Sarah Joy Albrecht » beer

Favorite Crêpe Batter Recipe / Nutella, Bananas and the Cthulhu Crêpe Monster

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:47:15 +0000

Last-of-the-Batter Turned Crêpe Monster!

This weekend, we had a lovely brunch together. Everyone helped to make Banana Nutella Crêpes. While we worked, in true homeschooler fashion, we talked about Henry Ford, assembly lines and efficiency. We also passed around the Cthulhu Crêpe Monster – the result of the last slosh of batter in the pan that seemed to take on a personality of its own.

(Banana Nutella Crêpes served with a delicious Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier make for a well-balanced breakfast!)

Favorite Classic Crêpe Batter Recipe

1 C milk
4 eggs
1 C flour
1/2 TSP salt
1 1/2 TB melted butter

Mix until smooth.
Let rest for 30 minutes (this is the key!) before use.

Dessert Crêpe Batter: Prepare Classic Crêpe Batter and add 2 TB sugar and 2 TB liqueur.

Chocolate Crêpe Batter: Prepare Dessert Crêpe Batter with flour reduced to 3/4 C and add 3TB cocoa powder.

Thomas Slices Bananas

Micah Places Bananas on a Thin Layer of Nutella

Tabitha's on Nutella duty

The Crêpe Tasters

Aiden is Attacked by the Crêpe Monster

Favorite Crêpe Batter Recipe / Nutella, Bananas and the Cthulhu Crêpe Monster

Japanese Valentines Beer Review: Chocolat Brewery by Sapporo and Royce

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +0000

In this YouTube clip, I review Sapporo and Royce’s happoshu, Chocolat Brewery :)

Japanese Valentines Beer Review: Chocolat Brewery by Sapporo and Royce

A Real Party

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:57:03 +0000

For the first time in three years, I went to a party.

Not a children’s party where parents helicopter playtime while standing against the wall and comparing whose child is the most “gifted” or has the worst case of Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Not a “you-don’t-have-to-buy-anything … just-come-for-fun” bait and switch party.

Not a baby shower / horror birth story swap.

It was a real party.

Dinner was at an off-the-beaten-path Korean yakiniku 焼き肉 . The party – a combined birthday party for two of my friends, and two of their friends – was in an upper tatami room. (It was kinda sad to finally have an opportunity to wear my favorite satin heels, only to have to take them off at the entrance!)

The tables were traditional Japanese style, low to the ground, accompanied by elaborate green brocade cushions to kneel upon. Two grills were on embedded into each table, to cook plates of raw meat to preference – I like mine medium rare.

Daikon salad, sesame beef, and gyoza stuffed with kimchi and cheddar were served in hand thrown stoneware platters. Large glass pitchers of local, fresh, pulpy apple juice and Sapporo beer were refilled the moment they were emptied.

I drove Tom’s car for the first time. I thought it was best, being as he was singing merrily as we left the restaurant.

From there, we went to Big Echo, a karaoke place with private rooms. Ours was #13. All 20 of us sang every song as loudly as we could.

I wore a little black dress.

I drank foamy beer in a big thick sturdy glass mug.

I smoked a handful of cheap vanilla vending machine cigarettes.

I sang karaoke.

I smiled and laughed so much my cheeks hurt.

When we arrived home at midnight and, yes, my babysitter was paid handsomely for those extra 30 minutes, all of my children were still awake. I had to put them into bed myself, but it was so worth it.

Thankful for laughter. Thankful for friends. Thankful for babysitters. Thankful for a husband whom I can still have a superawesomefun time with, best friends even after 10 years of marriage.

A Real Party

Tachi Neputa Festival – Goshogawara 2009

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:39:41 +0000

We crossed over the bridge into Goshogawara at dusk. In the distance, I could see an assemblage of fierce, heathen Neputa war-gods descending upon the city. Entering the human world through the doors of an enormous warehouse, the Neputa shown brightly, illuminated from within.

Without changing pose, they floated through the streets. One Neputa stood tall, arms raised in triumph. Another held a knife to the throat of an enemy, whose face was twisted in a pained grimace.

As I walked with my family toward the center of the city, the sound of rhythmic drum grew louder and louder. The beat was punctuated by the shouts of “yattemare”, meaning to fight or throw stones, by costumed, dancing haneto mortals, who were dwarfed by the magnificent creatures. I pulled my children in close beside me and we walked down the densely crowded sidewalk to get a closer look.

