Dear Friends,

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WINTER PREP FOOD IDEAS

This post is about winter food prep ideas. I’m going out on a limb here, and assume that you also love Croatian food.

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If this your first time to find me, here are some details about me and how this blog began:

It is so fresh and tasty and much of the homegrown stuff is unsprayed with chemicals or pesticides. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I emigrated to Croatia because even though I grew up in California, until now I had never tasted such delicious tomatoes.

The apple/pear/fig doesn’t fall far from the tree…

I inherited my love of cooking from my mom, Helen Kingsley. She’s French, you know. Of she, myself and my younger sister, she is definitely the slimmest -but the best cook. OK, I am in the second place (for both categories). I think cooking fills your senses with the lovely aroma that when it comes to sitting down and actually eating, a person already feels half full.

 

Winter Food Prep Ideas:

Despite the warm weather and the reluctance to think about summer coming to an end, it unfortunately will.

As Kate Northrup says, There is a cycle for everything. A three-minute You-tube video that talks about this very concept: Click here to hear Kate

Anyway, here in Dalmatia we have our rituals and as summer comes to a close, (sob, weep) there is lots to be done in the kitchen.

No, not remodeling silly – that is in Spring.

We start paring tomatoes, cooking salsa.

Related Post: Legendary Home Grown Tomatoes

 

 

 

We pick figs off our trees (as well as abandoned trees that no one tends to) and dry them in the sun.

Related Post: (add link to prior post).

We plant cabbages and potatoes for winter – even though no one “feels like it” they’ll be ready to eat right in time for early winter.

So what do cooks need to get these projects off the ground?

Tools and gadgets that I recommend:

1. A good food processor. My Gorenje “multipraktik” as it’s called here (i.e. food processor) has been in daily use since my daughter was still in her stroller – twelve years going strong (but it is time to be thinking of buying a new one).  I use it to dice onions, and even make my own peanut butter (it is tastier than the store brand and zero preservatives – good stuff when the kids need a quick sandwich)
2. A good set of knives. Because we are all a little short on cash, many of us wait for hotel presentations put on by traveling salesmen (yes sometimes these are scams) selling mattresses or massage machines – all high-end items. Because they know you aren’t probably going to sit through their presentation without at least a parting gift, we wait till the end and get our free knife set or something similar. That is how I got mine 🙂
3. A pressure cooker. I didn’t know that you can cook beans and legumes well in advance and store them in freezer bags. They stack right up. Before long, the kitchen will soon begin to smell wonderful – and you have dinners in the freezer for later -what a win-win 😀

I am a big believer in healthy eating, and most Croatian eat healthily without realizing it.

The Full Plate Diet

As a side note, there is new research out there that Fiber is the best way to keep hunger cravings at bay, and that by aiming or 75% fiber, digestion will take longer, and weight loss will be aided.

It’s also nice because you feel full and no one nags you about diet because you are actually eating a lot of food!  More details about the (easy to follow) Full  Plate diet can be found here:

How to cook legumes

However: to keep fuel costs down, I use a pressure cooker which cuts the cooking time in half. If possible, soak them overnight, rinse and then add a generous pinch of salt, celery (or selen, as it is called here. It looks like parsley but with a thicker stalk and is a MUST for good stews, soups or anything else for lunch that requires a tasty sauce) sprig, onion, carrot, garlic and tablespoon of Vegeta.

Our Goal: Save time and money

Instapots are the rage, but I prefer using the pressure cooker then add the homemade pasta and so on, I like being able to mix and match.  Maybe your family, like mine, has its picky preferences. We have a vegetarian (who could eat nothing but vegetable all day long) and a recently reformed anti-vegetarian who will eat a spoonful or two of veggies, but more than that is pushing it 🙂

Autumn (simple) lunch

Anyway, you get my point. For autumn meals I usually have a pot of legumes or brown rice, plus a pot of vegetables (grilled eggplant and zucchini, with salsa as needed) and in a frying pan I cook up some homemade sausages or some other things so that each member is satisfied.

My family actually hates to eat out, they have gotten used to healthy eating, which is a huge money saving, and they are also looking quite healthy and fit 🙂

Given that I am self-employed and don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, I have experience in this. So, I highly recommend that you consider the following:

1. Planning meals at least a few days ahead, and cooking at least a double batch as long as the flavor doesn’t suffer (adjust spices and make sure it’s just as tasty)
2. Store the rest for future usage – freezer, canning fruit in jars, making marmalade, salting bluefish like sardines with rock salt (it takes about two months), and drying figs (see photo). I also like to make a special dried fig cake called HIB, it looks like a round of cheese and goes down well with a shot of Croatian brandy.
3. Canning fresh fruit – autumn crops include DUNJA – a wonderful fruit for winter doldrums
4. Making a double batch of burek (cheeses pita) and desserts to keep fuel costs at bay – easy to warm up later and they taste just as good 🙂
5. Focus on preparing seasonal foods now. Given the blessed bounty, it’ easy to get sick of a certain food item, but now is the time to prepare for winter.

When it’s cold outside it’s so much nicer to take something out of storage. First, you don’t have to go to the grocery store, and second, you feel like an ace. Believe me, it is so much nicer to take a winter walk, then read a book and/or learn how to knit a sweater or a potholder by the fire!

