When we moved into our apartment in Frankfurt, one of the things that we had to get used to was where to go to buy certain things. In the United States, we are used to large chain stores that carry anything and everything that you need. That isn’t necessarily the same in Europe, at least where we were staying. If you need medicine, you went to the apothecary. If you want fresh meat, you went to the local deli. If you want fresh baked goods, you went to the bakery. During our last few days in Germany, we took some photos of the walk along the sidewalk from our apartment to our favorite restaurant.
Our Apartment Building in FrankfurtApothecary EntranceOur Deli
Another thing that we got used to during our time in Frankfurt was having an aperitif after our meals, something that we don’t see too many people doing here in the States. This week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is photos of things that start with the letters AP. Here are some pictures of our apartment building, the apothecary on the corner of our street, and the aperitifs that accompanied our meals.
AperitifsSidewalk Leading to the Opera HouseAnother Aperitif
We went to our favorite restaurant, The Brasserie, at least three or four times per week for lunch or dinner. We usually ordered the special of the day because we really liked the variety and the fresh ingredients that they used. When we didn’t order the special, our typical fall-back plan was to order the Spaghetti Arrabbiata, which is a spicy red sauce served over pasta. They typically served it with chunks of grilled filet mignon, but during Spring they also served it with shrimp or prawns. As we continue to try and replicate special meals that we have eaten during our travels, this was an obvious choice since we had it so many times. It is a pretty simple dish to prepare, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t delicious. You can control the heat by adding more or less red pepper flakes, but it is meant to have a fair amount of heat. Obviously you don’t have to add the meat, but it really is a wonderful combination.
Our Version of Spaghetti Arrabbiata
INGREDIENTS
28 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
1/4 cup Tomato Paste
1 tbsp Red Pepper Flakes
2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Dried Oregano
1 tsp Sugar
8 oz Filet Mignon – cut into 1 inch squares
Thin Spaghetti
Parmesan Cheese – shaved into thin slices
1/4 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Seasonings
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine the tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, Italian seasoning, oregano, and sugar in a large sauce pan and simmer over a low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring frequently. Season the steak with salt, pepper, and a dash of garlic powder and let sit. Cook the pasta according to package directions, adding a tablespoon of the olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking. Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Heat the remaining olive oil in a medium skillet and add the chunks of steak. Sear the steak on all sides for a total of approximately 5 to 6 minutes until medium-rare. Add the reserved pasta water to the sauce, then toss the pasta with the sauce in a large bowl until the pasta is coated with the sauce. Plate individual portions with spaghetti placing the steak next to the pasta and garnish the pasta with parmesan cheese to taste. Serves two people.
Every now and then, you are able to go to a tourist location and visit it without any other people around you. On those rare occasions when you aren’t surrounded by a hundred people taking selfies in front of what you’ve come to see, it can be a truly memorable moment. It really gives you the opportunity to let your mind wander and imagine what it must have been like to have been there during some historical period of the past. Because we often travel during the off-season, we have been fortunate enough to have a few of these experiences.
Walking Through the Guardhouse EntranceAncient Bridge
For this week’s Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge, we decided to use photos from one of those experiences. When we went to Schloss Stolzenfels on the outskirts of Koblenz we were able to walk the castle grounds without anyone else around us. Walking through the dense forest as you climbed the path up the side of the hillside to reach the castle, it was as if we had been transported to a different time. One could easily imagine horse-drawn carriages making their way up to the castle to attend some royal event. Or perhaps a band of robbers hiding in the woods waiting for the opportunity to make off with some jewels from passing travelers.
Walking through the ParkSchloss Stolzenfels from the Path
It is no wonder that so many fairy tales came from the forests of the German countryside. Walking the roads and trails at night with the fear of wolves, robbers, and other mystical creatures must have been at the forefront of any travelers mind. For a couple of hours, we walked those woods and imagined what life must have been like back in the 16th century.
