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.

 

Three to five pounds of fruit to be peeled, cleaned and chopped up

Two or more pounds of sugar. Most cooks use a little under 1:1 ratio of fruit to sugar. I personally shoot for 1.5, which means for three pounds or kilos of fruit (in this case watermelon), you will need 2 kilos or pounds of sugar. It doesn’t matter which measurement you decide to use, just that the proportions are right.

Watermelon Jam recipe:

You will start with a large watermelon, best if chilled, and start slicing and dicing it into chunks. Be sure to wear an apron or an old T-shirt (the one you use to wash the car with) to avoid staining your clothes.

Preparation

Dice the watermelon into 1-inch cubes, place in a very large bowl and discard the rinds. Try to visibly remove the black seeds in the center of the fruit. Sprinkle the entire bowl filled with chopped fruit with about 3/4 of the sugar and set aside. The remaining sugar will be used to mix with the pectin or gelatin mix. It is a shortcut that I strongly suggest because by using the pectin (or Želin as it’s called in Croatian), you won’t end up overcooking the fruit.

Cover the watermelon chunks and sugar with plastic (you can even use a large plastic bag from the supermarket) and place it in the refrigerator until the next day, or at least for a few hours.

In a few hours, you can stir it so it becomes more homogenous and let it sit.

Cooking the jam

On low heat, cook slowly and stir so that the fruit and sugar mixture cooks evenly.

The sugar needs to dissolve completely.

This process takes around one hour, and you kind of need to stay close to the pot (it isn’t a soup recipe where you throw it all in and come back later).

Keep a wooden spoon handy and keep an eye on your fruit concoction. It may bubble and pop – so wear plastic household gloves to prevent burns. Or keep the fire on low and let it cook slowly.

Now that the mixture has thickened, add the lemon juice.

1. In a separate bowl, mix fruit pectin and sugar until it is homogeneous. (In Croatia, it is called Želin – which is loosely translated to mean “Gelatin”. There are several brands – Podravka, Dr. Oetker, etc. Unless you are making over 5 kilos of fruit jam, one package will be enough.)

2. In a larger bowl, mix the gelatine and sugar mixture with some of the watermelon jam in progress. Once it’s well mixed (take your time to avoid lumps),  incorporate it into the jam on the stove, mixing a little bit more.

Insider Tidbit:  Did you know that Croatian women who make good food are said to “mix the food well”?! They don’t say “you are a good cook” because they figure that the food cooks itself. Mixing makes the difference between a good cook and an excellent one.

The Spoon test

Eventually, you will test if the watermelon jam is beginning to gel.

Use a metal Tablespoon and remove about 1/2 T. and let it sit on a plate a few moments. When cooled, if it’s the consistency of marmalade, the mixture is finished. If it is still too runny, let it cook a bit longer and retest again in 5 or so minutes.

If it passes the spoon test, then pour the hot jam into sterilized glass jars.

How to sterilize glass jars:

Wash them in the dishwasher or bake them in the oven on low heat to disinfect them, lids included (of course metal lids, no plastic ones). When the jam has thoroughly cooled, it’s time to seal them up.

How to Hermetically seal your jars

This is probably the most important – making them airtight to avoid mold.  Basically, you will fill the jar (I like to use a soup ladle and wide mouth jar!) and then, after putting the lid on, turn the whole jar upside down! Don’t worry, if you sealed it there is nothing to fear. This creates a vacuum seal to keep it airtight.

Hot stuff

Remember – hot jam goes into hot jars. You can use mason jars with the clip or recycle ordinary pickle jars and sterilize them well. The jars can be hot, preferably, or at the very least, place them in a pan and pour very hot water into the pan so that the jam does not get a temperature shock from hot to cold.

If any jar is not completely filled to the top, I suggest putting it in the refrigerator and using that one up, first. Any air in the jar can lead to its instability, so the refrigerator will ensure that it stays fresh.

 Wrapping it up

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!!!!

Did you enjoy this article? Then save it to Pinterest, and if you like, follow me on social media. I am most active on Instagram.

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.

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

Three cheers for Crowdfire! It’s been great for better time management, thus saving my sanity and second, for helping me to grow my following.

Full disclosure: I was paid $20 to write a Crowdfire review post – but I never endorse anything unless I really love it. By the way, if you don’t have time to read this now, you can save it for later on Pinterest

So Hello, my dearest readers!