One of the advantages of living here is feeling that you are on Nature’s timeframe, so why not just go with the flow and like Kate mentions above, follow the four seasons.

Related Post: All about Figs 

Winter food prep ideas are as abundant as the types of fall harvest foods available. Of course, we resist it, but late summertime really is the time to prepare for winter. More details to follow in future posts.

Tell me in the comments which ideas appeal to you most and what you would like to see more of.

Have a great day! You can also follow me on Facebook + Pinterest and Instagram!

Disclaimer:  I do use affiliate links for the products which I  myself use and recommend below. I may earn a commission, but at absolutely no cost to you.

Friends,

This post is all about the full plate diet, something I have been doing most recently. When it comes to food, fiber can be key to naturally regulating your weight so you or I don’t have to diet ever again.

Now, wouldn’t that be nice? As the former queen of up a kilo, down 1/2 kilo, I would personally love to, once and for all, wear out a pair of jeans instead of simply growing out of them.

Tell me if you can relate to what I am saying, here.

It’s true, I am a foodie, and always will be – how about you?

To be honest, I don’t personally know “anyone” who doesn’t like to eat. But let me get to the point, there is actually a non-profit org out there, a fairy godmother of sorts, to help figure out what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to healthy food choices. Yes, that also includes weight and fat loss.

Changes in nutrition and movement

Let’s face it – compared to 100 years ago, we are mostly 90% sedentary and 10% active (instead of the other way around).

Plus, factors like middle age and processed food don’t help much, now do they (insert laughing while crying emoticon), LOL?

If you add to the mix: hormones, GMO,  chemically treated foods with obscure additives that create profit for the food industry and wreak havoc in our own bodies,  the whole spectrum looks pretty staggering. However, I believe that there is hope. These studies seem extremely important for modern living and healthful eating. Best of all, the changes are not terribly obvious and definitely manageable for eating away from home.

The Full Plate Organization

Full Plate has been around for the past ten years, and here is their mission statement:

“We’re a passionate group driven to improve the health and vitality of people to live more meaningful lives.”

Like its name, the concept is that you can be healthy and fit without starving yourself. For me, it also means a commitment to actually sitting down to eat my meal, which is both spiritually and visually more satisfying.

So, let’s get down to business…

How does the Full Plate diet work?

The principle of the diet is,

Fiber is your friend.  The more time it takes you to digest one’s food, the longer the stomach (and entire organism) will feel satisfied. For anyone that doesn’t know, fiber means those things that usually crunch, require more chewing and which force the body to literally churn the nutrients out of them. They are not easily processed, i.e. whole grain wheat bread compared to white bread; apples with the peels on compared to applesauce, and so on. Fun fact: Eating a fistful of nuts every day has been linked to longevity, as shown by the many centenarians who follow this practice.

FREEBIE:

Here is a list of Fiber Friendly foods, is this cool or what? I plan to make it my new shopping list. Click to the right to open it and download it.  Table of Fiber Friendly Foods

If all this seems a bit much, ie.e you are brand new to this way of thinking, there is an even easier method. I am pretty jazzed about this, myself because there is an even simpler approach, namely the Apple challenge, which you can see by clicking on the link below.

They weren’t kidding when they said, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

For more details, Click here

Joe Hamilton’s story.

Here is a great success story!

Joe lost 90 lbs in 14 months by making some key adjustments in regards to adding fiber to his meals.  He claims that, although skeptical, he began powering up his meals with fiber-filled foods, and lo and behold, discovered he really wasn’t all that hungry. What’s more, he is easily maintaining his weight loss.

It’s 3 minutes long:  Joe’s story 

As they say, from a plump 280 to a movie-star 190 lbs.

Full plate began with a book, which can be ordered on Amazon if you want to know more about it (affiliate links).

 

By clicking on the picture above it activates a link to order the Full Plate Diet Book, which contains an affiliate link, which means, if you do order it, I get a small percentage of the proceeds. I only promote things that I like and believe in, which most of us do in everyday conversation. This is my first time to try and combine affiliate links with a topic, so I hope it works out well for both my readers and myself.

VITALmaxx 07125 Vibration Plate, Profi Vibrationsplatte inkl. Trainingsbänder, 99 Stufen Power Vibro Technologie, Profi Vibrationsgerät mit rutschsicherer Trainingsfläche, LCD Display & Fernbedienung

Lose Weight in Six Steps.

Here is the link to learn more about their program which is a free service to all who want to find a clear way through the jungle of food. Click here: Full Plate

The Full Plate Diet has a special program designed for middle-aged Women

A special program has been designed for middle-aged women, i.e. post-menopausal, who find it increasingly hard to keep trim. The inevitable “spare tire” and other problems make weight loss more difficult, however, can be counteracted with a proven 7 step program to reverse the trend of gaining to losing.

