Around the World in the Hetzel Kitchen

Ugh, losing everything you wrote is awesome.  Let's try this again... Guatemala is a Central American nation slightly smaller than the size of Pennsylvania.  There are over 14.5 million people living there, and the capital city is Guatemala City.  Learn more on the CIA World Factbook . I didn't have anything in mind when looking for a recipe to make for Guatemala.  When I saw Guatemalan Tacos (second on the page), however, I figured it was a match made in heaven.  We do Taco Tuesdays almost every week, but these were definitely different than the heavily seasoned meat + flour tortillas we were used to.  Plus there were ingredients I wasn't used to using.  Perfect! This was also the first around the world cooking after the twins were born.  In fact, they were four months old by this time.  Wasn't going to get anything done before that. Amelia left, Emily right Around the time of this dinner So anyway, back to cooking.  Boi...

It's been forever, I know.  MAJOR LIFE CHANGES, guys.  In April, both Kevin and I left our jobs.  Then we moved out of our apartment and traveled the country visiting family for a month.  Now we are settled in our new home, Michigan, and Kevin has started a new job.  And by settled, I mean we lived in a hotel for a while, then a house without our stuff. So forgive me for my lack of cooking/posting.  I have a few countries that I cooked before the life-chaos, so I will hopefully get those posted soon.  Then, once I find an international store, I hope to get started anew.  And now, since I will be staying home with Brendan, I'm hoping I'll been able to make up for some lost time. Enjoy! Finland Photo courtesy of user Sirkku :) on Flickr Etymology : The name "Finland" appears on three rune-stones, one of which dates from the 13th century Location : Northern Europe, between Sweden and Russia Area : Almost 340,000 sq km; 65th largest...

Note: I cooked and wrote this quite a while ago, but just got it edited.  I decided to keep it as it was at the time.  There will be life updates next time.  Don't worry, I have cooked since this one. Background : Explored and claimed by Christopher Columbus in 1492.  Part of the greater island of Hispaniola, the western third was recognized by the Spanish as being French controlled in 1697 and became Haiti. Location : Caribbean Area : Almost 50000 sq km; 132rd largest in the world          Slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire Religion : 95% Roman Catholic Population : Over 10 million; 85th largest in the world Capital : Santo Domingo Suffrage Note : Married people can vote regardless of their age International Disputes (I find the phrasing here interesting, so I kept it wholesale): Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross t...

Photo courtesy of user --Tom S-- on Flickr Background : This section in the CIA Factbook mentions the word "Viking."  Can't fail to mention that. Location : Northern Europe, on a peninsula north of Germany plus several major islands Area : Over 43,000 sq km; 134th largest in the world          Slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts Borders : Germany Natural hazards : Flooding in some areas of the country Nationality : Dane Population : Over 5.5 million; 110th largest in the world         Note : About 25% of the population lives in the capital Capital : Copenhagen Government : Constitutional monarchy Chief of State : Queen Margrethe II Source:  CIA Factbook It is usually a good sign that there will be plenty of recipes out there for a country if their cuisine has  a Wikipedia page.   Sometimes, it also makes it a little overwhelming.  There were so many options out there for Denmark! ...

Excuses.  I could find a ton of them for why I have not written.  I bet I could even make a list.  I will not give into that desire, however.  I will limit myself to two.  One isn't really a good one, but it is true nonetheless.  I think the second one is legit.  I guess you can judge for yourself. Months ago, I very quickly found a recipe that I wanted to do for Colombia.  It had all of the makings that I look for.  New ingredients, delicious-sounding.  AND it was published in the Washington Post from the cook at the Colombian Embassy.  How perfect! Here it is.   Sorry it is annoyingly on multiple pages. I went out and bought all of the ingredients except for two: papa criolla (Colombian potatoes) and dried guascas.  Couldn't find them in the Latin American section.  No worries.  Visit to the Latin American grocery store: no luck.  I even asked and the guy there couldn't help me.  A trip to the g...