Sinterklaas is coming to town Loes Berendsen
Christmas traditions Jeroen Kuiper
Thanksgiving stress? Sanne Schmetz
vrijdag 23 december 2011
Table of contents
Will I be in time for my resolutions? Marloes Graat
Sinterklaas is coming to town Loes Berendsen
Christmas traditions Jeroen Kuiper
Thanksgiving stress? Sanne Schmetz
Sinterklaas is coming to town Loes Berendsen
Christmas traditions Jeroen Kuiper
Thanksgiving stress? Sanne Schmetz
Introduction
Welcome on our blog. We; Marloes Graat, Jeroen Kuiper, Sanne Schmetz and Loes Berendsen, wrote this blog about the holiday traditions. In our opinion holidays are the most beautiful time of the year. You can spend time with your family, friends and have a delicious holiday dinner. However, it also is the time to think about resolutions; Marloes discusses them. Sanne writes about the Thanksgiving preparation. Jeroen writes about Christmas traditions. At last Loes discusses Sinterklaas; a typical Dutch feast. We hope you enjoy reading our blog and we hope to see you again.
Word bank - Sinterklaas
Approximately the same meaning as ‘circa’
NL: ongeveer
Basterdsuiker a typical Dutch product. It helps to achieve certain textural structures and keeps baked goods moist. It’s easy available on the website of some Dutch groceries
NL: basterdsuiker
Bred, to grew up
NL: getogen
Centric the same meaning as ‘in the middle
NL: in het midden
Chimney, the fireplace
NL: openhaard
Cuisinart, a a type of food processor sold in the United States
NL: no Dutch equivalent
Fall harvest, the the gathering mature crops from the fields during the fall season
NL: herfstoogst
Floral the same meaning as ‘flowers’
NL: bloemen
Gnaw, to to bite
NL: knagen
Kitchen sink, the the place in the sink where the water washes away
NL: gootsteen
Latke, a a pancake, made of grated potato
NL: no Dutch equivalent
Lentils the seed of a plant, which is traded, dried
NL: linzen
Moisten, to to wet in a small degree
NL: bevochtigen
Monetary, a financial
NL: financieel
Narrow, a the same meaning as ‘small’
NL: smal
Nutrition, the a source of materials to keep your body well
NL: voeding
Pour, to to (cause to) flow
NL: gieten
Provide, to make something available
NL: bieden
Rededicate, to give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
NL: toewijden
Silpat, a the brand name of a silicone mat used in baking and in the production of candy
NL: no Dutch equivalent
Snail mail the traditional mail; you send it in an envelop with a stamp
NL: papieren post
Speculaaskruiden is the same as speculaas spices. Likewise, you can find them online but you also can use pumpkin pie spices
NL: speculaaskruiden
Sprig, a a small twig of a plant
NL: takje
Tender when the food is done
NL: garing
Wreaths, a a ring or circlet of something
NL: krans
Yams, the the same meaning as ‘sweet potatoes’
NL: zoete aardappel
Yolk, the the yellow part of an egg
NL: eierdooier
Sinterklaas is coming to town - versie 1
‘Sinterklaas is coming to town’
Every year around the holiday season people going crazy in the Netherlands to celebrate Sinterklaas. Everyone knows who Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are. Sinterklaas is actually kinda like the Dutch version of the American Santa. He looks like a bishop and holds a crosier. Together with his horse Americo and his helper Zwarte Piet he delivers presents and candy to the children. Although the feast is made up for children I have to admit I’m crazy about it too. However the kids get most of the presents so why would I celebrate the festival as well? Good question. It’s because the fun and especially the food.
Last St. Nicholas Eve
December 5th of this year I was with my family to celebrate the feast. As usual actually, since my sister is the mother of two children. She bought a lot of candy and that’s what makes it even more fun. I think it ‘s just like Christmas. You love spending time with your family nevertheless, good food makes it even more fun right? Most of the ‘Sinterklaas candy’ isn’t for available in stores that aren’t near Holland. Therefore, I am going to describe how to make the candy by yourself.
