01 Nov Flip for Vla-flip
Once again we’re in the Netherlands, meandering through the canals on a boat. And once again, I’m eating my weight in chocolate, bread, and cheese. Thank goodness we have bikes and we’re walking miles every day as we explore.
Yet again, I’m reminded of how much my food tastes have broadened as I’ve traveled. Decades ago in Poland, I fell in love with cooked cabbage (who would have thought?). Greece brought an introduction to souvlaki and feta cheese. In Asia, I learned to crave satay with spicy peanut sauce (although I avoided acquiring the taste for jellyfish tendrils and deep fried crickets). More recently, in the Netherlands I’ve discovered bitterballen, pancakes with bacon and apples, and herring sandwiches.
A simple, favorite dessert comes from when my husband and I traveled to the Netherlands when we were in college. Here’s the kid-friendly recipe. It’s so easy you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it already:
Vla-flip
- Layer the following in a glass for each serving. Vary the proportions to taste.
- 1-2 Tablespoons fruit preserves or fresh fruit with a sprinkling of sugar OR syrup
- 3-4 ounces of plain yoghurt
- 3-4 ounces of vanilla pudding
- ½ ounce shaved chocolate (we prefer dark chocolate, but milk chocolate works, too)
That’s it. When you eat it, dip your spoon to the bottom and bring up preserves, yoghurt, pudding, and a few chocolate bits. Yum!
Enjoy it with a cup of true mint tea, another Dutch discovery. Snip a stem of fresh mint and put it in a cup. Add hot water and let it steep for a few minutes. You’ll never go back to teabags!