You know, I rarely do this – but I do believe that ap’s can make a person’s life easier. Whoever said “There’s an app for that!” was right. I had never heard of Crowdfire until my friend told me; her husband is a Belgian artist (imagine Van Gogh) and uses it to promote his artwork. As he is a very quiet person – shall we say a non-sociable user of social media, I figured it must be very efficient since I can imagine he hates spending time on social media.

I do happen to like it, but it can be a huge time suck.

So, first things first. Is Crowdfire free?  Yes, it is! Crowdfire paid plans are available, from Plus to VIP, but I will get to that later on.

Being online, I knew I would have to share my posts, and until recently, I was quite confused about social media posting, sharing, and hashtags; I admit that I still am, but there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Things are beginning to (finally) click, no pun intended.

HENCE – MY CROWDFIRE REVIEW

Crowdfire, a relatively new application, has finally given me some sanity in regards to sharing my posts. How?

It’s free – and it’s easy. I load up a post, and it posts for me three times over the next few days at a “best time”.  It has simplified my approach to online posting and sharing.

Second, it notifies me when I need to post. I open the iphone ap, choose one of my blog posts, someone else’s article (there is a feed for related topics) or create something new with an original photo. Add hashtags.

STEP BY STEP

Set up include authorizing access to my social media accounts. There are many that I don’t use yet, and I get to pick and choose what gets posted where.

Does Crowdfire work? Well, for me it has. In one month, my Instagram followers have doubled and my likes have tripled.The results? Well, my amerikanka_in_croatia following on Instagram doubled in one month. So – I mostly attribute Crowdfire for that.

Being an online presence, it’s really necessary to promote what you are putting out there. Otherwise, who will read it? I feel I have a message to share, so naturally, I needed help in getting the word out.

NEW BLOGGER SYNDROME

There is a word that many new bloggers know all too well, and that word is Overwhelm. That doesn’t mean I don’t think blogging isn’t worth it – au contraire! It is fun, but a little like learning how to drive a tractor with a stick shift in a muddy pond. You need another pair of eyes, ears, etc. because there are things to master that you never even heard of. (SEO? Hashtags? Reach? Engagement? Social networks? ay, yi yi….)

Throwback – if you were around in the 1980s people used to say, “We should have a kid so that he/she can teach us how to program the VCR”. (VCRs were the forerunners of DVD players, and you could record a movie on TV or HBO and watch it the next day and fast forward through commercials.) If it wasn’t for my 13-year-old daughter Jelena, I would never have probably heard about Instagram until 2029.

THANK YOU CROWDFIRE

For those of you who follow me, I don’t go on and on about things unless I really like them. Well, I do like Crowdfire – it has been a timesaver and a lifesaver.

Since I decided that Crowdfire was worth it, I just upgraded to a paid plan, which includes RSS and Pinterest, which is really the biggest game player as a very powerful search engine and second most powerful arena just edging up behind Facebook.

I either use another related post or write my own composition, using a photo for example. For those who want to extend their reach, it’s good to add hashtags in the description. In my case, those are #croatianblogger or #travelbug and #croatiafullofnature as an example.

WHAT I LIKE – EFFICIENCY

I can post to all of these accounts practically simultaneously, adding to my queue for the next few days. I can decide how many times a day it will post to Twitter, for example. I also like that Crowdfire figures out the best time for my social media feed activity. I really like that.

True confessions: Until last month, I hadn’t posted to LinkedIn since 2012, it seems.

NOTE:

Twitter has a smaller window, so you may need to manually adjust the number of hashtags in your comments for it to fit. I use copy/paste to use the same hashtags of choice for whatever post I am adding to my queue.

DIFFERENT POSTS FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

I can pick and choose which venues will receive my post (i.e. more newsy pieces – like air travel deals, for example, would be posted on Twitter and Linked in, and maybe Facebook). Social media friendly photos would definitely go on Instagram and Facebook, or all of the above.

Other forums which Crowdfire will post to include Tumblr, Wix, Vimeo, and I should probably sign up/activate so I can widen my reach. Just sayin’.

A PREVIEW /  HISTORY OF POSTS

I like that I can see which posts are coming up (“Scheduled”) and which posts have already been Published.

