Balkenbrij and Zuurkoolschotel

Ria's menu                                                                                     balkenbrij met appel

Last night we had a delicious traditional "like mom used to make" Limburg dinner at the home of our Dutch friends, Ria and Thieu. Jim met these wonderful people at Cafe Sjiek, just after he arrived in Maastricht. They were having dinner there with their son Luuk, a graduate of Maastricht University. Jim told them that I would be arriving in Maastricht in September, and Ria said she would invite us to their house for dinner after I arrived. We went for drinks with them at a little bar in late September and made plans to have dinner together later on. We finally got around to it last evening!

Our first course was Limburgse balkenbrij met appel (bloodsausage with apple). Ria browned slices of balkenbrij in butter, along with tart apple slices. She spread appelstroop (a thick molasses-like apple butter) on small thin slices of brown bread and placed a piece of the sauteed balkenbrij and an apple slice on each. 

Lekker!  (DELICIOUS!!)

The next course was Ria’s zelfgemaakte tomatensoep (homemade tomato soup), also very lekker! 

Ria's mom's recipe: zuurkoolschotel

The main course was Ria’s mother’s recipe for zuurkoolschotel, a casserole made with sauerkraut (zuurkool), ground beef, pork wurst, mashed potatoes, and pineapple.  This is real Dutch comfort food! The zuurkoolschotel was so delicious that Jim and I had second helpings...not a good idea, since Ria had TWO desserts ready for us!




The first dessert was amandelkoekjes met zomer fruit and zlagroom: almond cookies with summer fruit (berries) topped with a whipped cream/mascarpone concoction. Ria served it in lidded Bonne Maman jelly jars, a great serving idea that her son Luuk came up with. Erg lekker!!!

Ria & I enjoy amandelkoekjes met zomer fruit                                          Jim & Thieu with bowls of tomatensoep.

Before our second dessert Thieu made espresso for us, and brought out a variety of liqueurs. Jim chose brandy and I decided to try  Els La Vera, a bitter-sweet Dutch liqueur flavored with wormwood and star anise. Els is made in Beek, which is close to Maastricht. Ria told us that her dad loves this drink, and she always brings some to share with him when she visits him. I can see why her dad likes the Els...it leaves a nice warm feeling...and if I’d had another glass I think Jim would have had to carry me home (Els is 34% alcohol!) 

To top off this wonderful meal, Ria brought us slices of her favorite dessert, kruimelvlaaai (Limburg streusel-topped vanilla pudding pie). It’s amazing that we had room for this... we shouldn’t have had that second helping of zuurkoolschotel...

Jim and I loved our Dutch meal with Ria and Thieu. The food was great, and the conversation was great, too. They are wonderful, generous people and we feel so very fortunate to know them! We hope that Ria and Thieu will come to Pennsylvania sometime so we can return the favor.

Thanks, Ria and Thieu for our lekker gezellig evening at your beautiful home in Maastricht!

Els La Vera and Limburg kruimelvlaii