Poffertjes in Amsterdam

"Poffertjes!"

That was the answer when I asked the kids what they were looking forward to when we go to Amsterdam for a few days on our way home from Africa.

We stayed at a hotel on Stadthouderskade across the canal from Leidseplein. Poffertjes are usually sold from street carts in the fall and winter, but as luck would have it, directly across the street was the Poffertjes Restaurant.

I don't know what the connection between carousels and poffertjes are, but many poffertjes stands and restaurants feature carousel decorations.

What are poffertjes, you ask? They are tiny pancakes, about the size of sand dollars. If you're familiar with the Danish Æbleskiver, it is similar in size except that Æbleskivers are perfectly spherical. Poffertjes are flatter, cooked on a special shallowly-dimpled griddle. This one looks like it's been in service for a very long time.

Once they are browned on both sides the poffertjes are ready to serve, one dozen at a time...

...with a tiny pat of butter, a small dash of powdered sugar, and just a tad of whipped cream. The strawberries clearly make this a health food.

The only way to eat them is with reckless abandon.

Macro Monday - Matilija Poppies

The genusRomneya bears the largest blossoms in the poppy family. Its showy flowers, up to 5 inches (13 cm) across, are the largest of any plant native to California. Its common name is Matilija poppy, pronounced either ma-TIL-i-ha or ma-til-EE-ha. Growing to a height of eight feet (2.5 meter), it is no surprise that this tall poppy is also known as the Tree Poppy and dubbed the Queen of the Wildflowers.

 

The Matilija poppy is a native of Southern California and Northern Mexico. It is a great choice for drought tolerant landscaping because, once established, it requires no additional water. The largest stand of Matilijas I have ever seen grows a few miles south of Palo Alto, along Highway 280. Sorry, no photos - it wouldn't be safe to take pictures while driving and there's no place to pull over.

I found these in full bloom next to Genencor's parking lot in Palo Alto.

Each flower has a circular cluster of bright yellow stamens surrounded by pure white petals, evoking the image of fried eggs sunny-side up.

The blossoms are perched on tall spires that like to dance in the breeze. I had to stand on my tippy toes, hold my breath, and wait for a lull in the breeze to take the close-ups of the blooms.

I wanted to show how their delicate ruffled petals look just like crepe paper.

The Romneya genus was named for Rev. John T. Romney Robinson, an Irish astronomer of the early 1800's. The Matalija poppy may have been named after Chief Matalija who lived in Ventura County. To read a folk legend about him and his daughter, click here.

For more Macro Monday images, visit Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.

Other sources
Map - Jepson Flora Project

CalFlora for information on wild California plants

Jepson Flora Project at University of California, Berkeley

Happy Father's Day

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is "soap-on-a-rope."

-- Bill Cosby