Sinterklaas-season Food
Since tomorrow is the day when Dutch people celebrate Sinterklaas, I thought it would be timely to share some of the Sinterklaas-season food I've been tasting the last few weeks.
My favorite has been various forms (cookie, log, etc.) of speculaas (like gingerbread cookie) filled with pure marzipan. The spice and saltiness of the speculaas complements the sweetness of the almonds well.
I also enjoyed appelbol, which is a whole apple baked inside of a pastry shell. I had mine at the Ikea restaurant, which was offering them only for a limited time. A nice way to get whole fruit in your diet!
I enjoyed less the oliebol, which is like a doughnut, only with a bit more bready texture. I had one filled with raisins, apple, and cinnamon, and they're traditionally topped with powdered sugar. I just found it too bready and greasy.
Previously I posted a picture of kruidnoten (click here), but I'm sad I didn't get a picture of pepernoten. That's because I had to buy a whole bag of them just to taste what it was like - dry and flavored like licorice, one of my least favorite flavors. I did find a picture on Google images of it; click here.
