

Reply
Gerlinde
6/22/2015 10:10:56 am

This is not a user friendly blog. One of these days I have to work on it.
Enjoy the time you have with your mom. My mom always said, I don't need anything just sit with me for a while and keep me company.
Pamela, what a compliment! The pictures were taken a couple of years ago, my mom was 90 and the beautiful woman you see is my niece.

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    I love to cook and I also love to travel. Traveling exposes me to a wide variety of food and experiences. I walk around cities looking for markets, restaurants, bakeries, shops, you name it, if it is related to food you will find me there, tasting, smelling, talking to vendors, having a great time.

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