The six steps, which are provided as a series (every day a new one) and delivered directly into your inbox over a week’s time, which basically gives the reader time to digest this new perspective (to eat more, and not less!) The topics are all about

1. Increasing slowed down metabolism with HIIT training, 5x 30 minutes per week. For me a step machine works best to reduce any harmful impact on the knees.
2. Increasing upper body muscle mass by lifting light weights (10 minutes 2x week),
3. About making a new pact with Sugar, i.e. sugar addiction, (see PDF) Don’t fully eliminate but DO take control.
4. Are you dehydrated? How to increase your water intake
5. Sleep plays a major part in dieting, so get at least 7 hrs per night
6. Focusing on fiber as a low-calorie filling food that will keep you

What did you think about Joe’s story?

Does 75% fiber seem a bit too much? It did to me, honestly, but I feel very noble eating better (and more filling) foods, and less inclined to snack than on other restrictive food plans.

The 25% is for the foods you don’t want to, nor have to, give up completely (i.e. meat, bread, chocolate – etc.).

Remember,

Have a great day!  You can also follow me on Facebook  + Pinterest and Instagram!

Dear Friends,

Watermelon Jam to make for winter!

Summer is here, thank goodness! It’s watermelon season, which is such a nice, naturally sweet way to cool down.

Fresh Watermelon

A couple of slices of watermelon can be a great summer lunch (or breakfast, or dinner) especially when it is just too hot to cook.

But what if that nice sweet and luscious watermelon is a little bit off? Maybe it’s pink – or grainy – or a little bit flavorless.  What to do? Instead of throwing it out or giving it to your pets, I discovered a third option –  watermelon jam.

Why Watermelon Jam?  Q & A

1. First of all, it is not expensive to make.

Fruit in Croatia can range from 2 euros to 3 euros per kilo, which can be a little high. If you are lucky to know a local grower you can try to buy fruit when it’s already getting a little bit mushy. At this stage, especially if you plan to buy more than a couple of kilos, you may be able to get a 50% discount.

Watermelon, on the other hand, is usually less than 0,5 euro per kilo. Granted that you are probably going to throw out the rinds, it is still a good deal. Besides that, you can make a lot of jam from just one watermelon!

2. What about the seeds?

I personally like just a few watermelon seeds in my jam to remind me where it came from.

3. How do I get the red color

I avoid artificial coloring because there is no guarantee just how safe they are. Several years ago, red dye #2 was shown to cause cancer, so I prefer to use natural color boosters. Just cooking the watermelon and sugar mixture on the stove will bring out some of its natural colors. Occasionally, I add plums or berries to the recipe and mix it together.

4. Finally, the fun aspect!

There is definitely something unexpected about watermelon jam.

Before I came to Croatia, I didn’t know it was possible to make jam from watermelon. This is another good reason to give it as a holiday gift to friends, colleagues, neighbors, postal carrier etc. as a personal “thank you”. It is kind of a special touch.

Watermelon jam is popular in Russia! People like to put a tiny teaspoon full of this jam into their teacups, and the jam there is more syrupy than here with traces of fruit chunks.

Winter is long, can be windy and cold, and there is nothing like watermelon jam on an English muffin to brighten a wintertime breakfast!

Particulars of Watermelon Jam

Watermelon is extremely sweet (alkaline) so you will need the juice of fresh lemons (acid) to offset that. Many jam recipes include vanilla flavoring, but not with watermelon jam.

 

1. Remember – sterilize your jars first – better to have too many than not enough.
2. Use wooden spoons to stir the fruit
3. Gardening gloves or plastic household gloves (new ones) are good to prevent burns from bubbling fruit.
4. If you decide to add berries or plums to your watermelon jam, you will need to cook it separately and add it to the watermelon jam mixture.

 

Make it a Family Tradition

Get helpers involved and they too will consider it a seasonal activity to prepare watermelon jam for the wintertime!

Now is the time

I recommend doing most of the work in the early morning or evening when it is not quite so hot outside.

Summertime is great, fruit is plentiful and the days are long. It is not likely that making marmalade will come into your mind, but believe me, when autumn rolls around, you will be very glad that you preserved fruit or made jam in the summer.

Especially if you have kids, lazy summer days will become a whirlwind of activities. There is Back to School, and cold weather duties like buying new shoes and coats and storing summer clothes for next year. preparing clothes for the cooler weather. Then, before you know it, it’s the holidays.

Yelp!

Storing

Just keep the fruit in a cool, dry place, like a kitchen cupboard or in the garage.

Preparing fruit for the cooler months is a good insurance policy because you know that the fruit was not overly processed and you made it with your own loving hands. It is both economical and feels like an old friend when you pull out of the cabinet.

Gifts

Besides that, you are already prepared for last minute guests or hostess gifts.

 

Have a great day! You can also follow me on Facebook + Pinterest and Instagram!

All the best,

The Amerikanka in Croatia

 

 

Dear Friends,

Today I am writing about Krka National Park in Croatia, one of Croatia’s eight (8) national parks. It may be relatively smaller than some of the others, but it definitely packs a punch.

Hey 🙂 It is always a pleasure to be able to write to you again. If the boss is looking over your shoulder and you want to save this post for later, just click on the blue text to your right – just save it to Pinterest here.

Last week I had the opportunity of leading a tour of tour guides (yes, such a thing exists) at Krk National Park. I love the park, and each season is special for different reasons. If you haven’t yet been to Krka (as it’s called in Croatian) you are in for a big treat.