If for whatever reason I don’t like a scheduled post for that day, I can either adjust it or delete it. It’s almost like having my own personal robot or VA. I did buy a Roomba last year (which I would gladly also review) and it totally changed my life with the two dogs and two teenagers, so Crowdfire is fulfilling a similar function for me in the virtual world.

OTHER SCHEDULING APPS

In all honesty, I still use Tailwind Tribes (though I feel I haven’t quite gotten the hang of it yet). Either my brain cells are slacking off a bit or it’s a little too much for me. I will keep at it though.

Pinterest – same story. I expect I will learn how to make ads in Canva and all that in the next few weeks. I treat the world of blogging and establishing an online presence (or “brand”) a little like a college course, some of this is best learned in layers.

OTHER APPS I USE AND RECOMMEND:

I use My Fitness Pal to count calories and carbohydrate grams (in the Macros section). It’s convenient for those on a Keto diet with a small percentage of carbs (it shows up as a pie chart so you can easily eyeball it whether you are in range or not).

I also like STEPZ which magically counts the number of steps you take in a day and calculates how many calories burned. It’s only for the iPhone so far. Needless to say, wherever I go, my iPhone is in my pocket. It works if you carry it in your purse, as well or backpack. The only thing I noticed, it can’t tell the difference between walking and bike riding.

I also love my XE currency exchange ap for getting a comparable rate for translation projects.

I downloaded Evernote, which everyone is raving about, but haven’t taken the time to learn how to use it yet. Amy Lynn Andrews raves about it, and I follow her Knowtbook and Uselettern full of handy technical tips and reviews.

Thanks to my iPhone, my life as an entrepreneur is becoming more manageable.

I really hope you enjoyed my Crowdfire review! Tell me below if you have ever heard of it or would consider using it.

WORDS OF THE DAY:

There’s no more silicon in Silicon Valley. It’s all iPhone apps.

Mary Lou Jepsen

Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/iphone

Be sure to leave a comment and if you like, follow me on social media! I am most active on Instagram.

Here are my links: Facebook  + Pinterest and Instagram!

See you online!

Anastasia

amerikanka in croatia

Hello Springtime! In Croatian the expression Pozdrav means greetings.  So – to say it in our language it is Pozdrav Proljece! (Prol-yech-cha). It’s as if Spring is an actual person we greet upon his/her arrival!  One of Spring’s great gifts is wild asparagus, with its many asparagus benefits. Today I want to talk about some of the best ways to cook fresh asparagus.  By the way, if you don’t have time to read this now, save it to Pinterest and read it later: Pinterest

This blog contains affiliate as well as informational links. If you click, I may receive a bonus at no cost to you.

When we talk about asparagus, most people are only familiar with the fatter stalks of the domesticated versions, but this wild asparagus produces tinier, thinner and very green stalks, almost bursting with goodness. Besides having an enjoyable walk or hike in nature, there are also many asparagus benefits to improve your health and the health of your family members.

Advice:  Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle 🙂 I carry the first bunch of asparagus in my left hand as kind of a trophy, but once I find more, they go in a plastic bag with the flowery tip on one end and the strong base on the other. You can actually keep them in the refrigerator for a long period of time (about a week) if you like.

Note: If you happen to be in Croatia in April, and see people (men, women and teens) on the side of the road holding up a bunch of something in their hand, raised out to the passing drivers, it is very likely fresh asparagus. If I don’t have time to go pick my own, I try to buy it from the older people since they are usually living on a very limited pension and every little bit helps.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

The bright-green veggie is packed with good-for-you vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, copper, calcium, protein, and fiber. Thanks to all these nutrients, asparagus offers some serious health perks.

It’s also good for your urinary tract, and like the artichoke (which will appear in May), it has the health benefit of detoxifying one’s system. Alcohol and fatty foods from winter need to be flushed out.

Asparagus benefits include “manly” things, and many men look for this wonderful vegetable. There is no waste, because asparagus we don’t eat because it is either too tough or woody, is cooked in water to make a really healthy tea.

THE ELUSIVE FRESH ASPARAGUS

Shadows and light in early spring will turn you into a first-class detective.

Some are towering above a bush of some other unrelated plant (like “how did you get here?”) or below a shrub or bush.

That being said, in order to cook asparagus, you will first need to find them. That is part of the fun of it 🙂 A little healthy competition never hurt anyone. Go with a friend and see who finds more, first.

