Erica, a neighbor and cook at the kindergarten, was telling me that Noah likes Apfelpfannkuchen. She makes it for the kids at school and they all love it. When I was picking Noah up from school she gave me the leftover batter and told me to add apples and make it at home. She'd shown me how to cook them briefly and so I said "Danke" and was on my way. I would have loved to make the pfannkuchen, but it was a super busy day for me. I was having the RS birthday dinner at my house, so I was busy making dinner, eclairs, and cleaning before everyone came over at 630. I had to make a quick run to pick up Davis from a band field trip at the school (it always takes 1 1/2 hours to run down, pick up, and get back home)...never quick.
As I was running into the house at 515 with Davis, my sweet neighbor came to chat. We were talking about the Apfelpfannkuchen that I was supposed to have made. Instead the batter and her bowl were sitting in my kitchen next to the unfinished dinner. I told her that I would make it later, for dinner even. She continued on and I tried to patiently concentrate on the conversation so that I could at least get the gest of what she was saying. I got stuck. I didn't know what she was saying anymore and my list of things to still get done was racing through my mind. I called Davis over, he is in German 2, to tell me what she was saying. With a couple of "ja" "Ok, ja" "gut" we were into the house and all was well. Davis said that Erica was going to be dropping something by soon. He wasn't really too sure on what, but something. Hurray for German 2.
As I race around the house trying to finish my dinner, the doorbell rings, 5:40. Standing on my porch is Erica. Not with something to drop off, but rather with half of her kitchen. In she steps and my Apfelpfannkuchen lesson starts. I smile, welcome her in, and then whisper with a panic, "this is what you said yes to!"
I couldn't even think about not cooking with her. She is so sweet and helpful. I would have LOVED a cooking lesson from her, but the timing couldn't have been worse. As she repeatedly made trips back and forth to her house to pick up a better pan or a missing item, I buzzed around throwing a RS party together. Davis was so very, very helpful! I think he knew he was kind of at fault for my panic. A friend came to help set up and fortunately it was when Erica was at her house. I quickly explained and she went to my upstairs kitchen and family room area and set things up.
Erica not only made and taught Apfelfpannkuchen but noodle soup as well. She wanted to help me set my table. I didn't have
soup plates only
regular bowls so she went to her house and came back with her mother's china to let me borrow.
She left my house at 620, my dinner was on the table and upstairs the party was set up. My eclairs weren't perfectly frosted, but my cooking lesson was pretty awesome. I don't think that she had any idea that I was about to have a party at the house.
*The next day when I went to return her china she took me on a tour of her house. She showed me her great grandmothers bible from 1850 and table cloths that her mother had sewn. She then gave me her mothers china (9 soup plates for my family and oma/opa), a bowl, and a table cloth. I tried to give them back, but she said that she had kept enough, and that her mother had a 40 piece setting. She'd shared with her daughter already. They are made in Germany and they were a gift. My Anya will get these dishes one day as well. Living here is a wonderful experience. I couldn't have asked for better neighbors.