It is the high season right now, which means not only peak number of visitors (from everywhere imaginable) but also high temperatures and high humidity. All of Europe and many other parts of the world have come to pay Croatia a visit. 

But here at Krka in Croatia, the feeling is simply: AAAHHHHH…

10 Reasons to visit Krk in the Summer

1. Regulated crowds. Buses filled with guests wait at the entrance until another bus, leaving the park, comes out.
2. You can see and enjoy the main part in a few (3-5) hours – just enough time to explore and chance are, it won’t exhaust you.
3. The boardwalks to the foot of Skradinski Buk (the Skradin waterfall) are easy on the feet and water is rushing by below you. Lovely aqua lagoons of fish and other thriving ecosystems remind you that you are really a part of this cosmos.
4. In addition to two restaurants where you can order lunch, there are home-made crepes being made as you watch (called Pala-cheen-ka) filled with mixed jam or chocolate creme. They are for sale in the huts at the base of the waterfall. You will also find, in other huts, qualitative, locally-produced souvenirs. Not all vendors take Euros, so be sure to bring Croatian Kunas.
5. Since most shops take Croatian kunas only, so be sure to exchange your Euros at the hotel lobby on the left side of the park entrance (when waiting in line to enter the park – this is in the same general area where you buy your tickets). Some restaurants do take credit cards (each is individually managed, so it depends on the owner)
6. All-day entrance fees for an Adult are 200 kn per person.  Students get a nice discount when presenting their ID cards, paying only 120 per person for the day.  If you don’t qualify for a discount, consider coming at 4 pm for the 30% afternoon discount, and you will still have ample time to see everything before the 7 pm closing time.
7. Groups of 20 or more are also discounted but require a one-day in advance reservation.
8. The telephone number for Krk National Park is +385(0)22.201.777 (International callers can skip the zero, local callers should add it.) Here is a link to their website (in English): Krka National Park in Croatia
9. Besides the breathtaking nature, there is a historical hydro-electrical powerplant (no longer in use) which was a technological miracle from 1895! The sheer rush of power from the seven 7 tributary rivers provided electrical power for the entire city of Sibenik nearby, known as being among the first electrically powered cities in the world! Today, Sibenik has about 45,000 citizens. It was a race for technology, and this power plant was activated only three days after Niagara Falls (pretty amazing for “little Croatia”)!
10. If you feel really ambitious, it’s nice to combine Krk with a short tour of Sibenik, known for the UNESCO heritage Saint Jacob (sveti Jakov) cathedral. There are many impressive churches in the world, but it is quite unique for several reasons. First of all, it has no foundation and it was put together like Leg0s in the middle of the town square. The entire church is filled with symbolism, particularly the baptistry. It is also one of a kind because it is decorated with the heads of ordinary citizens on its the outside walls.  Croatia is known for its amazing architecture and Sibenik will not disappoint you.

What you get with admission

A very nice guidebook filled with a map and stories about the Park. It is good to read later – very nicely written – concrete and informative, and is printed in several languages.

 

JUST FOR FUN…

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk….Since Niagara Falls on the US/Canadian border and Krka National Park in Croatia are kind of “soul sisters”, I am including a bonus clip of the Three Stooges doing their famous Niagara Falls routine click on the words Niagara Falls or HERE. Those two words sure do seem to get a rise out of them 🙂

ARCHITECTURE

As a tour guide, I really love and appreciate the wonderful architecture to be seen in (for example) Sibenik, Split, Zadar; Ston, Trogir, Cavtat, Knin, Salona, Solin, Rijeka, and Pula. To be honest, each is like a mini Game of Thrones. But in the summer heat, Krk is truly paradise on earth.

SWIMSUITS RULE HERE

At Krka National Park in Croatia, Guests are not only allowed – they are encouraged to bring their bathing suits. No need to be shy! – dive into the swirling blue water under the cascading waterfalls! Sunbathing on the grass is also allowed. Basically, make yourself at home. I think the Croatian nation is among the most hospitable, and I have traveled a lot.

Some Major Attractions Within the National Park itself:

The Jaruga (j = y remember? so Ya-ruuuu-ga) Hydroelectric Power Plant. (see reason #9 above).

Nikola Tesla’s alternating current technology was the genius behind its success. Ironically, he was busy helping out Thomas Edison on the other side of the world at the very same time.

 

VISCOVAC

(Can you say it? It’s Veees-KOH-vats.) If you want to really explore the park – it is quite huge, actually. The part that most people visit are those areas which are the most accessible, i.e. Ethno huts, boardwalk and Skradinski Buk with grassy area and eating area.  But – if you have a full day and feel adventurous – consider paying a little more and taking a boat tour to the far regions, where the V-word is actually a tiny island and home to a 14th-century seminary and 15th-century seminary of both Roman Catholic and East Orthodox faiths!

THE WATERFALLS

The seven waterfalls (“buk” with a long “u” sound) of the Krk river have, over the course of millions of years, carved into the underlying limestone to create such a wonderful effect. They are: Bilušića buk, Brljan, Manojlovac slap, Rošnjak, Miljacka slap, Roški slap and Skradinski buk. The last two are best known and the most visited.