The asparagus plant is a vine, so think telephone line. It can start over here and end up over there. The best clue is to seek out the long spindly shape of the asparagus. The second best clue is to look for asparagus leaves because, where there is smoke there is fire, and where there are leaves asparagus can’t be far.

Another thing I have learned. If you find one, look for another! Sometimes his twin brother is just behind – so look twice.

Asparagus vines and asparaguses themselves turn into the bush – so it’s now or never.

ASPARAGUS PHILOSOPHY

Just like the Lotus blossom which emerges from the dirty, muddy pond, (and not a hotel swimming pool) I often find asparagus in a grassy mess, aka chaos. There must be a message in there somewhere…

WHEN TO FIND THEM

I’ve been told by a Croatian woman (native) that the best time to find them is in the early morning and around 5 pm when the day is starting to turn into dewiness.  Just to show you that it can be done, I made a small video. It’s my first ever blog video, so I hope you enjoy it.

Hollwood, here I come.. 😀

….and now for the 6 ASPARAGUS RECIPES

The asparagus benefits are greatest when eaten raw, so don’t forget to add them to a plate of raw vegetables for dipping.

Raw veggies are best, healthiest and  most nutritious, but if you like to eat them cooked, and I have looked around, here are the best ways to cook asparagus:

1. ASPARAGUS SALAD

2. SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH ASPARAGUS

3. ASPARAGUS SAUTEED

4.ASPARAGUS – BOILED AND THEN GRILLED

5.ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

6.ASPARAGUS SOUP

ASPARAGUS – BOILED – this is the basis for many dishes

Preparation: Rinse them gently in the water. From the bottom up, roll up the asparagus until it snaps. This breakage point is where the tough part of the asparagus meets the tender part. Place the tough part into another container; it will be used to make tea.

The tender top sections need to be boiled in salted water, I add garlic, and boil about 1/2 hour till asparagus stalks are softened. You may want to halve the stalks lengthwise to speed up the cooking process. Plenty of water to cover is essential so they keep their light green appearance. Discoloration is caused by oxidation.

1. ASPARAGUS SALAD

Place the cooked stalks in a shallow bowl and mix with salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar, gently so as not to break the tops, and then arrange in a plate with sliced hard boiled eggs for a garnish. I also add capers if I have them 🙂 Very nice for guests or family members, anytime but particularly Sunday lunch.

2.  SCRAMBLED EGGS

After boiling (see above), I use scissors to cut them up into bite-sized (i.e. fork sized) pieces. Do not season, simply set them on the side.

I often sautee mushrooms, then add the asparagus sauteed together to make a wonderful base for omelets. You can make asparagus in a blanket (with the scrambled eggs enclosing them).

Another way is to use some of the asparagus broth and mix it with the scrambled eggs mixture then add asparagus pieces inside the omelet, along with a few slices of provolone or Emmenthaler cheese. Sliced tomatoes are a nice side, along with a dollop of Genovese sauce.

If you eat meat, add bacon or ham on the side for a really luxurious eclectic cultural feast.

3. ASPARAGUS SAUTEED

This is another tasty way to go. I love them just as much, but avoid excess oil, try it – you may love it!!

4. ASPARAGUS – BOILED AND THEN GRILLED

This is a nice variation if you are planning to serve them with grilled fish.

5. ASPARAGUS RIŽOTO –  Instead of chicken or meat, substitute minced up baby asparagus tips for a yummy vegetarian risotto with cream and parmesan cheese grated on top.

6. ASPARAGUS SOUP – MMM – MMM- GOOD… You need to saute the middle part of the asparagus until it becomes a paste, then smash and add a bit of butter and flour to make a roux. I also add the green Genovese sauce and a fingertip of tomato paste, then half and half. Reserve the tops to be added at the last moment of cooking, it is lovely and delicious.

CONCLUSION:

It’s great weather now, so even if you need a sweater, go out and inhale some of those wonderful natural fragrances in the air.

WORDS OF THE DAY:

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson

Spring is a great time to make that brilliant new ending!

Be sure to leave a comment and if you like, follow me on social media! I am most active on Instagram.

Here are my links: Facebook  + Pinterest and Instagram!

More reading:

Mediterranean Fruits and Vegetables