Vendors selling sake, beer, yakisoba and skewered hot dogs, pickles, and yakitori lined the streets. They enticed passersby with by sing-sing lists of their wares.

We settled at the corner of an intersection, the first in the parade route, and did our best to mingle with the crowd.

When I looked upwards, I noticed that, while we were surrounded by buildings, the were no power lines running along the street. (I later learned that the streets were specifically designed to accommodate the Neputa’s annual visit, and that all electric and telephone cables for the structures along the parade route were run through an underground tunnel system.)

Slowly, ushered by haneto dancers, some of whom were very young, the enormous creatures moved towards us. The Neputa were about 22 meters tall and were made of sculpted metal scaffolding, covered in brightly painted washi to depict Neputa warriors. The Neputa stood on wooden platforms covered with images of with waves, flowers, stars and war scenes. Inside the Neputa, strung along the scaffolding, were strands of light bulbs that made the towering gods glow in the darkness. We had an amazing view.

Each group of dancers paused to perform in front of us. When they noticed our obviously foreign presence, they purposefully danced next to us (see 1:47 of first video below) and pushed their beautifully grotesque painted faces in front of our wide eyes. They offered some tiny cymbals to my children, but my frightened children shook their heads and refused to play. I hoisted Leah, my youngest, up to my shoulders so that she could see over the crowd. She grabbed my hair and wrapped her chubby little legs around my neck. We found the rhythm and danced together.

A particularly large Tachi Neputa entered the intersection square. Costumed men blew whistles to warn onlookers to stand back. Then, they grabbed ropes tethered to the base of Neputa and began to run in circles around the towering giant. It began to spin. High above the traffic lights and buildings, the Neputa spun like a gigantic top. His face, body and all his decorations blurred into a frenzied whirl.

The Neputa festival is an annual matsuri event that takes place in early August in various cities around Aomori Prefecture. In our city, it is spelled “Neputa”, but elsewhere in Japan, it is “Nebuta”. Our city is known for the “Tachi” Neputa, which are significantly taller than the traditional sized Nebuta seen in other cities.

Learn more:
Goshogawara Tourist Association: Tachi Neputa
TachiNeputa.JP
Matsuri (Japanese Festivals)
Aomori Nebuta Festival (Wikipedia)
Nebuta.jp
Matsuri Festival Food – Photo Library

Photo Credit: Yours truly.
Video Credit: My husband Tom :)

Tachi Neputa Festival – Goshogawara 2009

Beer and Crabs

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:49:18 +0000

From Twitter:

(Someone I follow) “It’s Coronas and crab legs tonight. Dh brought home snow crab when I wanted King crab legs. Said price was too high. Oh-well.”

mrsalbrecht@(Someone I follow) Dude! Your husband _brought home dinner_. BEER AND CRABS. (YUM!!) If it’s not good enough for the princess, get your own!

Beer and Crabs

25 Random Things About Me

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:56:00 +0000

I was tagged on Facebook by my seven friends Christa, Susan, aka Mrs. Carlson, aka Susan “Whimsy” Carlson, Valerie-the-Wannabe-Pyro, Rebekah, Laura, Robyn “Pigeon” Vannoy, and Amy for “25 Random Things”. I was already tagged for the “16 Things” meme and there is no way I’m writing 25 additional things, so I’m only writing nine more! If you really want to read the other 16, click here.

17. This August, Tom and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We were married in the Chapel of Atonement at the Church Farm School, a boarding school for boys, in Exton, PA. There was an extreme downpour between the wedding and the reception – which was at the Catranis’ house. I wouldn’t change a single thing about my wedding. It was the most relaxed, fun wedding I’ve ever attended to date. Potluck wedding receptions are the way to go! Secretly, I wish more people would get rid of the formality and stuffiness of their wedding.

18. My shoe size is 7.5 US. While I have rather small feet at home, in Japan, 24.5 cm is an L or LL size! It took me a while to find the only L size pair of house slippers in the grocery store bin. They are red felt printed with a calico-pink flower pattern. If you saw my slippers (see them while you can, because they are rapidly falling apart!) by themselves and tried to guess whose shoes they were (wouldn’t that be a fun bridal shower game?) you’d bet they belonged to the cute white-haired lady in the kitchen ;)

(Speaking of shoes, my favorites are my brown Nike cross trainers (shh! Sometimes I wear them in the house if the floor is particularly sticky!), my black ankle-high high-heeled zip boots, my vintage leather, 16 eyelet black Dr. Martens, my black satin pumps, and my strappy brown chunk-heels. My next shoe purchase will likely rain boots. Maybe a pair of Chooka Koi Tattoo Boots or perhaps these Autumn Rose Wellingtons from Victorian Trading Company?)