ETHNO HUTS

The river power also was responsible for local trade and industry. Tiny huts near the entrance show how the river power created weaving, mill grinding and even lumber production hundreds of years ago. This is what we call Ethno tourism.

You can find similar examples of this in other parts of Croatia, for example at Pantana Mill near Trogir, in Karlovac, and in  Benkovac (taking advantage of the natural river power to get things done).

Famous Visitors

At the beginning of the last century, Archduke Ferdinand visited the park. In honor of his visit you too can pretend to be him, by peeking out of a special hole in his figure.

We have also heard that Bill and Melinda Gates rent a yacht here every year and hide out on the waterways for a month with their family. Kevin Spacey has also been rumored to be lurking around.

Local Specialities to Eat or Bring Home as Souvenirs

As a special bonus, when you prepare to leave the park, you will find tables of homemade specialties – sugared almonds, orange rinds and special salty crackers, dried figs and more. The ladies selling them know what they are doing, and there is a good chance they are following their own grandmother’s treasured recipes.

The Facilities

Two bathrooms are located in the park – one, at the top, near the Ethno huts, which is free of charge, and another, at the base of the waterfall area. This one costs a few kunas, one more reason to change money before entering the park. It is located a bit further, past the food area, towards the commuter boats which connect you to Skradin, a former Roman, Greek, Iliric, Venetian capital.

 

SKRADIN’s Roots

In ancient times, this area, a convergence of seven tributary rivers, was a type of border between the Dalmatian and the Liburnian tribes. Croatia was inhabited by indigenous Illiric tribes prior to the Greeks, something like the American Indians. Each tribe had its specialties; the Delmati were shepherds, and the Liburnians were sailors (and sometimes pirates!).

Skradin is a miraculous little jewel of a harbor, nestled in between protective mountains. You can reach it from the A1 highway if you want to visit without entering the National Park. The Romans called it Skradona.

Why should I come to the park in the summer?

The sights, the sounds, the smells.. and the feeling of being at one with nature. Yes, there are a lot of people visiting then, but the overall vibration is very harmonious, and you will have lots of opportunities to take a selfie in front of the most gorgeous of waterfalls.

Besides, if you are anything like me, it’s kind of nice to get away from stone, steel, and concrete during the hottest of summer days.

What about Plitvica? I thought it was better

Yes, of all eight national parks, Plitvica is the Queen Mother of them. However,  being quite large, you will need at least a full day to investigate. In the summertime, I for one, feel like doing less, and maybe you feel the same. It is gorgeous for sure. Instead, I would recommend visiting Plitvica in late Spring or early Fall – or – if you really love snowscapes, check out winter Plitvica but invest in good warm waterproof boots for comfortable hiking.

Bringing kids.

Kids will definitely enjoy, and will probably impress them. Many children are not used to being so close to nature. Here, they can spot fish swimming in the river water below their feet, and may even see a frog or two. If your child is in a stroller, maybe you should wait another year. The boardwalks are fine for strollers but all those steps can be troublesome for strollers unless you are in the mood to fold it up and carry it with you. There are plenty of steps to the bottom with handrails and it is very easy to navigate.

Older people

It is a comfortable walk, with arm rails and logs to sit on if you get tired or just want to soak up some of nature’s incredible beauty.

Touring Advice

So, being an experienced tour guide, as well as a travel and lifestyle blogger, I would strongly suggest visiting the cities during the late Spring and early Autumn, and when it is very hot (30 degrees Celsius is normal) particularly between mid-July and mid-August, try to lay low and be close to water.

The psychological impact of being near water.

Scientists and sociologists have proven that water has a very healing effect on the psyche. In fact, even putting a picture of a seascape in your living room can enhance the quality of your life.

If you have already come this far – Croatia has many options. For example, you can choose the sea, or Lake Vrana, or a refreshing national park filled with waterways. They are all lovely, but when it comes to a convenient location that really lets its visitors feel at home with nature, I give two thumbs up to Krka National Park in Croatia.

I hope you make it here – and if you do, tell me what you think of Krka.

All the best!

Anastasia

If you’d like to follow me, I  send out details on airfare deals, articles about productivity and side-hustling, as well as fun-photos from my life here in Croatia. I am the most active on Instagram.

If you subscribe to get the newsletter now, you’ll be on my list to receive special goodies, starting with my personal recipe book. People have asked for more so I will be taking it down soon and revamping it into a formal downloadable product so best to get it now while it’s still a freebie.

Have a Great and Happy Summer!
Till next time 🙂

WOO HOO!

For the 2018 World cup Croatia somehow made it to the FINALS!!!

It’s been a long time coming…

If you’re busy cheering on Croatia now, you can save it to Pinterest here.

Dreams Can (and do) Come True:

Tiny Croatia with its 4 plus million inhabitants – by some twist of fate and a lot of hard work – has reached the finals – yes – the WORLD FIFA championship!

(The whole population of Croatia equals 1/3 the population of city of London alone!)

VATRENI!
(full of fire!) That’s what Croatian football fans are!

 

WHAT IS FIFA
For those who aren’t sports fans, FIFA is an annual soccer competition each summer, with teams assembled by country. Each participating team sends a representation of its home soccer players to compete on the world stage.

