Rosengut

So while the husband is busy working, his parents took me to a garden nursery specialising in roses, ok it's not exactly Gardenworld but they had some pretty interesting flowers on show

They are beautiful to look at but unfortunately growing flowers in Germany is a difficult art to master. Most of these flowers are only good for a couple of months before they die. I'm not sure whether it has something to do with the weather or the soil...or a combination of both, but I have noticed that the soil here becomes grey in colour after a few days.

One of the most interesting things here were the produce. In terms of jams, Germany has some pretty interesting flavouring combinations and here at Rosengut is no exceptions (above is a selection of jams made from various types of oranges), there were also some variations of pickled vegetables and fruits that I've never seen before.

Rosengut
Rosengut Langerwisch
Am Gut 5
14552 Michendorf OT Langerwisch
Tel: 033205 46644

Trading Times
Mon-Fri   09:00 - 18:00
Sat           09:00 - 17:00
Sun          09:00 - 15:00

Busy bee

While it hasn't been too bad a week this week, the husband has been working around the clock, including today. We decided to drive down to see the parents in-law this weekend but it hasn't stopped the husband from working all weekend. So this is what we are being at the moment, a couple of busy bees.

Ikan pepes

I've always been a big fan of fish, but unfortunately fish (or seafood in general) is just not such a popular produce here in Germany. I bought this tiny little thing at the fresh market that we have near our home every Friday, and this set me back a pretty penny (16euros). And to be honest with you, it's almost not worth it to pay for that much for a fish that could only feed a portion of two. But I was desperate for a taste of Indonesian fish so I just gave in. I received this recipe from a friend of mine.

Ikan Pepes
6 shallots or 1 big red onion
4 small cloves garlic
2 tspn tumeric powder
3 candlenuts
2 teaspoon ginger grated
2 teaspoons white pepercorn
2 teaspoons salt
10 small thai chillies or 1 tablespoon chilli paste (depends on how spicy you want it)
1 lemon
1 fish for 2 portions
Half a tomato

Prep the fish. In Germany, when you buy a fish at the markets, the scales are still attached, and sometimes the insides also so you kind of have to do that yourself.
Wash the fish and blot excess water with a kitchen tissue.
Grind all the ingredients together in a blender or using a mortar and pestle
Make three slits across the body of the fish on both sides
Place fish on a foil or banana leaves
 Rub the paste over the fish as well as inside the fish
Put 2 - 3 slices of tomates in the belly of the fish (you can use a whole tomato if you like)
Cut a lemon in slices and place them on either side of the fish and the remainin slices go into the belly of the fish also (basically I do this because they don't sell any fresh lemon leaves here in Germany so I've substituted with a whole lemon.
Wrap the whole fish up in a foil or banana leaves
Place in the oven for 25 mins at 170'C and open the foil up (if using) in the last 10 minutes of baking so it will not be so watery.
Disregard this step (*opening the banana leaves in the last 10 mins) if you have wrapped it in banana leaves as the leaves naturally reduces the juice coming out of the fish.

Das Berger Straßenfest

I cannot believe the Berger Street Festival is back! We have seen through 2 Berger Street Festivals, crazy! Anyways apart from having some great snacks along the street, we found a little boy selling these amazing books from the 1950's, look how vibrant they are! And for a euro per book, what a bargain! I snapped up 3 of them then came back for another 3.

I love the patterns on them, they don't even look like they have been from the 50's, they look like modern chocolate packaging...

I literally just grabbed what I thought were the most colourful ones, but look what I came across.."Allah has a hundred names"

At the fresh market

One of the great things about Frankfurt (or Germany overall) is that every town has their own portable fresh market held every week on certain days. In my town that day is today and that's pretty much when I would get my fish products. These markets can be pretty expensive (like...very expensive!) but at least I don't have to drive somewhere or walk to the Kleinmarkthalle in the city, so it saves me a long walk...I know, I'm lazy.

a quiet revolution

I know a friend whose boyfriend shops for everything online - I mean everything...like, even masking tape. At first I thought it was a little ridiculous, but I'm slowly changing my mind. I've always been hesitant about shopping online. Living in Jakarta for a couple of years has taught me that, and in Australia, it's not really the thing to do - but in Germany? wow, it's like a quiet revolution taking over the retail world. Personally, I like the thrill of the hunt...and the searching...and the window shopping. But after yesterday's day of "nein!" from retail assistants, I can completely understand this quiet revolution. We ordered something online, nothing expensive, but we paid for an express delivery to be received before midday today. It wasn't here at 11:30, nor at 12:30 or at 2pm (which to me was not a surprise) but what was surprising was the HELPFUL customer service person, Jan, from amazon.de. Not only did he tried to speak to me in english but he also: - offered to call DHL to find out the status of the package - will have DHL send my package by today or tomorrow before midday - refunded the express fee - and most importantly, the first words to come out of his mouth was not "nein" Oh Germany, I have faith in you yet!

A peaceful afternoon in Frankfurt