Pepernoten recipe
The traditional pepernoten. In English it’s pretty much the same as ginger nuts. The St. Nicholas’s Day isn’t complete without pepernoten. That’s why this is the recipe I’m going to describe for you. Hopefully you’re all going to make it, because I think they’re delicious. Furthermore, it is kind of easy. But first you have to do some shopping. You got to have 200 g self rising flour,
100 g Dark brown basterdsuiker or pure cane sugar (Demerara)100 g butter, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 teaspoons speculaaskruiden or pumpkin pie spice and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Oh almost forgot, you also need a some extra flour to dust the work surface.
Preheat the oven to 347 degrees Fahrenheit (or 175 degrees Celsius). Oil a baking sheet. When you did that, you should mix together all the ingredients in a bowl and knead it. Cover the dough with plastic and put it aside for an hour. Meanwhile, the spices can withdraw.
Flour your work surface and press your dough into a flat layer. You can use a cookie cutter to cut shapes from the dough. The pepernoot is traditionally a small ball. Hence, you could roll the dough in your hands as well. Place the balls (or figures) you made on the baking sheet. Brush with egg white and sprinkle some brown sugar on top of each cookie. Bake for about 25 minutes. After that, remove the balls or figures from the baking sheet and let them cool down for a few minutes.
And that’s all. Pretty simple if you ask me. I hope you enjoy the pepernoten. Perhaps it is nice as a Christmas treat for the upcoming dinner parties. Well maybe that’s a bit too much but I just can’t get enough of it haha. Anyways, enjoy the holiday and please leave a comment below.
512 words
Basterdsuiker is a typical Dutch product. It helps to achieve certain textural structures and keeps baked goods moist. It’s easy available on the website of some Dutch groceries.
‘Sinterklaas is coming to town’ - versie 2
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| Two weeks before St. Nicholas Eve (December 5th) Sinterklaar arrives the fest has started |
Every year around the holiday season people go crazy in the Netherlands to celebrate ‘Sinterklaas’. Everyone knows who ‘Sinterklaas’ and ‘Zwarte Piet’ are. Sinterklaas is actually kind of like the Dutch version of the American Santa Claus.
He looks like a bishop and holds a crosier. Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet and the horse Americo deliver presents to the children. Although, the feast is created for children, I have to admit I’m crazy about it too. However, the kids get most of the presents so why would I celebrate the feast as well? It’s because of the fun and especially the food.
People abroad often wonder why the helper ‘Zwarte Piet’ is black in the story and not white. Therefore, it’s called racism but before I’m going to write more about the feast I want to let you know it isn’t. Zwarte Piet is black because he has to go through the chimney to stock the shoes of the children. In my opinion, we all need to stop looking for stuff and building up grudge over nothing.
Last St. Nicholas Eve
December 5th of this year I was with my family to celebrate the feast. My sister has two children, which make this feast a big happening. She bought a lot of candy and that’s what makes it even more fun. I think it ‘s just like Christmas; you love spending time with your family nevertheless, good food makes it even more fun right? Most of the ‘Sinterklaas candy’ is only available near the Netherlands. Therefore, I am going to describe how to make the candy by yourself. Pepernoten recipe
In English it’s pretty much the same as ginger nuts and St. Nicholas’s Day isn’t complete without pepernoten. That’s why I’m going to describe the recipe for you. The pepernoten are delicious. Furthermore, it’s actually really easy. However, first you have to do some shopping. You got to have 200 g self-raising flour,100g Dark brown basterdsuiker or pure cane sugar, 100g butter, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 teaspoons speculaaskruiden or pumpkin pie spice and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Oh almost forgot you also need some extra flour to dust the work surface.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Oil a baking sheet. When you did that, you should mix together all the ingredients in a bowl and knead it. Cover the dough with plastic and put it aside for an hour.