For example, Luka Modrić, the Croatian team starter, normally plays for REAL MADRID in Spain. But for FIFA, he plays for the Croatian team, his country of origin.

No less than four members of the Croatian soccer team are from ZADAR! I don’t know what that means – that our climate breeds great athletes, or that the water has lots of enzymes in it… I only know that we are kicking ass this season!

Past VICTORIES

In 1998 when Croatia was a brand new country, we won the Bronze medal.
Now, once again, Croatia will stand on the pedestal with no less than a Silver medal if it loses to France.

My own FAMILY TIES

My mom is French (descended from Orange, in the Provence region) and my dad is Croatian (from Dalmatia, specifically Vis Island where Mama Mia II was filmed last year)! Yes, I truly love the French, but in this case, for the 2018 World cup, Croatia has my full support.

Ever since the victory against England, men, women, and children of all ages are swarming to the store to buy and get dressed in team clothing.

The boys and men usually wear T-shirts and the women too, or else long tank top dresses in Red, white, and sometimes blue.

We call this team clothing simply “dress” which could be translated to mean “outfit”.

RED AND WHITE CHECKS EVERYWHERE

The favorite emblem of all is the red and white checks, from the Croatian coat of arms. This coat of arms goes back to perhaps as far as the 8th century AD when Croats were self-ruled. The era of Kings began during this golden age, and King Tomislav was crowned in Biograd.  King Peter Kresimir was crowned in Sibenik in 1064, and many of these ancient landmarks (such as Klis, just outside of Split) are often used to film episodes for Game of Thrones.

THE COAT OF ARMS OR GRB

Here is the design, which Croatians refer to as their Grb (gerb). The triangle pieces or crown above the grb represents different regions within Croatia, namely, from left to right…

1. The oldest Croatian coat of arm used
2. The Republic of Dubrovnik
3. The Republic of Dalmatia
4. The Republic of Istra
5. The Republic of Slavonija. (Slah-VOE-nee-yuh).  This is not SLOVENIJA / SLOVENIA which is a neighboring country.  It has extremely fertile farmland. The little animal between the two rivers is the kuna (something like a mink or a squirrel) who was prized for its pelts (nice soft fur) and was used as a monetary exchange unit. If you look on the kuna (it’s a small silver coin in 1 and 2 kuna denominations) you’ll see him 🙂 or her 🙂 We like to say “kunas have legs!” which means the money sure knows how to run through your fingers…They are possibly extinct now, or at least, extremely hard to find.

 

Psst… THE GRB is Everywhere –
It’s used on official documents and on government buildings for the Republic of Croatia.

SEMIFINAL GAME (A REAL NAIL-BITER) UK vs. CROATIA

What’s more -Croats generally do not hold grudges; living well is the best revenge.

Never mind that the game went into overtime more than once, and everyone was exhausted.

Fouls and other nasty business. A good example of this is when Mario Mandžukić was “accidentally” slammed by British goal man Pickford “He f.-ing fell on me” but the replay tells a different story.

More importantly, instead of just getting mad, yelling at the judge and getting a red flag, although he was in extraordinary pain, Mandžukić kept himself together just long enough to score the decisive goal against the UK just a few minutes later.

That’s the way we do it 🙂

2018 World cup Croatia SQUAD

In my humble opinion, the top names to look out for are:

Perisic

Mandžukic

Modrić

Vida

 

A little bit about LUKA MODRIĆ

The most famous is Luka Modrić. As a child, he and his family were refugees during the Homeland war in 1991. Therefore, he knows what it’s like to fight for what you want. After their family home was burnt to the ground, Luka, who was six at the time, ran for his life with his family where he grew up and became an expert soccer player.

Here is his story:  Luka Modrić

VIDEO UPDATE

What some experts conclude the 2018 World cup Croatia vs. France will look like, click on the link below and see for yourself if you agree with them. Besides that, the French are strong (at least for defense) but the Croats are a bit hungrier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtbO5KTCgo

DEMOGRAPHICS

The average age of Croatian citizens is 41 years old.

The average birthrate is 1.5 children per mother, among the lowest in all of Europe.

UNDERDOG MENTALITY

Croatia has – for centuries – been the underdog.
But like all Croatians today – we are all holding our heads up high.

Heck, even a silver medal wouldn’t be bad.
But after a near miss 20 years ago, in the 2018 World cup, Croatia wants GOLD!!!!

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Do viđenja! (See you later!)

Anastasia

COFFEE CULTURE

The coffee culture in Croatia is really quite remarkable. If you want to save this later to read, you can save it to Pinterest here.

I always loved coffee, but since relocating abroad, I may be entering the realm of a coffee aficionado, I love it so much. Drinking coffee means socializing and people watching – seeing and being seen!

It’s no secret that coffee helps us move and function – but here in Europe, specifically Croatia, it has a culture all its own. Foreign guests may only begin to get a glimpse of this coffee culture after a few days visit here.

One cup of coffee can stretch out for quite awhile – at least 45 minutes, because Croatians really nurse their coffee – and they don’t gulp their coffee (like Americans do!!) – they sip.  It would be unthinkable to multi-task coffee with driving or any other activity.

