Czech traditions in the USA

♫♪ A od těch časů ♪

I decided to bring some of our Czech traditions to the USA. Baking Christmas cookies also belongs to my favorites. This idea first appeared in World Market when I found and then bought cutters for Linzer cookies (also found out that these cookies are traditional at Christmas time in Sweden). 

I made the dough for Linzer cookies, vanilla rolls, and cranberry gluten free gingerbread on Saturday. The first two needed to sit in fridge over night, but gingerbread were ready for baking. The next day I spent literally five hours in kitchen and baked the other two kinds of Czech Christmas cookies (Linzer cookies and vanilla rolls). Then just added jam in the middle of each linzer cookie and icing on gingerbread.

Gluten free gingerbread sound horrible but it was even better than the normal ones I normally bake. Much more work though. 

And now finally I can just enjoy Czech cookies with my host family and American friends. Nobody complained so far. ^_^

XOXO Janie

Los Angeles trip - Universal Studios

Even though we didn't meet any movie star Hollywood was very cool place. Rides in Universal Studios are totally different than the ones in Disneyland. In Hollywood they made us feel like we are part of a movie. Rides like King Kong, Jurassic Park, Transformers, or Minion Mayhem were really impressive. Minions were very popular in Universals. We could get minion cotton candy, minion cookies, shirts...and we also met minions larger than life size! Unfortunately they had personal guard and didn't let anybody take picture with them. 

The next day we went to Medieval Times which was fun too. And on Monday we went back to South Dakota. In LA it was 30 degrees and at home we had snow storm and 10 below zero. It felt like very fast change from summer to winter.

Have a good weekend everybody!

XOXO Janie

Los Angeles trip - Disneyland

California welcomed us with very nice weather and high temperatures of 30 degrees celsius. Which was nice because meanwhile in South Dakota it was ten below zero and snowing. We went to Disneyland on Friday. I was so excited like never before. I expected Disneyland as fairy tale place but actually it was beautifuler and more dreamy than I could even imagine. It was one of the few moments I got to cry from happiness. It was such a fun day. We visited in second week of October so all Disneyland was decorated with Christmas lights and poinsettias. Even though it was summer weather I was in perfect Christmas mood. It was really like fairy tale.

XOXO Janie