19. If I were to order a drink in a bar, it would likely be either Guinness,, Makers Mark Bourbon (on the rocks) or a Sapphire Gin and Tonic.

20. I am attempting to learn Japanese out of necessity. The best Japanese lesson series I have found is at JapanesePod101. I have Rosetta Stone and did learn some Japanese from it, yet I enjoy JPod101 so much more. If you are serious about learning Japanese, it’s worth it to upgrade to the full version which includes quizzes, online flashcards and multimedia to enhance your lessons.

21. Curry is one of my favorite foods to eat and to make. I love how curry is a mainstay dish all around the world, each location with it’s own unique flavor combination. The story of how curry was introduced to Japan is quite interesting. Incidentally, A Taste of India in Exton, Pennsylvania,is my favorite place back home for Indian cuisine. Their curry is lick-the-plate delicious.

22. I have never gone on vacation. Ever.

23. Complaining is one of my pet-peeves. The only exception is if something is genuinely wrong, and the goal is to find a solution or because the situation is bad enough that beer and hugs are required. FWIW, I also loathe nagging.

24. One of my goals in life is to build my own house. After living in Japan, the house would have to include some tatami rooms, hot-water-on-demand, a tub that overflows onto the floor, and a loooong kitchen sink suitable for gutting a small shark if necessary. Unlike my present house in Japan, it would have heat :) The kitchen would open up into the great room so that I would never be separated from guests because I had to check to see if the food was ready.

Tom has talked about having perimeter floors in our dream house that make the sound of birds softly singing when walked upon. Such floors are called uguisubari, aka Nightingale floors, and they were designed as an ancient security alarm to alert homeowners when ninjas are prowling about. Apparently, he walked on uguisubari while touring the Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

The house would also have to come with both flower and food gardens, as well as an orchard. It would need enough pasture for a dairy cow so we’d have fresh milk and I can make my own cheese, as well as and a creek for fishing.

The list goes on. I admit – I keep a scrapbook full of house ideas, complete with paint swatches, just in case this dream ever comes true.

25. Cleaning secret : I use a plastic garden rake to gather up all of the toys on the floor to aid with the cleaning process. This idea originated from my mother-in-law, who raised seven children and welcomed the neighborhood to play :) I find that (quickly!) gathering all of the playthings lessens the cleaning anxiety by creating a place to walk without having to step on little Legos, for example. It makes the mess seem less.

Tom… I ‘m tagging you. I have no expectations, but, I admit, I am kinda hoping you’ll play along and write up a list of your own.

25 Random Things About Me

Memorial Day Picnic Invite

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:07:23 +0000

2633

From our family blog:

This is the official invitation for the fifth annual Memorial Day Pig Roast at the home of Tom and Sarah Albrecht on May 28, 2007.

After going back and forth for a while, we decided to forgo doing an entire pig this year. We’ve found that our parties end up having a lot of kids who don’t really care for the barbecued pork, and a meal entirely made up of pork barbecue ends up with a lot of leftovers. So, while we will still be doing barbecued pork, we’re going to mix it up a bit with other forms of meat, including Italian pulled pork, hot dogs, sausages, and maybe some brisket and smoked turkey.

We plan on starting off around noon, and going into the evening. We’ll be serving food throughout the day, so come when you can, and don’t feel obliged to stay longer than you’re able. Please RSVP to us (phone call, email, whatever) so we can get an approximate head count and let us know if you’re interesting in helping supply food.

See you then!

PS from me:

We didn’t make beer this year, so please BYOB (or wine) if you choose. This isn’t a drunken brawl – please be responsible – but I know there’s nothing more refreshing than a cold beer on a hot day. My husband will likely be enjoying a cigar, so if your hubby wanted to celebrate the holiday by enjoying a cigar, it’s fine by me.

Bring a side dish / beverage / dessert (though we will have strawberry shortcake, it’s good to have a variety) to share as well as an ingredient list in case there are food allergies. Also, we hope to have a hot-table (with Sterno) and cold-table. If your dish needs to be kept hot or cold, please let us know so we can plan accordingly – (for example, an bring an extension cord (to be plugged into a power strip) if you have a crock pot, serve food in pans that can be warmed with Sterno, have a larger pan or tray with ice underneath for cold dishes)

Stuff for kids: Bring your bubble wands! I will have large flower-pots filled with bubble-juice. Whiffle-ball games have been known to take place =)

Memorial Day Picnic Invite

What did YOU have for dinner last night?

