Food you are not supposed to eat at home: Part 1

I noticed yesterday that my pants are just a little bit tighter than before we left. It is no wonder really, so far on this trip we have eaten a lot of food that you are not suppossed to eat at home. In fact, both Ellen and Ianthe, and as far as I can tell everyone else too, joyously eat delicacies all day that Americans think of as just a bit naughty. For example, every afternoon on our trip Ellen had an icecream. (in case you were curious: yes, you can by ice cream next to the glacier. Yes, it is very cold next to the glacier. No, I don't understand why someone would want icecream while looking at frozen water) Ianthe seems to have an endless supply of lovely crunchy snax. Ellen admitted to me that on her first day back to work after holiday that she had two icecreams. Sigh.

A sampling of our new "European" diet
#1 With Ellen's help Andrew managed to make sure we ate reindeer at least once a day for the first 5 days we were in Norwway. Days 6-10 we ate elk

#2 Sourcream porridge at Roros. Ingredients: sour cream, flour, butter (Andrew says: mmmm, so good)


#3 Ellen's mom made us amazing waffles (VAFFLER!) last Sunday afternoon. Ellen explained to me that as a child she had either cake or waffles every night. And as an adult her mom almost always makes her waffles when she visits, just because. This is noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, Ellen's family is super fit and could lap me twice over on any hike. I know, I know, that is not saying too much, but I dare say her mom could out-climb you too. I am forced to come to the conclusion that the waffles are a powerful tool for physical fitness. In fact, I was so convinced that the waffles were the key to good health I ordered them every chance I got while in Norway. I am still waiting for the transformative effect. I should say that none of the waffles we bought could possibly hold a candle to Ellen's mom's. It is also noteworthy to me that Ellen is a truely lovely person. I always thought that any child that grew up in a home with homemade waffles or cake EVERYNIGHT would turn into some spoiled pain like Dudley from Harry Potter. Yet, apparently waffles everynight in Norway make you fit, happy and gracious. I need the recipe.

#4. We ate liver spread every morning (and many afternoons) in Norway. I love liver spread. Andrew loves liver spread. Liver spread loves us. Liver is now spread all around our midsection.

#5 Amsterdam is known for its pancakes. These are really just crepes with goodies on top. We had to sample the local dish though, so we got pancakes with suger. Yummy. I also got a "dutch" waffle, just to compare it to Norwiegn ones of course. My vote is still with Ellen's mom. (We will add Belgian waffles to the comparison in due course)

#6. While in Amsterdam it is also traditional to eat fondue. Fondue is fun, fondue is tasty, but fondue is not light and well, after eating a pot of warm cheese you can have some regrets.

#7 Frenchfries in Amsterdam are served with mayo. We had to test it out

#8. Andrew and I decided to sit at a bar on a canal in Amsterdam to have a beer and read our books one evening. It was lovely just watching the world go by. The bar served food, but had no English menu. Andrew saw that we could order a small (fill in Dutch word here) or a medium (fill in Dutch word here) or a large (fill in Dutch word here). #He ordered a medium. This is what they brought us. I am sure you are not supposed to eat this at home, but man oh man was it tasty. It did spoil our dinner a bit, but that is ok.

#9. We did eat whale. I don't think that is what is responsible for my tight pants though

#10. Beer. Lots of Beer. Beer is expensive in Norway and cheap in the Netherlands. It is delicious in both places.