New Year's Eve in Holland

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Being from Holland my husband is feeling a bit bluesy this New Years Eve. He tells me of how the Dutch celebrate with oliebollen (a Dutch doughnut) and appelflappen (an apple fritter) and plenty of drink, food and fireworks. We have our own celebration at home. He is making the oliebollen and appelflappen and tonight we are having a meat fondue with a variety of sauces to dip the cooked meats into. We also have a toast at midnight. But, as you can see from the information below, there is nothing like New Year's Eve in Holland. Here is some information that I found on About: Amsterdam for Visitors. Here is the link if you would prefer reading about it from the website: http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/eventsfestivalsholidays/p/newyearseve.htm Here is the recipe for oliebollen and appelflappen Ingredients: ½ cup lukewarm water 1 tsp. sugar 2 packages of dry yeast 4 cups of flour 2 eggs ¼ cup sugar 2 cups of milk 1 tsp. salt 8 cups or 2 litres of oil Icing Sugar For Oliebollen ¼ cup or currants or raisins OR ½ cup of chopped/peeled apples OPTIONAL For Appelflappen Peeled and cored apples cut into thick slices. Preparation: In a narrow glass bowl or measuring cup, stir 1 tsp. of sugar into ½ cup of lukewarm water. Sprinkle dry yeast on top and let sit for 10 minutes. (The yeast should begin to foam or bubble if active.) Stir. Place flour in a large bowl and create a hole or well in the middle of the flour. Add eggs, sugar and yeast mixture. Heat milk in a small pan until lukewarm, add ½ of milk to well in flour and fold in wet ingredients until the flour is damp. Add the rest of the warm milk and blend until smooth. Cover bowl with a damp cloth and place in a warm area to rise for 45 minutes to an hour. The mix should about double in that time. Heat oil in a deep fryer or a deep pan to 375 degrees. For best results, always use fresh oil. While oil is heating, prepare some flat containers with layers of paper towels for Oliebollen or Appelflappen, to be placed in after cooking. For Oliebollen: After mixture has doubled, stir in salt and currants, raisins or apples if desired. Once oil is heated sufficiently, take two tablespoons to use for forming the Oliebollen. Take one tablespoon in each hand. Dip each spoon into the hot oil quickly. With one tablespoon, scoop one spoonful from the bowl. With the other spoon, scrap or slide the oliebollen mix off the first spoon into the pan of oil. Depending on the diameter of your pan, you should be able to do 6 to 8 Oliebollen at a time. The Oliebollen should sink down to the bottom and pop back up. Once the bottom of the Oliebollen is golden brown, flip over to cook the top. As long as your pan is not too crowded, you should find that the Oliebollen will begin to flip by themselves. If your spoon becomes covered with Oliebollen mix so that the mix does not slide off easily, use a new spoon. Remove from oil and place on tray or flat container that has been covered with paper towels. When cooled enough to touch, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve. ALTERNATIVELY, serve with individual servings of icing sugar for dipping. For Appelflappen, After mixture has doubled, stir in salt. Peel and core apples and slice thickly into rounds. Dip each apple slice into the oliebollen mix so that it is well-covered and careful place in oil. Depending on the diameter of your pan, you should be able to do 4 to 5 apple slices at a time. When the bottom becomes golden brown, flip over to cook the top. Remove from oil and place on tray or flat container covered with paper towels. When cooled enough to touch, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve. New Year's Celebration in Holland Widely known for a rowdy scene on New Year's Eve, Amsterdam's approach to the once-a-year blowout is fittingly "live and let live."Out with the 'Oud': New Year's Eve in Amsterdam is called Oudjaarsdag or Oudjaarsavond -- "Old Year's Day" and "Old Year's Evening," respectively. You might also see and hear December 31 referred to as Oud en Nieuw, or "Old and New." Whatever you call it, if you're celebrating the end of a year (and welcoming a new one) in Amsterdam, you're in for a memorable party. So practice saying gelukkig nieuwjaar ("prosperous new year") and find the right revelry for you. Citywide Free-for-All and Fireworks: So where's the biggest New Year's Eve party in Amsterdam? The city streets, of course! The streets and squares of central Amsterdam are filled with throngs of people (mostly tourists) -- especially at Dam Square, Rembrandtplein, Nieuwmarkt and Leidseplein. Try the fun, funky Jordaan neighborhood and the cafés of the Western Canal Ring for a more local feel. It seems almost everyone has a bottle of Champagne in tow -- and if they don't, they're lighting fireworks. Ask someone who's been to Amsterdam for New Year's Eve what they remember most about the experience and they'll likely say, "Fireworks...everywhere!" As soon as it's dark, kids (and kids at heart) start shooting, throwing and lighting all sorts of crackers, bangers and sparklers. And while it's all in the name of fun, in the more crowded touristy areas, it can be downright dangerous. So, be warned and take cover -- or take part! Locations of organized fireworks displays vary from year to year, but usually take place at Dam Square, Nieuwmarkt and/or Rembrandtplein. These squares and the streets around them are packed. Nieuwmarkt is especially wild, as this is the heart of the Chinese community in Amsterdam and the fireworks are plentiful. If you prefer to watch the fireworks from a calmer locale, the bridges throughout the city are perfect vantage points -- especially the ones over the Amstel River like the Magere Brug, or "skinny bridge." Happy New Year to One and All.