Apple Crumble Pie (Vlaai)

Autumn is drawing nearer, as signalled by my upcoming birthday, decreasing temperatures and increasing levels of university related stress. Just a few weeks and we'll be huddled together in front of (optimally and most cozily) fireplaces and (less optimally) gas-powered central heating. When most people around me start complaining about low temperatures and pouring rain, I know my time has finally come. Finally I'm able to layer my clothing again, finally sunscreen on my face will suffice and finally (and most importantly) it is acceptable to bake with cinnamon again. When our wood heater was blazing away, I felt it was not more than logical to bake some kind of apple pie and so this Southern Dutch style Apple Crumble Pie came into existence. For me it makes that dreary day all the more glorious and for those for whom it is less enjoyable more bearable!

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Orange-Above-All (Oranje Boven) Pie

Today is King's Day in the Netherlands! Last year queen Beatrix abdicated and her son Willem-Alexander took the throne, thus changing up the date on which we celebrate our monarch's birthday. The king's actual birthday is on the 27th but since that's on a Sunday this year, the celebrations were moved up a day. The traditions on King's Day (I still think it's weird saying that instead of Queen's Day) are manyfold, but the bottom line of it is that a bunch of Dutchies dress up in (preferably bright) orange and sell their stuff on the street or alternatively, roam the streets for bargains. As none of my friends were available today, I stayed in and baked myself a lovely orange pie! Oranje boven! ((Oh I guess I should explain that..Oranje boven translates to "Orange above all" with Orange referring to the House of Orange, which is our Royal Family's house. ))

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