Besides that, coffee dates can be totally spontaneous! I will explain more, below.

LOOKING GOOD

When people go outside, they try to look presentable if not snazzy, that means makeup, cologne, and clever accessories. No baggy-butt sweatpants when you get out of the house because you never know who you will run into.

Maybe even a new friend 🙂

DEJA VU

Did you know that if you run into a person for the third time you are destined to sit down to coffee with them? The belief is that destiny is bringing us together to discuss some matter of vital importance.

COFFEE is both Cheap and Expensive

The cost of a cup of coffee is 1-2 € (generally 8 to 12 kunas). When I was a poor student, I had a coffee allowance!

If you make it at home, it’s a lot less, but people usually have pocket money for coffee as a social necessity.

LUXURY OR NECESSITY?

My newest toy is pictured to the right, a Mitaci i4 coffee machine, which uses Illy coffee capsules. I bought a good, used professional coffee maker on Njuškalo, our online marketplace. By the way, making coffee at home using capsules is at least 50% cheaper than that made in the coffee shops (the Kafić (kaa-FEECH).

COFFEE ECONOMY

Many purchases are justified with “it came to two cups of coffee”. New hairdryer? “It came to three cups of coffee” Movie theatre ticket? “The matinee price was only two cups of coffee”. Friends who haven’t seen each other text urgently – “when shall we meet for coffee?”

Never mind if we drink coffee, tea, cappuccino, beer or wine!  Coffee = means time to socialize – coffee, and more coffee!

What to order? Here are some popular choices – so feel free to test your coffee knowledge:

TOP COFFEE DRINKS AROUND THE WORLD

Black coffee/Cup of Joe – American Coffee
Black coffee is good for a morning shock or afternoon jolt. It may also represent a rite of passage from childhood to the sometimes bitter realities of adult responsibility.

Espresso  – Some Like It Strong
The best way to make espresso is to use an espresso machine or an Italian coffee maker. In Croatia, a short black coffee is also referred to as “Turkish coffee” probably because coffee first came to us through the Turkish invaders.

WHEN IN ROME

Did you know that it is a big no-no to drink a cup of coffee with milk after lunch? Italians cringe when they hear foreigners ask for a cappuccino, or any coffee drinks made with milk like the macchiato. After lunch, only a short black cup of espresso is considered acceptable. Nothing else makes sense to them on a full stomach of food.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN – A History of Coffee and its Development

Coffee has been in fashion for at least 500 years! First discovered in Ethiopia, it made its way to Turkey and the East, then to Europe.

By the 1700s coffee was making its debut in the New World, first in the Caribbean then to Brazil by way of Africa.

There is a legend how one man’s determination to plant coffee beans in Brazil met with resistance from the governor until finally, the governor’s wife gave him some coffee plants disguised as a bouquet. From these few humble plants, plantations of coffee thrived, making Brazil to this day, a top global producer.

WHITE COFFEE (Espresso with milk):

This is stronger than macchiato, and goes down easy. A good drink for mid-morning, in my humble opinion.

Brushed Suede is a caffè crema (long espresso) with steamed milk, finished off with a dusting of cinnamon. I personally find the ones at McDonald’s in Zadar to be sheer perfection.

Flat White – same thing, different name (like Maggie, Peg, Ok you got it….)

MORNING COFFEE

The morning coffee ritual is an international one, thanks to the widespread acceptance of the coffee bean as a light, but effective drug.

Caffeine enables students, workers, housewives, and executives the pickup and go they need to get started in the morning, usually after not enough sleep or a stressful work week.

Coffee quickens the pulse, getting the body in a mode to face a new day. If one cup is not enough, by all means, have another! (and another.. lol..)

EUROPEAN COFFEE CULTURE
A big coffee drinking culture evolved from the economic reality that a meal out was simply out of reach. Instead of “let’s do lunch” it became “let’s go have coffee”.

Coffee shop ambiance is very important. Thatis why the coffee on the town square or facing a lovely scenic view will invariably be more expensive since it adds to the experience.

For example, coffee in downtown Zagreb on Trg Ban Jelacic or on the Seaside Riva will be more expensive than the coffee in a musty coffee shop. That’s just the way it goes.

 

 

 

 

 

POPULAR COFFEE TOPPINGS
What to sprinkle on top of the foamed milk? Here are some favorites:

cinnamon
shaved chocolate
powdered vanilla
nutmeg (sparingly)

 

(PS, Nutmeg is a drug you know)

Middle Eastern Specialty – Turkish coffee

When you think about the sweet middle eastern pastries like baklava, drinks like Turkish coffee really pair up well with them.

 

Turkish Coffee:  “Dark as hell and sweet as love”

Turkish coffee is brewed up in a tiny, metal pot on the stove. It doesn’t require a filter.

Also known as “cowboy coffee” it is brewed up quickly and simply and will wake you up in a jiffy.

In Australia, they make it the same way, out in the Outback, in a tiny pot over the fire. Let’s face it, it’s a classic!

 

How to Make Turkish Coffee
Brewed in a pot with boiling hot water and plenty of sugar. Once the coffee grounds fall to the bottom, the contents are carefully poured into tiny cups.
The bubbly coffee foam (the “best part”) is individually spooned out to each guest.