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:00:32 +0000

Every now and then, Tom arranges a date night with a surprise destination. Last night’s date almost didn’t happen – Tom got stuck in traffic and we’d miss the beginning of the dinner if he had to come home first to get me. Tom called and said, “Can you get a ride to dinner and I can meet you there?”

And I said, “Um, the destination was a surprise – I have no idea where we are having dinner.”

He laughed. “In Downingtown. It’s at the Victory.” Sweet. Just ten minutes away. His mom, who already had four of our children, picked me up and dropped me off at the Victory with Leah.

The food and beer combinations were out of this world.

After dinner, the Victory staff came out and sang to us and Santa gave each guest a large bottle of Golden Monkey.

Bill Covaleski, who is the Brewmaster and President of Victory, ate with the guests and he presented me with a sample of Scarlet Fire Rauchbier. Bill wondered what I thought of the taste. I liked it. It reminded me of Smoked Gouda cheese.

Here is the menu:

FAMILY STYLE HOLIDAY BEER DINNER
- TOUR OF THE WORLD -

DATE: December 19, 2006
TIME: 6PM
LOCATION: Victory Brewing Co. – 420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown, PA

First Course
Scandinavian meatballs in a white sauce with fresh parsley
Prima Pils

Second Course
Black mole with smoked turkey and pascilla chilis
Victory Festbier

Third Course
Lammkrone – Crown Rack of Lamb with ginger pear stuffing
Hop Devil IPA

Fourth Course
Cornish Game hens with cranberry relish, walnut dressing, sweet potatoes and green beans
Storm King Stout

Fifth Course
Old Horizontal Holiday Cake
Old Horizontal Barley Wine

What did YOU have for dinner last night?

Humility, Casting Cares, Receiving Strength… In That Order.

Sarah Joy Albrecht — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:21:03 +0000

Excerpt from a note to a friend :

Sounds like things are a bit rough at the moment, but I want you to know that I love you dearly and I am thankful to have you as a friend! Hang in there! I hope that it encourages you to know that I am praying for you.

During hard times, there is nothing more important than staying in the Word and daily turning each of our trials over to a Sovereign God who loves us. (So that our hurt does not cause us to stumble!)

I’m kinda going through a rough time myself, and I have a few thoughts I’m clinging to today in my difficult circumstances… I hope that you don’t mind me sharing them with you:

Sometimes it’s hard for me to think of God as loving and as a friend. When relationships break around me, sometimes I project that God must be turning his back on me, too. But, this isn’t so! It helps me to remember that there is nothing about me that deserved salvation – that I was an enemy of God! Yet because of Christ’s blood, I am now called His friend…

(John 15:15-16 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.)

…and His child.

(Galatians 3:23-29 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.)

Even as I read the passage above from Galatians, I’m sitting here thinking “what does it mean to be ‘clothed in Christ’ – what does that look like? how can my actions reflect being washed in Christ’s blood when I am hurting and don’t even feel like being around those who are contributing to my stress?” How am I supposed to be acting, despite my hurt?

(snip … personal information about me… point being, I’m right there with you in this struggle)

I hope that sharing these verses and thoughts were of of encouragement to you. They are to me, even as it feels like a battle to even turn over my anxiety…

(1 Peter 5:6-8 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.)

…to God – like a chore to do this. As I read this verse, I’m thinking maybe that’s why the verse starts out talking about humility before casting anxiety. I am convicted that that’s what it takes for me to turn things over to God – humility. It is prideful thinking when I say “I’m a strong woman! I can handle these things and this stress!” In my overwhelming circumstances, I try to claim that “I can do all hings through Him who strengthens me” and yet I forget the rest of this passage – that to receive God’s strength, I must first humble myself and have a gentle spirit… this is so hard for me!

(Phillippians 4:5-13 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. God’s Provisions But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me;
indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.)

(snip – side note – coordinating dropping off an item)

Thinking of you and praying for you. I don’t want to add to any of your stress… but, please let me know if you ever want to go out for a beer and just have fun fellowshipping together… or if there anything else that I can do that would be helpful and not a hindrance to you.

Much love,
Your friend,
Sarah Joy Albrecht

Humility, Casting Cares, Receiving Strength… In That Order.

Sarah Joy Albrecht » beer

Favorite Crêpe Batter Recipe / Nutella, Bananas and the Cthulhu Crêpe Monster

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