Press your dough into a flat coating. You can use a cookie cutter to cut shapes. The pepernoot is traditionally a small ball. Hence, you could roll the dough in your hands as well. Place the balls you made on the baking sheet. Brush with egg white and sprinkle some brown sugar on each cookie. Bake for about 20 minutes.
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| mm... I'm getting hungry seeingthis picture |
And that’s all. Pretty easy if you ask me. I hope you enjoy the pepernoten. Perhaps it is nice as a Christmas treat for the upcoming dinner parties. Well maybe that’s a bit too much but I just can’t get enough of it haha. Anyways, I’m sure that the food will make your St. Nicholas Day a good one, even as an adult. Enjoy the holiday and please leave a comment below.
537 words
Boer, J.H. (5 December 2011). Caving in to misguided political correctness. Vancouver Sun. Editorial, P. A12.
Holiday Gift Giving Around the Globe. (2 December 2009). Prince Rupert Daily News. Winterfest 2009, p. 16.
Larsen, V. (17 December 2008). Cooking up tradition during the holidays. Marin Independent Journal. Food; Lifestyle.
Word bank - New Year
1. To gaze = te turen
2. Copious = overvloedig
3. Ingests = opneemt
4. Braised = gestoofd
5. To indulge = om te genieten
6. Riddled = doorzeefd
7. Rugged = ruig
8. Perverse = verdorven
9. Incentive = prikkel
10. Gems = edelstenen
11. Sincere = oprecht
12. Peruse = lezen
13. Perennial = eeuwigdurend
14. Procrastinating = uitstellen
15. Descendants = nakomelingen
16. Formalize = vorm geven
17. Potent = krachtig
18. Latter = laatstgenoemde
19. haul = vangst
20. Dreaded = gevreesd
21. Commutes = pendelt
22. Dwindling = slinkende
23. Wean = spenen
24. Oatmeal = havermout
25. Lean = mager
2. Copious = overvloedig
3. Ingests = opneemt
4. Braised = gestoofd
5. To indulge = om te genieten
6. Riddled = doorzeefd
7. Rugged = ruig
8. Perverse = verdorven
9. Incentive = prikkel
10. Gems = edelstenen
11. Sincere = oprecht
12. Peruse = lezen
13. Perennial = eeuwigdurend
14. Procrastinating = uitstellen
15. Descendants = nakomelingen
16. Formalize = vorm geven
17. Potent = krachtig
18. Latter = laatstgenoemde
19. haul = vangst
20. Dreaded = gevreesd
21. Commutes = pendelt
22. Dwindling = slinkende
23. Wean = spenen
24. Oatmeal = havermout
25. Lean = mager
New Years Resolutions - versie 1
At the end of the year everbody looks back to the year, to think and talk about what has happened in 2011. Also it’s the time of the year to look forward to 2012 and of course the resolutions! Loose weight, stop smoking, less buying everybody has them. My resolution is to be on time, at important (or less important) meetings, because I am always too late. Before I thought okay it’s a bad habit, but it’s not that bad, I am always like five or ten minutes to late not half an hour. Nevertheless lately I really do irritate myself by doing it, because it’s just annoying for other people who have always to wait those ‘’only 5 minutes’’. So I decided I really want to change this.
But how are we going to reach that our resolution will come true? Of course there is the social media, again, where can it not be used for? There are several websites where people can support you on your resolutions. People? Strangers I guess. Who are these people? Why should they want to support me? When I took a look at 43things I saw a lot of folks really does want to help each other. The title makes a good statement when you enter the website: ‘Changing your life is hard, doing it by yourself is harder’. People share their own experiences holding on the resolutions and try to help and motivate other people to fulfill their resolutions. At 43things you are divided in groups with others who have the same interests and resolutions. I do hesitate to use the website. It seems weird to me to share my personal resolutions with people I don’t know. Although the website says it’s better to share it with ‘’strangers’’ than telling your friends about your intentions. Your resolutions will come true, because you see how people do with the same resolutions and you will compare yourself to them.