 

My Impressions of American Coffee Culture:
Americans love newfangled, Europeans love the tried and true.

Americans love good old-fashioned watered down coffee, which I honestly don’t care for – but that’s OK – coffee keeps the working world alive and well.

Coffee in Comedy

COFFEE TALK (kawfi tawk)

(as Linda Richman says in a thick New York accent on Saturday Night Live)…
Most Americans use a coffee maker like Mr. Coffee. It uses cold water, and with the help of electricity, boils the water and brews it through a coffee filter which sits in the upper compartment.

The result is a great brew, but you will (definitely) need more than one cup.

I know Americans who water their plants with it (let’s just say, my mother’s plants were always perky!)

IN Comparison:

There is a Croatian expression – “Manje ali slađe” – literally, it means “less but sweeter”, but in reality, it means, better a little of something great

…than a whole lot of something mediocre. Kind of like Sponge Bob’s hamburgers.

A FEW PLACES KNOWN FOR GOOD COFFEE

Wellington, New Zealand
Buenos Aires, Argentina
San Francisco, CA

Portland, OR (they have outrageous donuts there too)
Seattle, WA
Paris, France

My House

Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina
Vienna, Austria
Trieste, Italy

 

Songs about Coffee

“You’re so vain” by Carly Simon (link below)

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain,
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you?
Don’t you?

Oh, you had me several years ago
When I was still naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and

You’re So Vain, by Carly Simon

Coffee in Bed by Squeeze

Maybe you know of others? These are all I know 😀

Milk or No Milk (Latte)

If you need a little cushion first thing in the morning, there are levels of milk cushioning. The macchiato contains the least amount of milk – just a dab to mark the espresso. It’s great for an afternoon wake-up call, too, especially if you find yourself dozing off at your desk after lunchtime!

The cafe au lait is half warmed milk and half brewed coffee, which is still kind of a lightweight coffee drink. It’s a good choice for an exec that has to meet with clients all day with the obligatory cup of coffee. You won’t get wired on this baby, and because it’s larger, it can be leisurely enjoyed and savored.

Even more milk? Well, the cappuccino uses 2/3 milk BUT the drink is made with dark and strong espresso beans. So technically, it’s practically a tie with the Cafe Au Lait.

The Cappuccino especially lends itself to an optional spice or chocolate topping, adding to the flavor combinations.

1. Short black espresso
   Brew ground espresso in an Italian coffee machine and serve, with or without sugar.
   Good any time of day. It may cause sleeplessness, 4however, and may be limited to daytime only.

2. Coffee with milk – steamed
Brew ground coffee in a similar machine. In a separate pot using a long nozzle, bob the pot up and down to create foam and serve.
Acceptable to drink any time of day, only not immediately after a meal. (Milk after meals is not recommended.)

3. Coffee with milk – cold
Same as the above, simply add cold milk from the carton and gently stir.
This is a good choice in the summer when it is hot, and milk may go bad when reheated more than once in a commercial coffee shop.

4. White Coffee / Cafe Au Lait
Consisting of Brewed coffee with heated milk, at a 50-50% ratio.
Commercial whiteners may be substituted.

5. Macchiato (mak-kee-yah-to)
Consisting of a shot of brewed espresso, it’s “marked” with a teaspoonful of milk foam.
Macchiato means “marked” in Italian.

6. Cappuccino
Prepared in three layers, first is brewed espresso, then latte (warm milk) and finally, milk foam.
The top of the foam can be dusted with cinnamon, chocolate powder, etc.

MILK, LECHE OR LATTE

Allergic to Cow’s Milk? There’s always Soy Milk

Many lactose sensitive or intolerant coffee lovers have turned to the surprisingly tasty substitute of soy milk. Some types of soy milk are even flavored – vanilla, chocolate, and low-fat varieties, so have a ball. In Europe, soy milk is usually a bit higher (latest – 2€) but in the US the prices are much more reasonable. Best of all, it foams up like a dream!.

(Health Note: It is said that Soy Milk is great for women going through the change of life,  i.e. menopause.)

Rice Milk

The South American and Mexican cultures are long familiar with rice milk. I have never used it but it could probably be a delicious milk substitute to dilute your cup of Joe with.

Other Milk Substitutes

My mother used to use Mocha Mix – that is the only other one that comes to mind (except for dry powders like Coffee Mate).

You can try “Oatmeal Milk”!

It’s a little weird…but

It’s actually not bad! Moistened oats produce a type of milk when soaked overnight in water. You then use a strainer or cheesecloth to squeeze out the milk product from the oats.

Wrapping it up

Whatever drink you love, be it coffee, tea, cedevita (a dry powder lemon or orange drink) or other, it’s nice to meet new people, and coffee drinking or coffee shop socializing is a great way to slowly integrate into Croatian culture. After all, someone who drinks coffee is somehow a normal person worth knowing.

CROATIAN LANGUAGE Bonus:

In Croatian simply say “Jesi za kavu?” (are you for coffee) or “Hoćemo ići na kavu?” (shall we go to coffee) and you will soon feel like a local.

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