Around the World in the Hetzel Kitchen

Photo Courtesy of User didkovskaya on Flickr   Background : Gained independence in 1918 before being forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940. Currency : Adopted the Euro in January 2011.  Bad timing... Location : Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea Area : Over 45,000 sq km; 133rd biggest in the world          Slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined Official Language : Estonian Population : Almost 1.3 million; 156th biggest in the world Capital : Tallinn Economy : Very pro-business, free market government National Anthem : My Native Land, My Pride and Joy; same melody but different lyrics from the Finnish national anthem Source: CIA Factbook I did not e-mail the Estonian embassy for an Estonian recipe.  I didn't even look in my international cookbooks.  Instead, I turned to the one and only Boris.  He is a friend from Madison, aspiring comedian , and his family was from Estonia (videos may not be ...

Photo courtesy of the user thecomeupshow on Flickr. Background : Formerly annexed by Ethiopia, but gained independence in 1993.  Has been in a border dispute with Ethiopia since 1998 that created a Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). Location : Eastern Africa, on the Red Sea Area : Over 117,000 sq km; 101st largest in the world          Slightly larger than Pennsylvania Official Languages : Tigrinya, Arabic, English Population : Over 6 million; 107th largest in the world Capital : Asmara President : Isaias Afworki since 1993.  Supposed to have a five-year term, but there have been no elections since 1993. Per Capita GDP : $700; 221st (out of 226 countries/territories) highest in the world. Pronunciation : eriTRAYa, not erEEtria like I thought. Source:  CIA Factbook Can we get two successful African countries in a row?  Let's find out! The national dish of Eritrea is Injera, a slightly spongy bread.  It is also popular in E...