Sounds like a good story, but how can people help me with mine resolution? Being on time. It’s something I don’t have to be motivated for like with the resolution run the marathon (which should be also a good resolution for me). Still people can support me by telling about their stories and if they make progress. So maybe I should just give it a try and see how it ends..
words: 400
Will I be in time for my resolutions? - versie 2
At the end of the year everybody looks back at what the year have brought them and thinks and talks about what has happened in 2011. The bad and worst lists come up and it’s time for new year resolutions. Volunteer, travel to new places, be less stressed and live healthy; everyone has them. My resolution is to be in time at important (or less important) meetings because I am always too late. I am always like five or ten minutes too late not half an hour. Although, lately I really do irritate myself by doing it, because it’s just annoying for other people who have always to wait those ‘’only 5 minutes’’. Therefore I decided I want to change this.
The question is how are we going to manage that our resolution will come true this year? The solution seems simple and is, of course again, the social media. Where can it not be used for? Taking a look at the internet you can find several websites who can help you with fulfilling your resolutions.
The title makes a good statement when you enter the goal-listing website 43Things: ‘Changing your life is hard, doing it by yourself is harder’. The goals on the website are often very personal. Isn’t it weird to share those goals and the progress of them with strangers? Martin Leezel, who uses 43Things thinks not so: “Strangers are the ones who have your best interest in mind.” For example, if you want to loose weight; is your best friend secretly not happier about the fact that she’s thinner than you and gets more attention? On 43Things people are divided in categories with the same goal. Everyone cheers you on, share their own experiences, holding on the resolutions and try to help and motivate others.
The most public en vulnerable way to fulfil your resolutions is possibly post a video at YouTube. If you post a video and tell about your resolutions and the movements you have done, everybody can see, hear and share it. You cannot post anonymously a goal at 43things and write every now and then about your process. People can recognize you from the video but they can also identify with you and for that reason support you more than the people will do on other ‘help making my resolutions come true’ websites. Therefore the video is the best way to make your resolution work, but you need to have some guts.
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| New Years reslolutions are often the subject of cartoons |
words: 543
Rosenbloom, S. (21 januari 2011). I resolve, World don´t fail me now. Geraadpleegd op: 10 december 2011, van: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/fashion/23resolution.html?_r=1&ref=newyear&pagewanted=print
Time (3 januari 2011). Top 10 commonly broken new year’s resolutions. Geraadpleegd op 21 december 2011, van: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2040218_2040220_2040221,00.html
Word bank - Christmas
1. Mass A service in Church Kerkviering
2. Vigil To stand guard Waken
3. Asserts Claims Beweren
4. Ascribed Attribute Toeschrijven
5. Commemoration Remembrance Herdenking
6. Profoundly To think a little bit deeper Diepzinnig
7. Deferred Postponed Uitgesteld
8. Genuineness Authenticity Echtheid
9. Census Counting the population Volkstelling
10. Scarcely Barely Nauwelijks
11. Contention Statement Bewering
12. Venerated Praised Vereerd
13. Anomalous Abnormal Abnormaal
14. Consulship Member of a consulship Functie van Consul
15. Interpolations Insertions Inlassen
16. Contemporaries People who live in the same Tijdgenoten
time
17. Pontificate Arrogance Gewichtig doen
18. Antiquity Life span Oudheid
19. Untrustworthy Unreliable Ongeloofwaardig
20. Canonical By the rules of the church Volgens kerkelijke
Wetten vastgesteld
21. Revocation Repeal Herroeping
22. Reckoning Estimation Schatting
23. Deliberate Discuss Overleggen
24. Adaptation Adjustment Aanpassing
25. Abstinence To keep yourself of Onthouding
something
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